Tachycardia?

[Leisamaree]

Hi, I'm a 21year old female and 4 years ago I had a very frightening trip to the emergency room with a heart rate that fluctuated between 80 to 150 beats per minute. When the ambulance got to my house they tested my heart rate, the first registration of the rate would say 90 or something then the next registration would be 150; so it was very all over the place. I had stabbing pain in my chest on the left side, which was made worse by any breath drawn in. I felt shaky, light headed and my heart was doing the 'fluttering' thing that many tachycardia patients describe here. My heart would skip acouple of beats and then sort of pause, then konk into life again.... I was discharged from hospital the next day when no tests doctors did could detect anything. On my discharge paper it said 'acute tachycardia' as a diagnosis. They listened to my heart the morning of my discharge and couldn't find any hint of a murmur. I was told to make arrangements to see a cardiologist.
That was four years ago and I have not yet seen a cardiologist. The attacks have re-occured, but I've not gone back to the ER for them. Most are nowhere near as bad as the time 4 years ago; but the attacks are regular (more than once a month now; probably once a week, but very minor flutters. They used to happen about 4 times a year) and are always accompanied by pain. I also quite often experience a 'rush' sensation, where my heart will 'pause'; I'll get a big head-rush and  what I think is a burst of adrenaline, and then my heart kicks back in again. It's weird, and these attacks are starting to really freak me out.
I can not afford to see a cardiologist; simple as that. I have no contact with either of my parents so can not ask help with payment from them. I have no where to source money from to pay for this; no medical insurance or anything; I'm only 20!
But I need to know, is this serious? Should I get a loan or something so that I can get it checked out?
I've been wondering, maybe it's angina?

Thanks

[Janelle212]

It’s now 2022- I came here to read about what I might be going through and I’m 38, married w three kids. Have any of you gotten better or felt relief doing something different? Did you find out if your episodes are strictly stress and anxiety related? I don’t want to chalk it up to “just anxiety” but after two EKG’s they look normal. My doctor says today that she hears some PVCs (premature heart beats.) I’m curious if I should go to the ER and get more comprehensive testing on my heart since it’s been 20 hours of non stop relief of heart fluttering, chest pain and those warm rushes up my neck like you said. Please let me know how you’re doing.

[hopefully mother of 3]

Oh my gosh, I get the same sensations. I felt like I was reading my own story. I went to the doctors back when I was in high school, I'm 25 now, and they told me it was sinus tachycardia. I left it at that even though the problem never went away. Then last year I went to the emergency room because my whole left side went numb and my fingers curled up. They told me it wasn't a stroke and that it was because of stress. So recently I went to the doctors again because I have been extremely lightheaded and dizzy, very tired and having pains. Once again I was told everything was fine and that it was stress.
I think it is because of my gender that it is not taken more seriously. I made an app. for Friday and I am going to make sure that someone at least pretends to look into it. If I find anything out I will let you know.

[surfgirl]

Do you work?  Do you have health insurance?  If not, you should get some.  It shouldn't be that expensive at your age.  THEN, go have it checked out.  My daughter is 23 and had "inappropriate tachycardia" a few weeks ago..........she was in the hospital a week.  Discharged on a small dose of a beta blocker, and she feels very good now...........$15,000 later.  Thankfully, she has health insurance.  If she tried to get insurance AFTER this episode, they would turn her down, or at least put on a cardiac rider.  You have waited this long, I suggest get insurance first. Good luck.