19 year old suffering for almost a year!

[Ayleen44]

For almost a year I have been having pulsatile tinnitus on my left ear, visual disturbances, strong pulsing in my upper body, lightheadedness and irregular heartbeats. The lightheadedness is so bad, I kind of feel as If I am in a dream sometimes...it's scary. The pulsing is so strong that when I am lying down I feel my body moving a bit along with every pulse.These symptoms are 24/7! I also get extremely dizzy and can not see for a few seconds when I stand up too quickly and there is extreme pressure on my chest when that happens.

I am 19 years old. I am overweight and I used to have high cholesterol but I got that under control. I have had blood work but everything came out normal. My blood pressure is normal. I've had an EKG, Echocardiogram, MRI w/ and w/o contrast of my brain, CT scan w/ and w/o contrast of my temporal bones and inner ears, 24 hour holter monitor and Carotid Artery Doppler.

Everything came out just fine except for the holter monitor which showed I had irregular heartbeats but I knew that already.

I am worried it might be something with my circulation or narrowing in either an artery or vein in my chest that is preventing my heart to give my brain enough blood flow.

Please help!!!

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
The narrowing of artery can only be known by angiogram. In postural hypotension too the blood supply to brain monetarily decreases. Dehydration, certain medications, heart problems, untreated diabetes, and nervous system disorders can all cause this. Blood pressure monitoring, tilt table test, EKG, heart echo, ambulatory blood pressure recording are all required for confirmed diagnosis. All the best for your tests.

[Ayleen44]

I forgot to ask, is there any possibility that this could be a narrowed artery in my chest causing the pressure when I stand up too quickly or something blocking from getting enough blood flow to my brain? Please let me know what tests are used to determine that.

[Ayleen44]

Thank you so much! I am getting an MRV of my brain today. I am getting a lumbar puncture by no later than next week because my neurologist also suggests intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). If everything comes out ok, I will probably have to visit a cardiologist.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Irregular heart beat is seen in electrolyte imbalance too apart from coronary artery disease, heart muscle problems, heart attacks etc. Irregular heart rhythms are also seen in healthy hearts for no apparent reason. You have been followed up extensively for heart problems. So get serum electrolytes checked too.
Also regarding tinnitus too you have been followed up extensively. You should probably look at “benign intracranial hypertension’(BIH). This happens due to impaired CSF absorption. “The main symptoms are headache, nausea and vomiting as well as pulsatile tinnitus (buzzing in the ears), double vision and other visual symptoms.” Refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benign_intracranial_hypertension
Hope this helps. It is difficult to comment beyond this at this stage. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!