Do I have a Heart Problem? - Update

I'm a 24 year old female, who, until November 2006 was in good health with the exception of kidney stones.

I started having left side chest pain and left shoulder pain and went to the ER, where they did an EKG which came out fine.

The pain continued and I started having bad muscle pain all over, in my arms, jaw, ribs. I've also had tingling on the left side of my face, hands and feet

I have been to the ER twice since my original visit and they all did EKG's that supposedly came out fine.

I saw a Cardiologist who did an EKG and a Stress Test and Echocardiogram, all of which they said were normal.

My EKG says

Vent rate 89 bpm                                    Normal sinus rhythm with sinus arrythmia
PR Interval 122ms                                   Biatrial enlargement
QRS duration 72ms                                  Low voltage QRS
QT/QTc 360/438                                     Abnormal ECG
P-R-T axes 73-72-43

When I asked about the biatrial enlargement, he said it could be because I have larger breasts or the way the leads were placed.

I want to believe these hospitals and doctor, but the symptoms are continuing, along with shortness of breath and the feeling of something being in my throat, so it's very scary.

Any help is so greatly appreciated. I feel like the last 2 months have been a rollercoaster.

I also have saline breast implants, so I don't know if that would make it harder to read an Echocardiogram?<!-- / message -->

Post Edited (*Bella*) : 2/9/2007 3:57:28 PM (GMT-7)

Thanks for your reply! I'm definitely stressed since I started getting these symptoms, but they just came out of the blue on Thanksgiving Day. I think my Cardiologist thinks I'm crazy! I just don't know what else it could be.

I had a Stress Echo done which my Cardiologist said was perfectly normal. I've been having some shortness of breath/feeling of something in the throat and tightness in my jaw this past week. I just feel like I have so many symptoms and the doctors have no answer for it.

I've never been an anxious person, which is why it was so odd that these symptoms came on all of a sudden. I had the Stress Echo where they rub the jelly on you and use the transducer, then put you on the treadmill, then use the transducer when you lay down again. That came back normal.

My Dr. sent me for an MRI of the brain when I first started having any tingling in the face, hands, and feet, which showed some white matter, but the neurologist said that everyone has white matter and mine most likely was not MS or anything like that.

I just don't know where else to look. I haven't seen a GI doc yet, though.

I never had a nuclear stress test, just the Stress Echo. Is there a big difference? I don't know if my current cardiologist would do it. I think he thinks I'm crazy! He's like "I give you a 100% guarantee that your heart is healthy"

Hi Bella, I see you have gotten some great responses from some of our members so far.  I just wanted to welcome you to HW and let you know that we are happy to have you posting here.  I was a bit curious though since most of your pain has been on the left side...have any of your doctors done a chest X-ray?  You stated that you have breast implants and perhaps there could be a leak with one...Just wondering if that possibility has been checked as I know that the symptoms you’re complaining of can be caused by this.

Hey Bella...I am going to be getting a CT Pulmonary Angiography...can you tell me what the test is like..is it painless??

Neurogirl, the CT Pulmonary Angiogram that I had was pretty painless. The only painful part was getting the IV (I never have good veins) and the warm sensation that I got from the dye. It only takes a few minutes and then you're done. What is your doctor testing for?

Hey Bella...I've been having symptoms for about a year now and by the way, you remind me of me so much. Feeling like the doctors missed something. Im 25 and before these symptoms I was soo healthy. I get heart palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheaded, low blood pressure. I've had alot of tests done with everything coming back normal. I don't understand. I want to believe the doctors when they say leave it alone your fine except the symptoms are really bothersome. And you know when something isn't right with your body. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise..even doctors can miss things. I know some people that had symptoms for years before they were finally diagnosed. And along the way, some doctors tell them its anxiety. Could you believe it. Doctors aren't perfect and sometimes it can take a while before something manifests itself. Dont worry too much tho because stress and anxiety can make things worse.

Hi Tshl36!

The Dr. said that my EKG was normal, even though it said Abnormal ECG.

These were my EKG and Echocardiogram Results:

These were the results of my EKG and Echocardiogram, in case that helps.

These were my EKG Results


Vent rate 89 bpm                                    Normal sinus rhythm with sinus arrhythmia
PR Interval 122ms                                   Biatrial enlargement
QRS duration 72ms                                  Low voltage QRS
QT/QTc 360/438                                     Abnormal ECG
P-R-T axes 73-72-43

*I asked the Dr. about the biatrial enlargement and he said that could be because of how the leads were placed or because I have larger breasts. Either way, he claims I don't have it*

These were my Echocardiogram Results

M-MODE ECHOCARDIOGRAM MEASUREMENT                                         NORMAL

Left Ventricular Diameter (Diastole) 5.1                                           (3.7 - 5.4cm)

Left Ventricular Diameter (Systole) 3.3                                           (2.3 - 3.9cm)

LV Posterior Wall Thickness (Diastole) 0.7                                       (0.7 - 1.1cm)

Septal Thickness (Diastole) 0.7                                                     (0.7 - 1.1cm)

Aortic Root Diameter 2.7                                                             (2.0 - 3.7cm)

Left Atrial Diameter (Systole) 3.5                                                  (0.9 - 4.0cm)



TWO-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
- Normal aortic root size
- Normal trileaflet aortic valve; no evidence of mitral valve prolapse or other abnormalities of tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve
- Normal left ventricular size, wall thickness and wall motion; visually estimated left ventricular ejection fraction 55-60%
- Normal left atrial and right atrial size
- No pericardial effusion
- Normal right ventricular size and wall motion
- Normal sinus rhythm at 70-80 beats/minute present during study

DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
- Color Doppler study showed no valvular regurgitation
- No abnormal gradient across the aortic valve, mitral valve, and pulmonary valve by continuous wave Doppler or apparent intracardiac shunting; no evidence of aortic coarctation.

CONCLUSION
- Normal 2D-echo and Doppler study. Normal sleft ventricular wall thickness and function.
- No valvular abnormalities seen

Lately I've been having palpitations more and more and it's so scary for me. My Cardiologist thinks I'm crazy for worrying, so I won't be seeing him again. I hope I can find another cardiologist that takes these things seriously instead of just writing them off.

Neurogurl, would the heart be ruled out even with the dizziness, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, tunnel vision, etc? I worry about V-Tach and how dangerous it is. My palps have never been caught on EKG or Echo, which is scary to me. Since Friday I've just had this constant feeling of dizziness that I can't get rid of and frequent palps, so I'm very concerned about my heart.

Hi Tshl36,

Everything came back ok with my bloodwork. I am supposed to see a new cardiologist on Friday. As of now, I'm on "bed rest", when I get up, it's like I'm on a ship. It's amazing to me that I haven't fainted yet. Between that and the feeling of my heart in my throat and that "flush" feeling, these are some very hard days.

Hey Bella I am so sorry your feeling this way. I can absolutely relate. Are you going to ask the doctor about Atenolol...to help the palpitations, they really help and its a safe drug.