Advice about an ongoing condition

Hi looking for advice please. I'm an 18yr old female who has had no health issues up until December 2018 it started with inflammation on the brain and not being able to use the right side of my body as normal due to tremors and weekness. I've been under investigation for multiple sclerosis however that was recently ruled out by a lumbar puncture. About a month ago I was taken to A&E by an ambulance with heart attack symptoms but was given a chest xray 2 ecgs and blood tests all that were normal. My doctors put it down to anxiety so I was started on sertraline but the pains continued. I now have a different type of pain under my left breast which is very dull but painful. I have been to see a GP today and they have requested a 24hr ECG. I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced the same or could have any idea for me on what to do next. I feel so weak I'm constantly in pain but every test I've had done so far has came back normal. Thank you for taking the time to read this

[bowler]

I'm sorry to here of your recent health problems, fortunately I haven't experienced any of what you describe so cannot give any feedback, But please be patient and be guided by your Dr. who is doing all the tests and I'm sure they will get to the bottom of it, The more you worry about it the more anxious you will become, easy for me to say.

Good luck

bowler x

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I am no fan of resting ECGs as they do not show all issues. A 24-hour monitor or exercise ECG is far more likely to pick these up. Ask when you go for the 24-hour monitor but it may be useful to exercise, brisk walking until you are slightly breathlessness would do, for a while whilst you have it on.

[Nimms]

Hi, Your post really reminds me of something I went through.

Im 27 years old and 2 years ago I had stroke like symptoms and after some scans I was told I had a cyst in my brain that bled. After that I suffered from a lot of weakness and shortness of breath. I had to quit my office job because of it. I was referred to every kind of specialist, and in the end my gp said - it's probably anxiety.

Flash forward 2 years. I had my baby and my chest pains started and shortness of breath again. And because I was post partum, they sent me to the hospital via ambulance to have tests done on my lungs and heart. To their surprise I had a very rare, massive tumour in my heart called a myxoma and had open heart surgery the next day to have it removed.

The funny thing is, I also had a 24 hour ECG before that never picked up anything.

My situation was quiet rare - and I'm not saying you're going through the same thing. But it might be worth asking your doctor to perform an Echo on your heart if your 24 hr ECG doesn't pick up anything.

[unluckyto]

I would at your ages seek advice of a professional person and chase them as much as possible

[benjijen]

It's terrible that you're having these problems at such a young age but all you can do is go though the tests. They are taking you seriously which is a good thing and I expect they've looked at your family history etc for any connection. I'm not surprised they said it was anxiety because that's quite common at your age. Stick with the tests (you might have to be a bit pushy sometimes to get them). Do you have a parent or someone older who's close to you and may have more experience of dealing with the medical profession? It always helps to have someone to go with you as it's not easy to take in all the information when you're on your own at any age. Take care and let us know how you get on.

[isobelhannah18]

You definitely need to keep pestering the medical experts. I am not medically qualified at all, but sometimes dietary or other allergies can cause strange symptoms. Also, perhaps ask to be referred for counselling to give you someone objective to talk to. If you have someone you trust, friend or family, take them with you to every appointment for moral support and to be another pair of ears to listen to what the experts say. I know from experience you can forget to ask things at an appointment and often don't always remember important information. Good luck.