[lynndriette]

Hi
I am a 45 yr old african american female and I am very frustrated with my medical care! In January 2011 I had an episode of severe chest pain for several hours. I had an appt at my local VA clinic and they did an EKG. My heart rate was 47bpm I believe, no other issues. I have had low heart rates in the 50s throughout my adult life, but recently I had been having bouts of fatigue. I would also have skipped heart beats if I took a hot bath. Well in January I started having skipped heartbeats outside of the bathtub along with chest pain, fatigue and SOB. I went on a 7day monitor in Mar 2011 and my heart rate ranged from 34-106bpm. I think it averaged in the 40s . I had arrhythmia, PVC and Atrial Run episodes. I went to a electrophysiologist Cardiologist in April 2011 who wanted to set me up for a pacemaker! I wasn't in agreement with that since we had not figured out why I was having these symptoms. I went to a Cardiologist in July 2011 who put me on a 30 day monitor and I again had PVC, PAC, Bradycardia w/Artifact, Triplet/Couplet PACs, Atrial Run and Arrhythmia episodes. During these episodes I am usually sitting, lying down, at my work desk, computer or driving. I get chest pains, SOB, fatigue, dizziness, trouble concentrating/memory issues and/or palpitations. My episodes last anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 days long, no specific pattern. I had a stress test, echo, and EKG and the cardiologist said I'm fine. What was happening is normal and I should be able to exercise. I used to run 6 miles and by this time I could only do 4 miles and that was just on my good days. Currently I am down to walking 3 miles on a good day and where I used to not have symptoms while exercising, now I get dizzy and SOB with chest pain at times. I stopped driving to work in Aug 2011 due to dizziness episodes for my safety and others. I was referred to the Mayo Clinic by a neurologist who did not think I needed an Autonomic Reflex Testing, my primary doc thought I might have autonomic nervous system issues. They sent me to yet another cardiologist. Since Sep 2011 I have seen a neurologist, rhuematologist, endocrinologist, bariatric surgeon and another electrophysiologist cardiologist. In Oct 2011 my breathing started getting worse. I get a cough and it feels like I am not getting enough oxygen at times. I went on LOA/FMLA in Nov 2011, I just could not function and do my job. I am an HR Generalist. I have had all kinds of cardio tests again as well as an MRI and the autonomic reflex test which came back mildly abnormal last month??? The cardiologist final eval is no cardio issue other than bradycardia, go back to your doctor who did your gastric bypass although I still have pending brain MRI, pulmonary, gastro and neuropsych appts at the MAyo Clinic. Oh, I also had a gastric bypass in July 2008 which has been pretty successful, 90lb weight loss, no more diabetes, high cholesterol, acid reflux, urinary incontinence or muscle/joint pain. The Mayo Clinic seems to be tossing me from doc to doc with no treatments or diagnosis since Sept, they don't talk to each other and no one delves deeper than there basic specialty (no thyroid issue, no cardio, no fibromyalgia (don't even know why they went there!), neurology doesn't want to give assessment until all test and consults are done although I have this one mildly abnormal test (a 3 on a scale of 1-10). In the meantime I am not at work, not receiving pay, not driving, not living the wonderful life I was living before January of last year and not sure when I will see any progress in solving my medical issue! I know this is very long, but reading some of the posts I know you guys know how frustrated I am. I am past the heart scare (after several ER visits) but I am real concerned about my breathing which seems to be getting worse. So I am hoping someone on this site may have had similar issues and can give me some advice, if not thanks for letting me vent and those who believe in Jesus Christ, keep me in your prayers.

[Jeff]

Wow Lynndriette, that's a laundry list of tests and issues. It's so hard when nobody knows what's wrong, and yeah, so often doctors don't ever want to "own" a patient - they just evaluate their part of the puzzle and when that part come out clean? They kick you to the next doc.

You need a Dr. House, I think.

Unfortunately, I'm not even a heart doctor - I just read up on the stuff because it's relevant to my own situation. Some of the things you've mentioned here are way outside my wheelhouse.

Now I'm not saying this is what I think your issue is, just tossing out some ideas for you to consider, for you to compare to your symptoms, and maybe ask a doctor about -

Have you been evaluated for Mediastinitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ?

Also, have you had blood tests recently to see how your vitamin/mineral absorption is post bariatric surgery? I would think that might be good information to have, even if it doesn't give you the final answer.

Bradycardia isn't great to have, so I can see why a cardiologist might want to put some sort of pacing device in you, which might help in your quality of sleep, oxygen delivery through your body, just your general health. But again, a bit outside my non-expert expertise.

Hope you can find some answers and help.

Jeff

[CMoore416]

Hello and welcome! I'm so sorry you are dealing with all of these things. I know it can be so frustrating to have something going on and no one tell you what it is or why. Hopefully somewhere throughout this you find the one special Dr who will help you. I don't know much about most of what you talked about, but I just wanted to let you know that were here if you need to vent, cry or talk! I have don't a lot of crying here!
Christina

[Katie]

I hope you find some answers and relief. I'm not an expert - so I can't offer you any answers but I can be here to support you through your troubles.

[jkfrench]

Welcome to the site. I really admire you as this must be so difficult both mentally and physically. I do have to agree with Jeff regarding the pacemaker. I am not a doctor, but a heartrate that drops as low as yours does could certainly be making you tired. My dad had a pacemaker put in many years ago because his heart rate was dropping and he was getting dizzy spells. The doctors keep him paced between 70 and 80 and he feels great now.
I imagine if you had the stress test that your heartrate is increasing during exercise which is good. I also wish I could be more help, but I think you just need to keep looking for that cardiologist that will take you seriously. Tell then you keep passing out! That will get their attention. Take care - Jodie

[Susie]

Originally Posted by Katie

I hope you find some answers and relief. I'm not an expert - so I can't offer you any answers but I can be here to support you through your troubles.

The same goes for me too. I can imagine you are going through a lot of stress right now, it can't be any fun for sure. Oh, welcome by the way.

[lynndriette]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and support. I just did some research today on dysautonomia which is an autonomic nervous system disorder which lines up with a lot of my symptoms and possibly my mildly abnormal autonomic reflex test. I have been unable to get a call back from the neurologist at the Mayo Clinic who ordered the test unfortunately. I still can't believe the terrible care that I have received there! I will try to see a local neurologist and hopefully get on the right path.

[dr461]

Originally Posted by lynndriette

Thank you all for your words of encouragement and support. I just did some research today on dysautonomia which is an autonomic nervous system disorder which lines up with a lot of my symptoms and possibly my mildly abnormal autonomic reflex test. I have been unable to get a call back from the neurologist at the Mayo Clinic who ordered the test unfortunately. I still can't believe the terrible care that I have received there! I will try to see a local neurologist and hopefully get on the right path.

Is this Mayo in Jacksonville by any chance? I hear that care there can be great or terrible, depending on the doctor you see. Is there any way you can change doctors??. Also, I don't know if your insurance covers the other hospital---Baptist Med center downtown Jax.

[lynndriette]

Yes it is the clinic in Jacksonville. I am not sure about changing doctors. My initial visit was to Dr Yamini, a cardiologist. He is supposed to be my coordinating physician, but he has done a poor job of coordinating and following up with me outside of my cardio tests. I can't say that anyone else has stepped in that spot, but they have scheduled me for all kinds of test still. I have not asked for a new coordinating physician. I actually live over 5 hours from Jacksonville, so I hope to find a good specialist here after I talk to my local primary care giver.