Aa
terrible chest pain
I'm at my wits end and I'm currently in the middle of a crying fit.
I have some heart rhythm issues and the doctor is trying to figure it out.
Now, I should feel grateful that I'm being treated, but I don't know what to do anymore.
I see an Electrophysiologist, who is a really, really, really nice guy, and I have my Cardiologist, who is okay, but I don't like the way he treats me, though I know that it's only because he cares.
You see, I am the youngest patient in his office, and he doesn't like seeing me (his words). He says I am too young to be going to a Cardiologist and he does not give me anything for my tachycardia. The only way I ever get prescriptions is through my primary physician. While I understand that he is probably doing this because heart drugs have nasty side effects, and because I am so young, I think that I need something for this chest pain, which I am about to talk about.
There is this chest pain that is terrible (accompanied by palpitations and tachycardia), and I don't know what to think of it. It takes me by total surprise, and happens when I am sitting down or laying in an upright position. It feels like my heart is being squeezed horribly, and it sometimes radiates to my left shoulder. It some takes lasts minutes, and sometimes lasts for a half hour or longer. It comes at all hours of the day and night.
Now, I was diagnosed with Pericarditis last year. I have leaky heart valves, Sinus tachycardia, and Supraventricular tachycardia, so some sort of chest pain is expected, but I have never experienced anything this bad, even when I was hospitalized for the Pericarditis.
This pain seems to be getting worse as the days go by, and I don't know what to do anymore.
I know some of you are thinking: "well why don't you just call an ambulance?", and you know what? I feel like I am going to if it means getting down to the bottom of the this, rather than go back and forth to doctors and wait weeks for appointments, but I do not like hospitals in general.
I am assuming this pain in angina, and it's hard to live with because it happens at any given moment, without warning. I'm sick of doctors telling me that whatever I have is benign. I know other people on these boards feel the same way, especially those of us with Mitral Valve Prolapse and Mitral regurgitation. Maybe these disorders won't kill us, but there comes a point where it crosses into the realm of dehabilitating, symptomatically.
I am also frustrated that the doctors do not go over the EKG's with me, and tell me exactly what is going on. How hard is it to tell me that my left atrium is enlarged? why do I have to find this out from my mother and sister? (who are medical professionals in their own right). Isn't it kind of an important thing to figure out given that mitral regurgitation is probably causing this? How good can it be for blood to be pooling in the atrium?
I respect doctors, don't get me wrong. I really like my EP guy and I know he is the man who can help me, but I *know* my EKG's are abnormal, and why they're abnormal, but nobody except my mom and sister will explain to it to me. Instead, I'm being schedule for a tilt test when I've never even fainted in my life, or have come close to it, when in reality, the doctor should be checking for unstable angina, and scheduling me for a new Echo or cardiac catherization to see if indeed, my atrium is enlarged, and by how much.
Am I the only one who feels frustrated?
I have some heart rhythm issues and the doctor is trying to figure it out.
Now, I should feel grateful that I'm being treated, but I don't know what to do anymore.
I see an Electrophysiologist, who is a really, really, really nice guy, and I have my Cardiologist, who is okay, but I don't like the way he treats me, though I know that it's only because he cares.
You see, I am the youngest patient in his office, and he doesn't like seeing me (his words). He says I am too young to be going to a Cardiologist and he does not give me anything for my tachycardia. The only way I ever get prescriptions is through my primary physician. While I understand that he is probably doing this because heart drugs have nasty side effects, and because I am so young, I think that I need something for this chest pain, which I am about to talk about.
There is this chest pain that is terrible (accompanied by palpitations and tachycardia), and I don't know what to think of it. It takes me by total surprise, and happens when I am sitting down or laying in an upright position. It feels like my heart is being squeezed horribly, and it sometimes radiates to my left shoulder. It some takes lasts minutes, and sometimes lasts for a half hour or longer. It comes at all hours of the day and night.
Now, I was diagnosed with Pericarditis last year. I have leaky heart valves, Sinus tachycardia, and Supraventricular tachycardia, so some sort of chest pain is expected, but I have never experienced anything this bad, even when I was hospitalized for the Pericarditis.
