19 Year old, PVC's and a HR of 39 bpm

[Matt19]

Hi, I am a 19 year old college student 5' 10", 200 lbs, and I have a family history of heart disease. Lately I have been having a lot of chest pain and discomfort. The worst time is always at night when I lay down to fall asleep. As soon as I start to doze off I wake up and feel as if my heart had just stopped beating. I have a mild numbness feeling in my hands and feet each time I wake up. I have had a few minor pains in my neck and some discomfort in my left arm, but not a lot. I went to a family physician today and he listened to my heart and said everything sounded great and said that I am probably having chest pains related to my GERD. He went on to perform an EKG just to be sure, and he discovered that my heart rate was low at 39 beats per minute and that I had PVC's. All he did today was presribe me to Prilosec 20 mg and told me to take 2 a day and come back in one week. What do these symptoms sound like? Should I go to a Cardiologists as soon as possible or should I wait and go back to the family physician in a week and see what he says? What is making my heart beat so slow?

[empressofq13]

See a cardiologist asap.  My son was taken by ambulance from a minor emergency center twice with a heartrate of 39-40.  They told us it is not normal to be that low.  Only if you are as healthy and in shape as Lance Armstrong!  60-80 is normal!  My son passed out with his the first time it showed up.  We found out he was having an allergic reaction to a med he had just been put on a month earlier.  If you can't get your Dr. to get you into a cardiologist ASAP, then go to the ER and tell them you have been having this checked out but haven't gotten into a Cardiologist yet.  They will do all tests and a cardiologist will check you out in the hospital ER if it shows these same symptoms.  They kept our son over night both times and ran EKG's blood work and an echo.  Don't wait!

[BLM_56]

I'm with Rita and Jerry.  Get your heart checked out before you accept the GERD diagnosis.  True, GERD can actually be life-threatening - I USED to know a man with GERD who developed/died from esophogeal cancer.  But you might want to touch base with a cardiologist.  If you heart is OK that's fine.  You might just have a hiatal hernia.  My wife thought she was having a heart attack when all she had was hiatal hernia.  But you MIGHT be having heart symptoms.

Oh, and you might consider losing a couple of pounds.  When I was 19 I weighed 210 but I was half a foot taller than you are and wore a 56 long suit coat with 44" trousers.  If you DO have a hiatal hernia losing weight won't hurt and could help.

Keep us posted,
Bionic Bill
Cyborg At Large

[RNRita]

I would definitely be in touch with a cardiologist.  With the symptoms you are having, I would want to be cleared BEFORE I believe the GERD diagnosis.  I am not saying that can't be it, but I am very skeptical with the hands and also, with your heart rate.  Just to be sure and feel secure, you know?????

[Jerry_NJ]

Sounds like time to talk with a cardiologist.  Short of an emergency I'd think it unlikely you'll get an appointment before your family doctor appointment.  I'd ask him/her the office for a recommendation on a cardiologist and work to get an appointment.  If your visit with you family doctor show you have no need to see the cardio, just cancel the appointment.  I can't usually get an appointment with less than 4 or 5 weeks notice.