Doctors of VN

#27
#27
VolinArizona said:
Update:

Last Monday, the cardiologist listened to my heart every which way. Said nothing alarmed him or concerned him. Also said nothing alarming in my health profile.

He is reviewing my holter from my PCP. He said he'd like for me to do a stress echo just to rule out all bad things. Said it's kind of the final word on this for me - if my heart is structurally fine, then I shouldn't worry about the PVCs. Problem is - the echo isn't until September 21st and I hate waiting that long.

In the meantime, I quit checking my pulse and reading Google - helped tremendously with anxiety and I actually wasn't feeling as many skipped beats. Went on a short vacay with the wife and thoroughly enjoyed it.

However, both Weds and Sun nights I had a short experience of a weird WHOOOOSHING in my chest. No pain, no shortness of breath. Just freaked me out. And today my anxiety is high and the PVCs are back something fierce. Feeling pretty tired, too. Probably just the anxiety about the heart.

Trying to get them to move procedure earlier, which the scheduler seemed like she could get done for me.

Thoughts, doctors?
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This wouldn't really account for you having two separate episodes on Wednesday and Sunday, but aside from that, I had a similar episode back in February. Little bit of chest tightness that I tried to play off throughout the day. It intensified and when my heart rate jumped up to 168 and my BP was 148/106, I decided I should go get checked out. At the end of the ordeal, everything checked out OK. Blood work was fine, enzymes were normal, had a stress echo and passed with flying colors. The only thing that was "abnormal" was I had a fever of 100.3, which is barely enough to qualify as a fever. Diagnosis? Viral Pericarditis. Ten days of high dose Ibuprofen and a daily beta blocker and that was it.

I understand that this is your heart that we're talking about, so you're right to be concerned. I would only suggest that you focus on the normal findings, the normal reports that you've received to this point, and the assessment by your cardiologist. Try not to worry about it too much, because the anxiety can cause your symptoms.
 
#28
#28
Regulator said:
This wouldn't really account for you having two separate episodes on Wednesday and Sunday, but aside from that, I had a similar episode back in February. Little bit of chest tightness that I tried to play off throughout the day. It intensified and when my heart rate jumped up to 168 and my BP was 148/106, I decided I should go get checked out. At the end of the ordeal, everything checked out OK. Blood work was fine, enzymes were normal, had a stress echo and passed with flying colors. The only thing that was "abnormal" was I had a fever of 100.3, which is barely enough to qualify as a fever. Diagnosis? Viral Pericarditis. Ten days of high dose Ibuprofen and a daily beta blocker and that was it.

I understand that this is your heart that we're talking about, so you're right to be concerned. I would only suggest that you focus on the normal findings, the normal reports that you've received to this point, and the assessment by your cardiologist. Try not to worry about it too much, because the anxiety can cause your symptoms.
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This helps me, though. Even though I probably don't have viral pericarditis, it helps me understand that I am most likely not going to keel over and croak at any moment. I know people die suddenly, but the more and more I realize that I will have strong warning signs if something is truly bad, the better I feel.
 
#29
#29
Regulator said:
Try not to worry about it too much, because the anxiety can cause your symptoms.
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This! Stress can not only cause symptoms but it can eventually kill you. I experienced really strange symptoms over a year ago which included anxiety attacks. These were non heart related but very strange none the less. The doctor ordered an abdominal CT. The night before the test I was so freaked out they would find something awful that I gave myself stress induced esophageal spasms. Ultimately the test showed a swollen spleen(Mono), explained some of the strange symptoms I was having and I freaked out that night over nothing.
 
#30
#30
How can I get my appointment moved up? Waiting until the 21st is proving to be a test.

Lots of PVCs this morning and I get tired of it.
 
#31
#31
VolinArizona said:
How can I get my appointment moved up? Waiting until the 21st is proving to be a test.

Lots of PVCs this morning and I get tired of it.
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Have you tried calling and having the nurse check with the doctor? Some of us are reasonable and compassionate and will work with you if you are concerned. :)
 
#33
#33
Alright guys, the stress echo is on Monday. I have been able to relax a little about the daily PVCs. I feel them a little less and a little less hard when the boom beat comes.

I will say, I seem to be having these episodes where I feel a panic attack coming, but I stop it? Like, I feel butterflies in my stomach and get panicky for maybe 5 seconds? But I've been telling myself it's just panic trying to start and I just work through it.

I think I am on my way to beating the health anxiety and I fully expect a fantastic outcome from Monday.

My question - how quickly will I know the initial results of the test? I had a stress test last year and the doc told me right then that it looked good. Will the doc give me a preliminary answer like "from the echo and stress test, I see nothing wrong" ?

We have a follow up appt on the 28th to go over EVERYTHING he sees.
 
