Which tests next? Right Bundle Branch Block with painful symptoms.

[M0lly]

Hi All,

I'm really hoping that someone has been through something similar to what I am, and can guide me on where to go next.

For the past ~5 years, I've been suffering with heart "problems", over the last couple of years these have really intensified, and I am no longer to live a good quality life.

I am 25, a healthy (but rapidly increasing) weight, female.

My main issues are:

* Erratic heart rate - it will jump suddenly high, if for example I walk up some stairs or go to the bathroom, my heart rate will be 130-150 bpm. It sits around 100 bpm resting, but can drop to 60 or rise to over 100 suddenly even at rest.

* Chest pain and palpitations. I have palps every day, they wake me up from naps, I can feel them if I walk to the front door, I feel them at work.

* Breathlessness - I get so out of breath, I have to stop mid-action to catch my breath.

* Fatigue - Doing the smallest of tasks tires me out.

I used to be extremely active, I played netball three times a week, but I was having what I called episodes! When training or exercising, my heart rate would be over 200 for prolonged periods of time (i.e. 45 mins), I wasn't necessarily working hard, but my heart was. I would be able to push myself and continue exercising during a session even though I know my heart rate was extremely high, but then I started having episodes of intense breathlessness, chest pain and loss of vision all coupled together. This happened three times over three consecutive weeks of training.

After the first time, I called the GP who booked me in to check my blood pressure and said I was okay, but after it happened twice more, I called them and they did a 10 minute ECG where they said I might have a Right Bundle Branch Block and advised me to stop exercising. My GP said I should be "fine" with a RBBB just not to exercise.

I have had the following tests:

* 10 minute ECG

* 24 Hour Tape

* Echo

I ended up in A&E the other night as my HR was sitting at 160 all day. Bloods and ECG came back fine, and I was advised to follow up with GP.

GPs have referred me to Cardiology, it was initially an urgent referral, but I was told by the hospital that it was been downgraded by their team, and they'll be in-touch in March to book me in.

I genuinely cannot do anything! I can't walk around the supermarket, I can't clean my house all in one go, I can't take the bins out, I can't exercise so I am missing my friends massively, I can't carry out my job as I would like to... I am so sad with my situation, I feel completely debilitated. I tried going to the gym, however after 8 minutes on the treadmill, my heart played up and I had to stop... I miss living life normally.

Can anyone please recommend what I should do?

Are there any special tests I should request? I am thinking a 7 day tape and a stress EGC?

Has anyone had similar symptoms with a RBBB and with medical help been able to live a full life?

Any advice or help would be massively appreciate!

Thank you so much.

[Hidden]

Hi

How frustrating for you . I can relate in many ways . It’s so difficult knowing that something is wrong but not knowing what.

Just sending a little solidarity & hoping you get answers soon so that life can stop being so difficult for you as it has become.

N 👍

[M0lly in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your kind words! Fingers crossed I can start getting some momentum re tests and results!

[Hidden]

Dear MOlly

How sad it was to read your post and the worry that your heart has been causing you, with so far , very little in the way of assurance from the medical profession.

You are so young and my heart { newly fixed } goes out to you and your loved ones.

You need those answers and you need the tests to get them, but what tests you need I am not trained to say.

You need to keep hitting hard at your surgery to get back to the cardiologist who can begin to get the ball back rolling again.

You have to { or get someone else to do it } shout-out your corner of the world, if you don’t then the only thing that will happen is that your stress and anxiety levels will rise , which won’t help your heart matters.

If I could take that away from you then I would.

You are in my thoughts

[M0lly in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your very kind words. I am determined to get my normal life back, and your message has certainly given me the motivation which I very much needed to keep chasing the GP / Cardio team. Thank you again!

[EMBoy]

Hi M0lly,

So sorry you have been going through such a hard time and not getting much help from the professionals. March does seem an awful long wait for an assessment.

All I can say is keep badgering your GP, but if you get severe chest pain or have a blackout or fainting episode, please call 999 and go to A&E.

I'll also add that dehydration can cause RBBB so make sure you drink plenty of water and keep your electrolyte levels normal.

Best wishes.