Worry or not?

My story has been long. I have dealt with anxiety issues which are now under control and reflux issues, also under control thanks to the Nissen Fundoplication surgery. In the last couple of years, I have been tested and tested. It has probably been about a year and a half or so, but I spent a week in the hospital with palpitations and rapid heart beat. They ran quite a few tests. Treadmill, chest CT and appropriate blood work. Also wore a holter monitor for a month not too long after. They blamed stress.. I buy that.. I have a great deal of stress in my life. I am on lisinopril for BP and Simvastatin for cholesterol. Seem to be all good, but on occassion, my heart rate goes to 110 BPM or higher and I feel faint and spacey. It seems to pass after 15 minutes or so. I take medication for anxiety as needed ,but the anxiety meds don't really seem to help when this happens. I have palpitations. I have for years. I am told that they are okay and not to worry. My BP is strange.. Or so I think. It doesn't often climb above 130/90. Even that is rare. However, I often check it and find 105/59 or something similar.

For the past couple of months, I have had a nearly nonstop chest pressure and my palpitations have been pretty hardcore. In fact, a day last week, my heart palpitation was actually painful... only for that second that it beat wrong, but it really hurt even if just a second or two. I have developed a cough with congestion that just will not go away.. Been coughing up stuff for a month now. Dr put me on a steroid and zpak. Still there.. I feel like I cannot take a deep breath. I don't really know what being "short of breath" feels like, but I just know I cannot breath deep enough. Yawning is nearly impossible.. My chest has been aching.. I read that chest pain from cardiac issue is usually intermittent and not so constant. It takes very very little to exert me.. My girlfriend looked at elliptical machines last week. I got on one for just a second.. I thought I was gonna pass out.. Felt like I ran a marathon. I have run up a lot of medical bills trying to get my health straight. Just tired of spending money to hear that I am okay when I don't feel okay. Anyone have any thoughts at all? I just don't want to ignore something that I shouldn't.

Darryl,

Hello and I am sorry to read of your problems.  Just a thought and remember I am not a Dr. but did anyone mention the possibility of having a pleural effusion?

Pleural effusion, sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs,” is the build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lungs. The pleura are thin membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity and act to lubricate and facilitate breathing. Normally, a small amount of fluid is present in the pleura.

The seriousness of the condition depends on the primary cause of pleural effusion, whether breathing is affected, and whether it can be treated effectively. Causes of pleural effusion that can be effectively treated or controlled include an infection due to a virus, pneumonia or heart failure.

Symptoms of pleural effusion include:

• Chest pain
• Dry, nonproductive cough
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath, or difficult, labored breathing)
• Orthopnea (the inability to breathe easily unless the person is sitting up straight or standing erect)

You mentioned your cough is productive - however your on medication for a respiratory infection.  I agree with SS, you need to get to the bottom of your problem.  Your anxiety is bound to be elevated with all you have going on.

Remember to be your own best advocate.

Kindly,

Kitt