#34
#34
"I think I am on my way to beating the health anxiety and I fully expect a fantastic outcome from Monday"

that is great to hear Arizona

and for anybody that needs a valve replacement done,go with the pigs valve instead of the mechanical one ,I can't tell you how much I am sick and tiered of having to go to the doctors office every 6 weeks to get a Prothrombin time (PT) check done

I would rather go thru the surgery again,than have to do this,to me it is just a pain to keep track of,not to mention keeping track of the warfarin that I have to take,I had the surgery done around 10 years ago and it sucks having to do this

not to mention what it has cost me over the years,even with Insurance

but that is just my opinion on it,as you can tell,i don't like it much :)
 
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#35
#35
Alright y'all. Haven't spoken with my cardiologist (that's next week), but here are the preliminary thoughts from the imaging tech (echo) and the RN (stress test).

NOTHING ABNORMAL

BOOM!

Mechanically everything looked good to the tech, both at rest and after the stress test. She said she MIGHT see a mild mitral valve prolapse but she stressed maybe. My heart did as it should after the stress test.

Stress test looked fine the RN said, but cardiologist will review. Threw some PVCs during, which I like, because I want them to see them.

My BP at rest was 135/83, which is what it's been at the doctor lately. During workout it was around 160s/170s over 74/75 which they said is good.

So, I guess at this point, I need to focus on stress relieving/anxiety relieving techniques and continue to lose weight. I'm down to 201 now and on my way to 185 in no time.
 
#36
#36
That is strong. BP always goes way down after working out, as does pulse rate. From what I read after I started working out after my heart attack, the faster your pulse rate goes down after working out, the more in shape you are. I got a watch that not only takes your heart rate when you touch it, but also measures the number of steps you take when you are walking or running. It helped me..
 
#39
#39
Great to hear. Of note: stress relief and anxiety/panic treatments are not the same thing. If you want further advice on this, let me know.
 
#40
#40
since your a kidde doc,should I be going to a kids doctor for a GP ? I got talked into it at the group I go to and she has been a pain to get into see,any time I want to see her they say it will be a week or two,and should I be around a bunch of snot nosed brats ? usually when i get a cold,the flu or something i have been around kids :)
 
#42
#42
An update and some other questions:

Met with the cardiologist to get his thoughts after all the tests and his studying. He says my heart is "stone cold normal" and nothing out of the ordinary except those skipped beats. Said he is conservative in treating them when the echo is normal, stress test is normal, and no other issues - says to keep living life, eat well, exercise, and come back if things change.

Things were/are great for over a month now. One new thing has crept in, and I haven't panicked about it, but am certainly thinking about it a lot.

I've been getting the lightheadedness upon standing quite often lately, but almost 100% of the time when going from laying to standing quickly. Way back when, my mother checked my BP when laying down then to sitting then to standing and it was a minor BP drop. But when laying to standing happened, I went from 117/78 to 95/65 or something.

I will also sometimes get nauseous and shaky if I go awhile without eating, but I'm 100% not diabetic.

Some days its worse than others.

Could this be anxiety or is this something to monitor?
 
#43
#43
VolinArizona said:
An update and some other questions:

Met with the cardiologist to get his thoughts after all the tests and his studying. He says my heart is "stone cold normal" and nothing out of the ordinary except those skipped beats. Said he is conservative in treating them when the echo is normal, stress test is normal, and no other issues - says to keep living life, eat well, exercise, and come back if things change.

Things were/are great for over a month now. One new thing has crept in, and I haven't panicked about it, but am certainly thinking about it a lot.

I've been getting the lightheadedness upon standing quite often lately, but almost 100% of the time when going from laying to standing quickly. Way back when, my mother checked my BP when laying down then to sitting then to standing and it was a minor BP drop. But when laying to standing happened, I went from 117/78 to 95/65 or something.

I will also sometimes get nauseous and shaky if I go awhile without eating, but I'm 100% not diabetic.

Some days its worse than others.

Could this be anxiety or is this something to monitor?
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Age/race?
Family history of heart problems?
It sounds as if you are pretty healthy. It could be anxiety that amplifies your nausea and such. I had issues with Multifocal PVCs that I could feel. All tests were negative. I'm on a mild beta/alpha blocker and some anxiety mess and it has helped. I also stay away from high energy drinks
 
#44
#44
Do you drink alcohol much? Sinus issues? Did you have that sleep study?
 
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#45
#45
Maybe one beer every couple of weeks now?

No obvious sinus issues but definitely stopped up.

No on sleep study yet.
 
