What do I do now?

[Plantome]

Hi,

I’m not sure which way to turn. I was born with a hole in the heart (repaired when I was three) and I was diagnosed with SVT in 2003 and had an ablation and ICD fitted (I was 35 at the time). Since then, for the most part, I have been fine. But recently I have started to feel unwell.

It’s difficult to pinpoint, but it feels like something isn’t quite right. I feel strange prickly/slight burning sensations in the centre of my chest, which come and go. I have lost my appetite, and feel nauseous. But I am not breathless. I know it’s not angina as I feel better with exercise (I can run 4K at a gentle pace).

I saw my cardiologist last week and he stressed there was nothing to worry about, but my latest echo result confirms I have an enlarged heart, slight pulmonary hypertension and some thickening of my aorta. He thinks it’s just anxiety but I know it’s not just that. Yes, I am anxious, but for a reason. My symptoms are not totally debilitating but as soon as I wake up, I know I’m in for another difficult day.

I don’t know what to do now? I suspect my cardiologist is telling me there is nothing to worry about because I’m not in any immediate danger, and this is just part of my condition and I have to live with it!

But I don’t want to feel like this. It’s starting to be all consuming. When I get the chest sensations, they are not painful but very uncomfortable.

I was thinking of going to see my GP but not sure what he can do. I don’t want to go back to my cardiologist as I’m sure he will just say the same thing (and charge me £500 for the privilege!)

Is anyone else feeling like me? If so, what did you do? Are there any meds that I could take to alleviate the chest discomfort (again, it’s not angina so nitro spray doesn’t work). I am already on a high dose of beta blockers and other medication to treat hypertension.

Thanks

[Ianc2]

your best bet might be to ask your GP if he can arrange for a second opinion to be obtained?