puffy feet/ankles and fingers and swollen hard tummy

[dorito26]

hello, i have had a doctor from my GP say that my echo came back as okay. i have had more swelling recently and still no improvements in tachycardia, breathlessness, exhaustion, palpitations and chest pain amongst other things.

they had original suspicions of heart failure but now they’re trying to claim it’s anxiety again.

what can i do? they want to refer me back to the mental health wellbeing team but i had an assessment done by them in march saying this is not anxiety related. i have been in recovery from depression and anxiety for a few years now and even when i was bad i never experienced any of these symptoms.

i’m feeling lost and frustrated.

thank you.

hannah

[10gingercats]

Re. your echo. 'okay' is not enough for me. What do they mean? They need to explain in detail just what was revealed on the echo. There is no reason for them not to explain.

[dorito26 in reply to 10gingercats]

yeah i would like to have known a bit more. she said it was “essentially normal” whatever that means haha

[Jeaniebeans in reply to dorito26]

Hi. My cardiologist said the same on my report. I do have a mildly enlarged left atrium and some tricuspid valve regurgitation but I have really good ventricular function which apparently is the important thing they look for. He was happy with that result, so although not perfect he said essentially normal. He said these findings were not a cause for concern.

[dorito26 in reply to Jeaniebeans]

thank you. i’ll see if i’m able to get the report. i’m sorry to hear that although there are enlargements and regurgitations there is not much action, although i know almost nothing so don’t know whether those things can impact you a fair bit. i hope you are well and taking care of yourself

[Hidden]

Hi dorito26. It might be worth trying to phone a BHF Nurse on here and see what they say. Just a thought

[dorito26 in reply to Hidden]

thank you, i reckon i’ll give that a go tomorrow

[Hidden]

No problem. It's certainly worth a try though

[Cat04]

Its horrible when you feel so bad yet they tell you that you OK, I'm sorry. Get a copy of your echo report, the full sonographer's report and all the finding will be on it. Before all the measurements, which take a lot of research to interpret, there should be a summary sentence (such as NSR, RA normal size etc etc) Your chest pain may also require a CT angiogram to look at the vessels to the heart to identify any problem in those. These vessels are not shown on the echo.

[dorito26 in reply to Cat04]

thank you. after i had the scan the doctor said that the echo doesn’t show problems with arteries etc but i’m not sure whether he was suggesting something to look at those as an option. i’ll see if i’m able to get the echo report

[shopman]

You don't mention any medication you may be taking? Could all the "puffiness" be down to fluid retention I wonder?

[dorito26 in reply to shopman]

i’ve been on fluoxetine for a bit over 2 1/2 years and omeprazole for about 2 years as well i think.

i’ve been on propranolol for a few weeks in an attempt to help with palpitations and tachycardia but it doesn’t seem to have helped so far

[shopman in reply to dorito26]

I'm no medical expert but thought you may have been given a diuretic such as Furosemide to help see if if it was fluid retention.

[Jbeans in reply to dorito26]

Hi. I was on propranalol when my heart was in a non sinus rhythm but needed to change to Bisoprolol. After a few dosage changes it has stopped the tachycardia and my heart is beating normally. ( I was diagnosed as having Atrial Fibrillation following Covid infection)Am slowly feeling better now although some days are better than others.

[dorito26 in reply to Jbeans]

thank you, i’ll see if i’m able to give a different beta-blocker a go. i’m glad you are feeling better

[Fullofheart]

Hi Hannah, I am not a medic and certainly not a cardiologist but I do work in mental health and I'm sure you know yourself that puffiness and swelling are not readily associated with anxiety and/ or depression. That doesn't mean it IS heart failure or even heart related, I'm not qualified to say, but I'm pretty sure you know your mental health better than your GP. If this doesn't feel like anxiety, keep letting people know that. I know that's very frustrating. I've been there.

There are some other good suggestions in the thread too.

You're entitled to have copies of your test results and to ask questions. You are not being awkward, you are being diligently resourceful and taking responsibility for your health.

Wishing you well through the worry and frustration.

[isobelhannah18]

I would specifically ask why my tummy was hard and swollen. Sometimes you have to make a nuisance of yourself to get answers. Take someone with you to appointments or let them listen in to phone consultations if possible.

[Ahhwell]

Hi Hannah Had the doctor done blood tests for you before he decided you may be suffering with heart failure ? asking as i have had bloods done and my Troponin levels are slightly high so i have to have a scan , i have had chest pains and arm pains palpitations for years and had more ecgs than i can remember and always been told my heart is fine its anxiety , stress blah blah ! now here am at 64 almost and bang i was right all along probably , Anxiety is a very strong emotion and it can affect your fight or flight senses the added adrenalin fast heart rate needing to escape the supermarket ect , i had these attacks when i was younger and still do sometimes though not so often , i hope you find answers fear of the unknown is so much worse ..i think xx

[dorito26 in reply to Ahhwell]

hello. yes i’ve had blood tests for clots, infection, anaemia, glandular fever and thyroid function. as far as i know i haven’t had heart related blood tests as at a&e the doctor refused even though it was suggested by paramedics.

my anxiety has been under control for a few years now and nothing i’ve experienced during being unwell this year has matched my anxiety in the past. i’ve had a mental health assessment and my scores were low so that’s not the cause. i guess it’s just so easy to say it’s anxiety given the pandemic and even easier when there’s history of it.

i definitely agree that the fear of the unknown is worse! i’d say i’m more frustrated though

hope you are well x