This pain seems to be getting worse as the days go by, and I don't know what to do anymore.
I know some of you are thinking: "well why don't you just call an ambulance?", and you know what? I feel like I am going to if it means getting down to the bottom of the this, rather than go back and forth to doctors and wait weeks for appointments, but I do not like hospitals in general.
I am assuming this pain in angina, and it's hard to live with because it happens at any given moment, without warning. I'm sick of doctors telling me that whatever I have is benign. I know other people on these boards feel the same way, especially those of us with Mitral Valve Prolapse and Mitral regurgitation. Maybe these disorders won't kill us, but there comes a point where it crosses into the realm of dehabilitating, symptomatically.
I am also frustrated that the doctors do not go over the EKG's with me, and tell me exactly what is going on. How hard is it to tell me that my left atrium is enlarged? why do I have to find this out from my mother and sister? (who are medical professionals in their own right). Isn't it kind of an important thing to figure out given that mitral regurgitation is probably causing this? How good can it be for blood to be pooling in the atrium?
I respect doctors, don't get me wrong. I really like my EP guy and I know he is the man who can help me, but I *know* my EKG's are abnormal, and why they're abnormal, but nobody except my mom and sister will explain to it to me. Instead, I'm being schedule for a tilt test when I've never even fainted in my life, or have come close to it, when in reality, the doctor should be checking for unstable angina, and scheduling me for a new Echo or cardiac catherization to see if indeed, my atrium is enlarged, and by how much.
Am I the only one who feels frustrated?
the pain wasn't sharp though.
It was this horrible squeezing feeling and it last for quite some time.
it also sometimes radiates to my left shoulder, and sometimes it does not, so I don't know if it's that, but I am going to have to talk to my doctor about it because the pain was very, very, very severe, and if that ever happens again, I am going to call an ambulance.
It was this horrible squeezing feeling and it last for quite some time.
it also sometimes radiates to my left shoulder, and sometimes it does not, so I don't know if it's that, but I am going to have to talk to my doctor about it because the pain was very, very, very severe, and if that ever happens again, I am going to call an ambulance.
If you have costo-chondritis, your ribs are usually sore to the touch, and when you take a deep breath or cough, you sometimes can get a sharp pain. Other areas that are attached to the ribs can be sore to the touch too, such as the pectoral muscles.
the first print out just said Nonspecific ST and T wave changes, then the left atrial thing, and then Abnormal EKG.
The second EKG didn't have the printout because it was a different doctor (my Cardio), and the machine doesn't do that.
However, I asked my mother to look over the EKG's to tell me what she sees, and she said flat ST and T waves. My sister was the one who said flat or inverted T waves may indicate ischemia.
this is the EKG in question:
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5711/ekg2.jpg
I scanned it in because I like to have saved copies in case anything happens to the originals.
I am going to make sure that my Electrophysiologist looks at them to confirm my findings, as computer printouts are wrong, and even though my mom is a medical professional, mistakes happen.
I will bring up the possibility of having angina and ask him if there's a way to check to see if my left atrium is enlarged. I know an Echo and a heart cath would show it, but he is the one who has to recommend it.
that's interesting about the chondritis.
My doctor is giving me the tilt test to rule out POTS. I highly, highly, highly doubt it because I have never passed out, never felt like passing out, and never came close to passing out. Plus, I am not hypotensive, I'm hypertensive.
As for the person who brought up the gastro stuff, yeah, I'm getting a scope the week after the tilt test. I have tried four different drugs, Pepcid AC, Nexium, Aciphex, and Prilosec. None of them do anything, and I don't get heartburn anyways. I have GERD but it's regurgitation and throat irritation.
My mom also thought that I was having heartburn, so she gave me some milk to drink and told me to sip it slowly.
I ended up having this same chest pain for hours. If I had to guess, I would say it lasted for 5 or 6 hours, and still hurt on and off after that, but it was less severe.
How do you know if you have costo-chondritis?
The second EKG didn't have the printout because it was a different doctor (my Cardio), and the machine doesn't do that.
