Update: back from the Emergency Room.

[Entity]

I know, I know, never post problems looking for medical advice on ATOT. I'm calling the doctor's clinic as soon as they open, since this doesn't seem to be an ER-type problem.

From my newsgroup post:

Recently I've been having some odd heart-related
feelings. The problems have been happening over the past two days and
feel akin to my heart skipping a beat, or to me feeling like I'm not
getting enough oxygen. I'm not quite sure how to describe it -- I've
tried to look up what it might be but to no avail.

Today I'm noticing that the pain may be more respiratory -- I feel a bit wheezy, and have picked up a bit of a cough. Still, it's got me thinking about heart problems -- and hoping to god I don't have any.

I also get a rapid heartbeat occsaionally during intense exercise, but I haven't ever been able to duplicate it in front of a doctor. The problem goes away within ~10 minutes usually.

Link to full description of my problem.

Anyone here have any heart disorders (afib, aflutter) that they can share the symptoms with me? I'd like to learn more before I order a bevy of tests on my credit card. :|

Rob

Update:

Jesus, what a day. Just got back from the ER again, and the second diagnosis was that I likely had acid reflux, which has been known to cause a small case of arrhythmia in some people. I've got some Prilosec and Mylanta to take care of that. EKGs and everything the second time came back negative, so according to the doc, my heart is almost definitely ok. I'll still be going in next week to check up on everything.

 

[Azraele]

Talk to your regular doc about possible tests and his/her recomendations.

Hope it's nothing serious.

 

[Mr N8]

Damn, just in time for Ultimate season for you. I hope you heal quickly!

Now, go see a doctor.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Damn, just in time for Ultimate season for you. I hope you heal quickly!

Now, go see a doctor.

Clinic opens at 8am. 12 more minutes till I can call. Hope I can get in today.

Being uninsured SUCKS.

Rob

 

[dethman]

Originally posted by: Entity
I'd like to learn more before I order a bevy of tests on my credit card. :|

Rob

got insurance?

okay beat me to it.

seems fib or flutter is less likely given your age. SVT? get to your doc though. a holter sounds in order. hope all goes well.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: dethman

Originally posted by: Entity
I'd like to learn more before I order a bevy of tests on my credit card. :|

Rob

got insurance?

okay beat me to it.

I've been uninsured for 20 days now. Looking for coverage options, but most of them suck, until you get in the $300/mo range (which I can't afford yet).

Rob

 

[Entity]

Got back from the ER a few minutes ago. EKG seemed normal with a possible case of LVH, which I'll be running through more tests to try to identify. I'm hoping it's not LVH.

Rob

 

[Entity]

Jesus, what a day. Just got back from the ER again, and the second diagnosis was that I likely had acid reflux, which has been known to cause a small case of arrhythmia in some people. I've got some Prilosec and Mylanta to take care of that. EKGs and everything the second time came back negative, so according to the doc, my heart is almost definitely ok. I'll still be going in next week to check up on everything.

Rob

 

[Linux23]

Glad you're okay dude.

I had a similar attack and went to see my doctor and he prescribed Nexium for me. That is some damn powerful stuff.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: Linux23
Glad you're okay dude.

I had a similar attack and went to see my doctor and he prescribed Nexium for me. That is some damn powerful stuff.

Did you feel palpitations at all?

Rob

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Entity

Originally posted by: Linux23
Glad you're okay dude.

I had a similar attack and went to see my doctor and he prescribed Nexium for me. That is some damn powerful stuff.

Did you feel palpitations at all?

Rob

It can do some nasty stuff to you. I couldn't breathe one time from the Acid Reflux so bad after a box of the Honey BBQ wings I like from KFC.

I was pretty sure at the time though that my heart was OK since I didn't have any other pain like the arm and my head was fine. It was all concentrated in the middle to upper chest.

Glad you're OK. You should be able to tell what food is doing to you like I did.

 

[Entity]

Ok, I didn't think it was a heart attack, since I'm only 24, but I thought something was seriously f'd up with my heart (arrhythmia or something). My heart still hurts right now, and I can feel my heart skip a beat every now and then. Still hoping that it's just acid reflux -- though I can't think of any food in specific that might have caused it, the doc thinks that coffee + ibuprofin isn't a good combo.

Rob

 

[Kaieye]

About a year ago, I thought that I might have a possible heart attack due to some kind of pressure on my chest. It turn out to be a case of the flu! They gave me blood test, xrays, ekg and the whole works...

 

[her209]

I usually give myself CPR when that happens.

 

[MillionaireNextDoor]

Less acids for you (i.e. soda, etc.)

-MiND

 

[rezinn]

You didn't comment on your blood pressure, have you had it measured recently? Anemic? High blood pressure and anemia are often associate with heart problems like LVH. Extra (missed) heartbeats are sometimes normal, but prolonged heart arrhythmia isn't. It can be caused by improper blood concentrations of oxygen and some solutes, I think sodium or potassium. Acidosis as well, which you could be at risk of after prolonged exercise since it can be especially difficult to monitor your glucose then.

It's good that the EKG didn't show anything, so your heart is healthy. If you start feeling palpitations, don't freak out. A lot of people do when they're concerned about heart problems. Our own way of hypersensizing ourselves for our own torture I think. The best thing to do is to relax and don't go eating KFC honey-glazed hot wings. Hope everything turns out alright for you.

 

[Entity]

I don't drink soda, and generally don't eat foods that would cause reflux. Not sure what caused it. I have normal blood pressure and exercise 5x/week, so I think I'm fairly healthy. The doc thinks that due to my pulled hamstring I may have been taking too much ibuprofin (only 2-4/day, but maybe still too much for me), and that may have caused it.

I feel about 80% better today.

Rob

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: Entity

Originally posted by: Linux23
Glad you're okay dude.

I had a similar attack and went to see my doctor and he prescribed Nexium for me. That is some damn powerful stuff.

Did you feel palpitations at all?

Rob

yep, and some pain when exhaling. found out it was some pork/ham that I was eating and my body didn't agree with it.