Elf
28-02-05, 11:48
Hi all
I am 35 and have been having as yet undiagnosed problems since December. Any advice would be useful and I thank you for it in advance.
I got a heavy feeling in my lower legs just before a vice like chest pain and difficulty breathing and limb weakness. This occurred again and then the attacks moderated to extreme chest tightness rather than the extreme pain. Sometimes they were preceeded by an electric shock feeling in the legs othertimes just the brathing and tightness. I recently started to get a temperature drop with attacks (down to 35C). Initially I was fine between attacks and then the chest tightness started to become constant and now for the last few days I have had palpitations constantly and a horrible sicky weird chest feeling. Other miscellaneous symptoms have been testicle pain, stomach aches, dizziness, vertigo, concentration issues, headaches- they can be very short or last longer.
I have had numerous ecgs just after attacks which have all been OK according to doc (even a slightly elevated st level was deemd ok for some reason), a stress echocardiogram in December was OK, I have vasovagal problem (minor) according to tilt table, a partial ct scan showed zero calcium score and no evidence of any torso organ problems from what I was told- the heart wasnt completed as the dye was too uncomfortable for me to remain still hence the echo test. My initial diagnosis was bronchal spasms for the first two, after the third when my chest was clear they weren't sure. An endoscopy showed no inflammation of oesophagus, stomach or duodenum/ no h pylori- just a small diverticulum in the pharynx that they weren't too bothered about. A barium swallow showed a small intermittent hiatus hernia when laying down but the radiologist said the reflux was minor.
The hospital for tropical diseases is investigating (I was in Laso at the time) but I am starting to feel that it may be anxiety. The initial attacks may have been otherwise but I got so worried and scared by what was happening that I may have started to panic when the attacks came on, or they may have always been panic. I was having a good time at the start of these -just a virus and temperature a few days before that lasted one night (the doc at the tropical centre says it is unlikely it was related)
The worrying thing is the change in symptoms. The sicky chest feeling (cant describe well sorry) and the recent palpitations (4 days) are near constant but not a racing heart at all or missed beats (generally) just an awareness of the thumping that is very stressful. Also sometimes I can hear the whooshing pumping in my ears when laying down. My heart rate doesnt go up- in fact on a monitor I was bradycardic from the evening to the following morning so my heart rate is usually low (it wasnt deemed a problem). Why is a low heart rate (usually 72 or less) showing this pounding and why has it just come on. I also have a near constant tummy ache and feel weak and not with it ( I'm not sleeping well and cant do my relaxation tapes as the heart pounding is noticeably greater with headphones on- it feels like the beats are twitching the headphones.
Any advice anyone can give would be really useful as I can feel my life slipping away from me and I want to get this sorted asap. I dont particularly want to take medication due to the side effects and issues with them so have started on 100mg 5HTP and general multi plus b complex etc plus a herbalist I know has given me some mixture to help sleep.
Take care all and look forward to meeting you all
Elf
I am 35 and have been having as yet undiagnosed problems since December. Any advice would be useful and I thank you for it in advance.
I got a heavy feeling in my lower legs just before a vice like chest pain and difficulty breathing and limb weakness. This occurred again and then the attacks moderated to extreme chest tightness rather than the extreme pain. Sometimes they were preceeded by an electric shock feeling in the legs othertimes just the brathing and tightness. I recently started to get a temperature drop with attacks (down to 35C). Initially I was fine between attacks and then the chest tightness started to become constant and now for the last few days I have had palpitations constantly and a horrible sicky weird chest feeling. Other miscellaneous symptoms have been testicle pain, stomach aches, dizziness, vertigo, concentration issues, headaches- they can be very short or last longer.
I have had numerous ecgs just after attacks which have all been OK according to doc (even a slightly elevated st level was deemd ok for some reason), a stress echocardiogram in December was OK, I have vasovagal problem (minor) according to tilt table, a partial ct scan showed zero calcium score and no evidence of any torso organ problems from what I was told- the heart wasnt completed as the dye was too uncomfortable for me to remain still hence the echo test. My initial diagnosis was bronchal spasms for the first two, after the third when my chest was clear they weren't sure. An endoscopy showed no inflammation of oesophagus, stomach or duodenum/ no h pylori- just a small diverticulum in the pharynx that they weren't too bothered about. A barium swallow showed a small intermittent hiatus hernia when laying down but the radiologist said the reflux was minor.
The hospital for tropical diseases is investigating (I was in Laso at the time) but I am starting to feel that it may be anxiety. The initial attacks may have been otherwise but I got so worried and scared by what was happening that I may have started to panic when the attacks came on, or they may have always been panic. I was having a good time at the start of these -just a virus and temperature a few days before that lasted one night (the doc at the tropical centre says it is unlikely it was related)
The worrying thing is the change in symptoms. The sicky chest feeling (cant describe well sorry) and the recent palpitations (4 days) are near constant but not a racing heart at all or missed beats (generally) just an awareness of the thumping that is very stressful. Also sometimes I can hear the whooshing pumping in my ears when laying down. My heart rate doesnt go up- in fact on a monitor I was bradycardic from the evening to the following morning so my heart rate is usually low (it wasnt deemed a problem). Why is a low heart rate (usually 72 or less) showing this pounding and why has it just come on. I also have a near constant tummy ache and feel weak and not with it ( I'm not sleeping well and cant do my relaxation tapes as the heart pounding is noticeably greater with headphones on- it feels like the beats are twitching the headphones.
Any advice anyone can give would be really useful as I can feel my life slipping away from me and I want to get this sorted asap. I dont particularly want to take medication due to the side effects and issues with them so have started on 100mg 5HTP and general multi plus b complex etc plus a herbalist I know has given me some mixture to help sleep.
Take care all and look forward to meeting you all
Elf