However, I asked my mother to look over the EKG's to tell me what she sees, and she said flat ST and T waves. My sister was the one who said flat or inverted T waves may indicate ischemia.
this is the EKG in question:
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/5711/ekg2.jpg
I scanned it in because I like to have saved copies in case anything happens to the originals.
I am going to make sure that my Electrophysiologist looks at them to confirm my findings, as computer printouts are wrong, and even though my mom is a medical professional, mistakes happen.
I will bring up the possibility of having angina and ask him if there's a way to check to see if my left atrium is enlarged. I know an Echo and a heart cath would show it, but he is the one who has to recommend it.
that's interesting about the chondritis.
My doctor is giving me the tilt test to rule out POTS. I highly, highly, highly doubt it because I have never passed out, never felt like passing out, and never came close to passing out. Plus, I am not hypotensive, I'm hypertensive.
As for the person who brought up the gastro stuff, yeah, I'm getting a scope the week after the tilt test. I have tried four different drugs, Pepcid AC, Nexium, Aciphex, and Prilosec. None of them do anything, and I don't get heartburn anyways. I have GERD but it's regurgitation and throat irritation.
My mom also thought that I was having heartburn, so she gave me some milk to drink and told me to sip it slowly.
I ended up having this same chest pain for hours. If I had to guess, I would say it lasted for 5 or 6 hours, and still hurt on and off after that, but it was less severe.
How do you know if you have costo-chondritis?
HI! Have you had your gallbladder checked... both an ultrasound and nuclear med test ( hida scan with post cc injection)? And also see a gastroenterologist for stomach/gastric issues such as reflux, esophagitis??
Keep a diary of what you eat, when,how much,, when attacks occur, how long they last, what you feel. It may help you see a pattern. Then if Drs. don't help you get on the web... and search... search... search for answers .... and other doctors.
You are to young to suffer like this.
I too have had severe chest pain, diagnosed with SVT after being told ' it was in my head, anxiety, ect."... but I get searching for answers. Now I do biofeedback, accupunture along with other things to help me get back to 'NORMAL'.
Good luck to you.!!!
Keep a diary of what you eat, when,how much,, when attacks occur, how long they last, what you feel. It may help you see a pattern. Then if Drs. don't help you get on the web... and search... search... search for answers .... and other doctors.
You are to young to suffer like this.
I too have had severe chest pain, diagnosed with SVT after being told ' it was in my head, anxiety, ect."... but I get searching for answers. Now I do biofeedback, accupunture along with other things to help me get back to 'NORMAL'.
Good luck to you.!!!
I am sure your mother or sister have told you this, but, I wrote a comment next to the first two diagnosis. Usually, if you have ischemia, the wording will go something like this: ST Abnormalties, possibly due to.....and then state what it thinks it is due to.
Sinus tachycardia This means the heart was in normal rhythm but going faster than 110 bpm.
Nonspecific ST and T wave changes This means, usually that there is no definate reason for the changes, so my doctor has said.
mommaoftwins has posted another good response that might be of some interest as well, I know I have the costochondritis problem and believe me, it can really mimic certain heart pains.
Sinus tachycardia This means the heart was in normal rhythm but going faster than 110 bpm.
Nonspecific ST and T wave changes This means, usually that there is no definate reason for the changes, so my doctor has said.
mommaoftwins has posted another good response that might be of some interest as well, I know I have the costochondritis problem and believe me, it can really mimic certain heart pains.
Thanks for mentioning this mamma. I have costo and I completely forgot to mention that it could be a cause, which of course it sure can be.
You are so right about docs not looking any further than the obvious, it is disgusting. Lately, I have had to be my own doctor and tell my doc what test I want and what I want to rule out. Most of the time she is good about complying, but, sometimes, I have had to beg. It really makes me wonder sometimes and scares me too.
Thanks for the insight, you just might have the answer this gal is looking for.
You are so right about docs not looking any further than the obvious, it is disgusting. Lately, I have had to be my own doctor and tell my doc what test I want and what I want to rule out. Most of the time she is good about complying, but, sometimes, I have had to beg. It really makes me wonder sometimes and scares me too.
