hi im a 20 year old woman. when i moved into my new house, i lifted a wardrobe and felt a massive pull/ tug in my heart, as if i stretched my heart muscle. i became very weak and was unable to talk above a whisper. this has continued for 10 months now and im still very weak. my family do all the cooking and i am constantly feeling like passing out.
has anyone experienced something similar to this? a tug upon heavy exertion leading to a complete wipeout? nowadays, the same thing happens for lighter items like a pan or opening the fridge- ive become very weak because of it and im constantly straining my heart and getting even weaker.
pls can someone point me towards something they think is helpful? thank you.
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Welcome to the forum, I hope that you’ll find us helpful and supportive 🙂
I just wanted to say I’m sorry to hear about your situation and at such a young age, it must be so challenging for you, especially so young!
Has your GP sent you for any testing or referred you to a cardiologist? Are you on any medication to help with your symptoms? Have you had an echocardiogram to check your heart function?
I want to write something helpful but honestly, I’m a bit stumped 🤔 from what you’ve described, it sounds like you might’ve suffered a heart attack but I’m not a medical professional and I don’t know, it could’ve been something else (although I don’t know what).
I’ve heard of people losing their voices through stress, do you think that stress could be playing a part in this for you?
yes to referral top cardiology. ivabradine 2.5mg, echo normal.
i thought i suffered a heart attack too bc i blacked out at the gym before this happened. then a few weeks later i had to drop out of uni so i moved everything- more heavy lifting- then i carried the wardrobe and bam im bedbound. but no one tested me for a heart attack. cardio said it didnt sound like one. even typing is too strenous for me.
I'm sorry to hear about your ongoing health concerns. While I cannot provide a diagnosis or specific medical advice, I can offer some general guidance and encourage you to seek professional medical attention.
The sensation of a "tug" or pulling in the heart area, especially when accompanied by weakness, could be indicative of a few different underlying issues. It's important to consult with a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Some possible causes of your symptoms could include:
Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle, which can cause chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, which can cause sharp chest pain, particularly when breathing deeply.
Cardiac Arrhythmia: Irregular heartbeats, which can cause palpitations, lightheadedness, and fainting.
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): A condition that affects blood flow, causing lightheadedness, fainting, and rapid heart rate upon standing up.
It's also possible that the initial incident of lifting the wardrobe triggered a musculoskeletal injury or exacerbated an underlying condition, leading to ongoing weakness and fatigue.
Given the prolonged nature of your symptoms and the significant impact on your daily life, it's crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor will likely perform a physical examination, review your medical history, and order tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) or echocardiogram to assess your heart function.
In the meantime, it's important to avoid strenuous activities that might aggravate your symptoms. Prioritize rest, proper hydration, and a balanced diet. If you experience any sudden worsening of symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
Remember, seeking professional medical advice is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. Early intervention can often lead to better outcomes and prevent further complications.
hello ive been to a cardiologist and he doesn't know! done echocardiogram they said it looks fine. regarding pots, have a consisitent 30-40 bpm increase from sitting to standing, recently prescribed ivabradine, not helping so far. referred for ttt. i dont think this heart strain is pots tho because the pots facebook groups dont recognise what im going through. i think u might be right saying it is myocarditis.... ekg r ok.
if it is a muskosleteal injury what is there to be done about it? how do i test for myocarditis?
You could take yourself to A&E-whoever takes you just mentioning your main symptoms inc not being able to talk type etc - sounds mean but leave out the whole history and you might get somewhere! Go to a&e and collapse on the floor- you’ll be seen straightaway! Not something I’d advocate really but I was in there having waited 4 hours -haemorrhaged after minor surgery and a young guy came in and promptly collapsed at the desk and was whisked off immediately!
I can only say what others have said, get medical advice. Lying in bed will lead to weakness anyway, but to exercise safely you need medical advice as it's been so long .
If you feel your Dr believes it is a mental rather than a physical problem could you ask them what can be done for whatever anxiety /other they diagnose that you are suffering from ? Can you email or econsult your Gp rather than have to speak?
If somehow the Gp is right that it is a huge anxiety that has overwhelmed you physically, you still need treatment to get through it and back to health. The sooner the better too.
You could write down all your issues clearly so that as and when you see anyone you can pass them a written summary.
Maybe ask to be referred to a consultant physician, I don't know the criteria, or physiotherapy. Look the GP in the eye and say that you know he's not convinced but can he please help you to find a way forward.You can refer yourself for physio, but you can check with GP first, that may go some way to convincing him that you're genuine.
In your interests section, I noticed that you mentioned Lyme Disease. If you have had Lyme disease is it possible that your heart was affected by the Lyme bacteria (Lyme Carditis)?
Hi.... sounds a bit like something that happened to me after a very stressful year when I was a little older than you. I didn't become completely bed bound, but was desperately weak and tired all the time and quality of life was minimal . It came on all of a sudden and eventually was diagnosed as a virus: post viral syndrome. Where I had picked it up I do not know. However, when I was your age I was fit enough to move wardrobes without any problem... and was constantly rearranging my room with its very heavy furniture!! Can I suggest that you may have caught a virus prior to the incident and it was the incident which alerted you to something wrong? Viruses are very difficult to diagnose. They often contribute to long term post viral symptoms. {which I had for 4 months and after tedious checks to rule out everything else!] Insist your doctor refers you to a virologist, neurologist or rheumatologist who may be able to help. There is more research taking place on the effect of viruses over the long term, as a result of long covid. There is bound to be help available from someone.
In the meantime, aim for a small successful enterprise every day. Something as simple as writing short diary entries might help. You will get better once you feel that you have some control over the situation. Good luck,,,,
I am very sorry that you are going through all of this at such a young age.
I honestly would suggest that you push with your doctor for additional testing. You are obviously having a serious medical experience, and you do need to find out exactly what is going on with your heart. I apologize if I missed reading about a diagnosis in your post.
I wish you the best in finding out what is causing all of this, and in finding appropriate treatment to help you feel better. ❤️
Well, I’m not sure, but maybe even an x-ray, CT scan, nuclear stress test, echocardiogram, and/or angiogram. I’m not a medical expert, and others might have better suggestions for you.
Each test/procedure gives different pieces of data, and you may need a variety of assessments in order to get a diagnosis. Don’t forget blood tests too—whatever will let your doctors see what is going on with your heart.
Again, see what others might suggest as well. I wish you the best in getting this all sorted. ❤️
There are very few people on here who are medical professionals, and the remainder, including me, can only guess at the cause of your medical condition. It really sounds like you need professional advice and to do nothing will mean your situation gets worse, both mentally and perhaps physically. So I suggest that you go back to your GP, perhaps enlisting some support from your family, and ask the GP to seek their solution to your problems. That's what they are there for, and it really isnt very helpful to say ' I don't know', that to me is the easy way out. You are also entitled to ask for a second opinion and if your GP is unhelpful try someone else.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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