#46
#46
bigdaddy said:
Age/race?
Family history of heart problems?
It sounds as if you are pretty healthy. It could be anxiety that amplifies your nausea and such. I had issues with Multifocal PVCs that I could feel. All tests were negative. I'm on a mild beta/alpha blocker and some anxiety mess and it has helped. I also stay away from high energy drinks
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33 yr old male
Dad had two heart attacks but that was from his laziness and diet

I haven't had a soda in 5+ years, I don't drink fruit juice, all I drink his water and coffee. My coffee has no sugar in it and has no cream. My diet is better than the average Americans but not as good as fit people.

I haven't exercised much the last four weeks, but before that I exercised 3 to 6 days a week for years.

Sometimes if I laugh really hard or talk for a long time without a breath, I get a little lightheaded too
 
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#47
#47
VolinArizona said:
33 yr old male
Dad had two heart attacks but that was from his laziness and diet

I haven't had a soda in 5+ years, I don't drink fruit juice, all I drink his water and coffee. My coffee has no sugar in it and has no cream. My diet is better than the average Americans but not as good as fit people.

I haven't exercised much the last four weeks, but before that I exercised 3 to 6 days a week for years.

Sometimes if I laugh really hard or talk for a long time without a breath, I get a little lightheaded too
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Odd symptoms but they tend me to think more anxiety issues. I'm not a doctor but have been through this as well. I am in medicine though and have been for a while. Mild dehydration can cause these symptoms as well but it sounds as though you stay pretty healthy. Add to that you have been cleared by a cards doc and I think you are good. If you really wanted to I guess a CT of the head/neck w contrast might help. Just to see if you are having anything causing blood flow issues to the brain. But that's a stretch at best. Did you get these symptoms during your cardiac stress test?
 
#48
#48
bigdaddy said:
Odd symptoms but they tend me to think more anxiety issues. I'm not a doctor but have been through this as well. I am in medicine though and have been for a while. Mild dehydration can cause these symptoms as well but it sounds as though you stay pretty healthy. Add to that you have been cleared by a cards doc and I think you are good. If you really wanted to I guess a CT of the head/neck w contrast might help. Just to see if you are having anything causing blood flow issues to the brain. But that's a stretch at best. Did you get these symptoms during your cardiac stress test?
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Nope. Just the PVCs which were minimal and not at all worrisome. Passed the stress test with flying colors.
 
#49
#49
VolinArizona said:
Nope. Just the PVCs which were minimal and not at all worrisome. Passed the stress test with flying colors.
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My best advice, keep living life like you are and tell yourself you are ok when we these things happen. Sounds like you are annoyed by the symptoms more than anything. Sometimes, there are no answers
 
#50
#50
VolinArizona said:
Maybe one beer every couple of weeks now?

No obvious sinus issues but definitely stopped up.

No on sleep study yet.
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I was about your age when I started getting similar symptoms. It felt like a skip. I would also wake up in the middle of the night occasionally and it would feel like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. My heart was beating so fast that I couldn't even get a pulse. It would only happen once every six months or so or even less frequently.

I went to my primary care physician and he did an ekg which he said looked normal. I was in pretty good shape at the time playing a lot of basketball. He said whatever was going on could be serious and I needed to be checked while my heart was experiencing these abnormalities. He said I should go to the ER or to his office immediately when it was happening. After a year or two I asked my PCP for a referral to a cardiologist. I ended up going to DR. Cox at UT. I wore a beeper like monitor for about 30 days and while I didn't experience the racing I did experience the skipping. He diagnosed me with premature atrial contractions, PACs. But he cautioned me that the racing could be very serious and could lead to a stroke. It was imperative that I get the racing on an EKG.

Several months later I found my heart racing again as the episodes were becoming more frequent. I went to my PCP and was able to get an EKG while experiencing the racing. The next thing I know I'm in an ambulance on the way to UT medical center. I was in atrial fibrillation. My heart was beating 180-200 bpm. I spent three days in the hospital until it finally returned to normal rhythm on it's own.

Over the next couple of years I was placed on a couple of meds that didn't really stop the episodes. Dr cox recommend I go for a sleep study. I was severe sleep apnea. I was placed on a cpap machine. After a few weeks I gave up on it. It was difficult to go to sleep, it was giving me sinus infections, and many nights I would remove it in my sleep. Because of this my sleep Dr sent me to an ENT. The ENT recommend sinus surgery and a tonsillectomy. After these procedures I was truly a new person. My oversized tonsils were severely limiting my breathing while I was sleeping. My afib disappeared over the next year or two as have my PACs. I will occasionally have a PAC if I've had a few drinks. The Dr said alcohol will contribute to these episodes. I used to be dead tired every morning no matter how early I went to bed. Now I seldom sleep to the alarm. My heart Dr. Dr. Cox is one of the leading rhythm specialist in the country actually having at least one procedure named after him. If your still in Knoxville I highly recommend him. He indicated to me that sleep apnea was a contributor to hear rhythm problems.

Sorry for the long post but I hope you can get something from it.
 
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