Recently joined this page and hope I may be able to find anyone has been in the same predicament I find myself in. Up until December last year I was always very active yes overweight but on the whole healthy normal blood sugar, no cholesterol, normal blood pressure and all other tests okay. I often got tired and palpitations, sweats but I put them down to being a mum of three and working 30 hours a week keeping house etc.
I started to feel really tired all the time no energy at all would fall asleep at any opportunity, I woke in the night with hot sweats and got breathless with little exertion I went to the doctors they said I had a chest infection I was treated for that was all clear but I still had the breathlessness fatigue and exertion my lips have turned blue and feel lightheaded and dizzy. Numerous trips to the doctors and the A&E they said I had anxiety. I went back to the doctors as my symptoms hadn’t improved he wasn’t happy and referred me back to the hospital I had numerous tests all came back clear and was discharged again I went back to the doctors as I wasn’t getting any better he referred me back to A&E this time I was diagnosed with a systolic murmur it was audible to a stethoscope in which I was then referred for an echocardiogram that came back okay said they could see the murmur but nothing else to cause alarm I went back to my GP as I still have this cold sweats clammy feeling palpitations pains in my left side of my chest fatigue and the breathlessness and also the Cyanosis. Last Tuesday I was woken in the night with a thud in my chest it jolted me awake and I went all nauseous and dizzy and very very pale my husband phoned an ambulance I was taken into hospital and again the test they did were clear. The doctor told me I am on the list for a holter machine and also a exercise ECG but other than that they would do no more tests as all tests I’ve had indicate nothing is wrong. Yet I’m here at 35 and can hardly climb the stairs without getting breathless or do basic things like hoovering without hot sweats palpitations and breathlessness I feel like I’m at my wits end with the hospital the doctors have been great but I seem to get nowhere with the hospital and told I’m too young to be suffering with heart problems!
Hello and welcome to the forum! 35 is not too young for heart problems. A former colleague needed an ICD in his thirties and where I worked many years ago an eighteen year old had a heart attack. Would a private visit to a cardiologist be on the cards. I had one and it was very helpful. Typical costs for initial consultation is £200 - £250.
I have considered this option and it becoming more likely that I’ll have to take that route for answers! I fe like I’m not being taken seriously and dismissed as a nuisance! Nearly 6 months I’ve been stuck not being able to move in I been off work because the gps are fighting my corner but the drs at the hospital say they can’t find anything! 😕
Hi. It might sound daft but have the blood tests checked for menopause too? It’s not likely but possible as I know women who have been through it in their 30s.
All the best in your journey to finding out what’s causing these symptoms and what to do about them.
Has anyone mentioned microvascular disease to you. The way you describe what’s happening sounds very similar to me and I’m still on the journey finding treatment because if it is microvascular it is difficult to treat. Many cardiologist don’t recognise it. There is some really good info on the British heart foundation website. I have finally been referred to specialist clinic at Bradford and feel at last someone understands.
Only advice is to keep going, And don’t let people especially in a and e treat you with disrespect or make you feel like you shouldn’t be there .
In this instance go to A&E at another hospital it’s the only way to short circuit the ring of incompetence I had to do the same and that saw a complete review of what you are experiencing and they sorted me out with different tests and meds straight away It seems drastic but bite the bullet and just go and explain your situation that you are in Regards
I just feel so Ill and lifeless I look like a walking corpse compared to 3 months ago but still no answers!
At one time a hospital visit suggested you were suffering with anxiety. Are you receiving treatment for that? My first thought was menopause as my wife suffered similar events or what about travel abroad? Can you think of anything that occurred three month ago that could have triggered these feelings - a death? - bad news? - redundancy? My stance is that whilst you are sceptical about the hospitals results it is difficult to understand that a duty of care can be so mismanaged and why it is quite possible that there is actually nothing wrong with your heart. I went through a horrific period of institutional bullying that part of me did acknowledge but another part of me ignored and put it down to aggressive management style. I was eventually hospitalised with a complete breakdown that took years to overcome and trust me - I had all of your symptoms and was tested for heart defects/disease. Stress and depression are greatly misunderstood and even ignored as a "pull yourself together" together event or "stop feeling sorry for yourself" I hope you get answers abut please consider some of the things I have pointed out - good luck to you
No knife trigger other than the chest infection but I’ve had lung scans all ok I have a lung function test, my maternal grandmother died as a result of a blocked artery at 54, I have lost 2 stone in 2 months and don’t drink coffee or alcohol I don’t smoke and only have 3 cups of tea a day I don’t drink carbonated drinks.
So sorry to read about your nightmare predicament. I have a tentative suggestion to make, but I have no medical training, so would caution that it would be best to do this under direction of your GP. There is something wrong and there could be many things causing the problem. But have you considered your diet and by that I mean absolutely everything you eat and drink. Could you be allergic to something, is my first thought? But after that I wonder about changing your diet to one following a Mediterranean style.
(For example, I used to eat bacon and eggs etc when I could. In the end, I noticed that afterwards I felt odd, heavy, lacking in energy, doing things became difficult, but the feeling disappeared later. So I didn't worry, I just carried on occasionally eating the fry-up. I made the connection later when stents were needed - too late for me. I've changed my diet now, drastically. I've also cut down on sugar from any source and stopped drinking. Both have helped. But this is just an example of my past errors.)
At least it gives you an approach to the medics and you would perhaps benefit from feeling you are doing something.
It has just occurred to me that the BHF helpline may be worth a call. Have a discussion with one of their nurses. I did this a while ago and it helped a lot in sorting out the myriad of thoughts swirling around.
I’ve done all the suggestions dr gave I don’t and never have drank coffee I have lost 2 stone in 2 months and I don’t drink alcohol or smoke I drink 3 cups of tea a day and don’t drink carbonated drinks
I used to have an odd glass of wine (never been a big drinker) but if I have a small glass of wine it causes palpitations so I don’t bother! It also happens when I eat chocolate so I lay off that too!
Have they tested your thyroid? I have underactive thyroid and it can be responsible for a whole series of symptoms many of which you mention in your post and strong links to palpitations, lethargy etc. That’s not to discount cardiac issues but more than possible that the problem lies elsewhere - take a look on their health unlocked page.
Has your vitamin B12 folate and D3 been checked? Deficiencies in any of these can cause lethargy, and a whole heap of other symptoms ( see the NHS website or Pernicious Anaemia forum for more information.
I had very similar symptoms to you but as I am in my 50's put it all down to the menopause. I went to the Drs as I thought I had a chest infection, i was very wheezy,she said no and thought I had a blood clot on my lung was sent to hospital lots of tests, nothing but thought I may have angina so was given a spray and referral for an echocardigram. When my appointment came through it showed the left side of my heart was not working properly and was admitted. Put on oxygen, medication and direuric medication, fluid was building up in my lungs the nurse said I lost2 litres overnight.
They diagnosed me with heart failure probably due to an infection at some point. Very scary though the meds have really helped and I feel a lot better than I have for ages I am awaiting further tests. Please pursue this through my research it seems that heart failure can sometimes be overlooked as all symptoms could also be something else.
Thank you, still on going awaiting a holter and a stress ecg! I’ve also been referred to be tested for asthma as peak flow is 250/270 regarding breathlessness! It’s kust such a nightmare everytime was referred it’s a waiting game! 😢
Had stress ecg this morning, managed 6 mins had to stop due to nearly fainting, chest pain and dizziness! Now wait for results then holter fitting on the 25th June 😬
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Heart murmur
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