flyer99
01-15-2009, 05:34 PM
Hello all. I have a history of PVC's (had them for most of my life and am in mid-50's) and also a long history of panic attacks and anxiety. In the past two years I have gone to the ER twice with racing heart, pounding heart, skipped beats along with the sweats, pale face, the feeling of unreality.
The first time I went ( about 1.5 years ago), they did a full battery of tests, including stress test, and everything was absolutley normal. I went back to the ER a couple of weeks ago 3 days after a severe panic episode with the same symptoms Again, they did an EKG, seven vials of bloodwork, including the enzymes, etc. They could find nothing wrong, except the amount of pvc's I was experiencing, which they said were nothing to worry about.
The ER doctor assured me that it was anxiousness, stress, a panic episode. I asked him if I should have a stress test or other tests and he said that it wasn't necessary but he would put a note to my doctor and my doctor would review everything. He said that if I wanted one for my peace of mind, that my doctor could arrange a visit with a cardiologist.
I have been very stressed out lately and I am experiencing an unusual number of these pvc's and also when I exercise now I sometimes experience one or two sharp pains in my mid chest towards the back. I experience no shortness of breath, no numbness, no heaviness in the chest or any othr symptoms other than the pvc's and that occasional sharp pain. My blood pressure has also been very normal except it goes up a bit when I am very stressed (I have a very good home monitor).
I see my family doctor on January 21st. Should I ask for a stress test or any other tests or do you think that this is probably all stress and anxiety related as the ER doctor and the cardiologist a year ago stated to me? I have had stress tests, holtor monitors, etc in the past which all showed everything is fine. I don't mind the pvc's but it's this sharp pain that has me mystified. I don't get it often but it is frightening to me when I do. Being so anxious, I am always worried about my health, especially my heart and tend to be somewhat of a hypochondriac about it.
Any comments and suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks for reading.
The first time I went ( about 1.5 years ago), they did a full battery of tests, including stress test, and everything was absolutley normal. I went back to the ER a couple of weeks ago 3 days after a severe panic episode with the same symptoms Again, they did an EKG, seven vials of bloodwork, including the enzymes, etc. They could find nothing wrong, except the amount of pvc's I was experiencing, which they said were nothing to worry about.
The ER doctor assured me that it was anxiousness, stress, a panic episode. I asked him if I should have a stress test or other tests and he said that it wasn't necessary but he would put a note to my doctor and my doctor would review everything. He said that if I wanted one for my peace of mind, that my doctor could arrange a visit with a cardiologist.
I have been very stressed out lately and I am experiencing an unusual number of these pvc's and also when I exercise now I sometimes experience one or two sharp pains in my mid chest towards the back. I experience no shortness of breath, no numbness, no heaviness in the chest or any othr symptoms other than the pvc's and that occasional sharp pain. My blood pressure has also been very normal except it goes up a bit when I am very stressed (I have a very good home monitor).
I see my family doctor on January 21st. Should I ask for a stress test or any other tests or do you think that this is probably all stress and anxiety related as the ER doctor and the cardiologist a year ago stated to me? I have had stress tests, holtor monitors, etc in the past which all showed everything is fine. I don't mind the pvc's but it's this sharp pain that has me mystified. I don't get it often but it is frightening to me when I do. Being so anxious, I am always worried about my health, especially my heart and tend to be somewhat of a hypochondriac about it.
Any comments and suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks for reading.
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ScamperFletcher
01-15-2009, 08:57 PM
If chest pain occurs when you exercise - and you haven't had a recent stress test - I would think a new stress test would be warranted. Just my opinion!