Thanks for the insight, you just might have the answer this gal is looking for.
yes, my EKG's said:
Sinus tachycardia
Nonspecific ST and T wave changes
Possibly left atrial enlargement
both of them were taken a day apart, at two different doctor's offices, they both show the same things.
Sinus tachycardia
Nonspecific ST and T wave changes
Possibly left atrial enlargement
both of them were taken a day apart, at two different doctor's offices, they both show the same things.
I have atrial tach, and sinus tach, thanx to my last ablation(the third one). I've felt the pain you are feeling. Going to the hospital doesn't do anything but rule out heart damage. Calling an ambulance doesnt help because if you are not having an episode on their ekg, they just think it's "undiagnosed angina". I suffered horribly for three months, after going to the hospital numerous times for the paiin, and I finally went back to my cardiologist and demanded to see a pain specialist. Thank God, because now I know what I have, Costo-chondritis, which is similar to pericarditis, but it responds to NSAIDS, and it goes away within a year. For a while I thought I had POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), which thankfully I don't have. You need to see a pain specialist, because cardiologists can't see past your diagnoses. Hope you find an answer, and don't loose hope.
Mammaoftwins
Mammaoftwins
On your EKG, was there any message that said "ST Abnormalities" sometimes that can be an indicator of ischemia.
you're absolutely right.
My sister also thinks that nobody is going over my EKG's with me because they don't have a definite diagnosis.
The next time the chest pain is that intense, I will most def. call an ambulance. If it is indeed angina, then it should be relieved through Nitroglycerin.
I also agree that maybe it would force them to do testing that doesn't require a two weeks wait.
I've had problems for a year now and it really gets to me sometimes. It's not that I'm worried or paranoid, but it would be nice if someone could explain to me what the heck is going on, as my EKG's possibly ischemia and an enlarged atrium.
I will make sure I go over it with my Electrophysiologist and confirm what is going on, and I will write any questions I have, before I go, so that I don't get overwhelmed during the visit and forget to bring these things up.
My sister also thinks that nobody is going over my EKG's with me because they don't have a definite diagnosis.
The next time the chest pain is that intense, I will most def. call an ambulance. If it is indeed angina, then it should be relieved through Nitroglycerin.
I also agree that maybe it would force them to do testing that doesn't require a two weeks wait.
I've had problems for a year now and it really gets to me sometimes. It's not that I'm worried or paranoid, but it would be nice if someone could explain to me what the heck is going on, as my EKG's possibly ischemia and an enlarged atrium.
I will make sure I go over it with my Electrophysiologist and confirm what is going on, and I will write any questions I have, before I go, so that I don't get overwhelmed during the visit and forget to bring these things up.
WOW, I am afraid that if this were me, I would be calling the ambulance NOW. Chest pain like you are describing should not be second guessed. Maybe if you do this, it will shock your doctors into taking you serious and be more willing to help you.
I don't know why they do not want to discuss your EKG and such. It seems to me they would, especially if they knew how scared you were and such. I guess some docs are so busy, and this is so routine to them, they just do not think. But, I can certainly understand where you are coming from. It is good that your mother and sister can help you with the interpretations.
I would be frustrated too, and, as I said, if this horrendous pain keeps up, I would go to the ER STAT or call 911, it is better to be safe than sorry, and so what if you are 24, heart disease is no respecter of persons, and even though it is rare, it can happen. I am not saying this is the case for you, I am saying this in general.
Keep us posted and do what is best for you.
Hugs
Susie
I don't know why they do not want to discuss your EKG and such. It seems to me they would, especially if they knew how scared you were and such. I guess some docs are so busy, and this is so routine to them, they just do not think. But, I can certainly understand where you are coming from. It is good that your mother and sister can help you with the interpretations.
I would be frustrated too, and, as I said, if this horrendous pain keeps up, I would go to the ER STAT or call 911, it is better to be safe than sorry, and so what if you are 24, heart disease is no respecter of persons, and even though it is rare, it can happen. I am not saying this is the case for you, I am saying this in general.
Keep us posted and do what is best for you.
Hugs
Susie
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