I'm just going to have to call 911 eventually. - Heart Disorders Message Board

MHossa · 08-04-2006, 08:56 PM

As i've said in several topics over the months i've been having AFIB symptoms since Febuary for most of each day. I'm only 16 years old and I haven't gotten a license yet.

The symptoms are getting worse and worse. I woke up this morning after about 8 hours sleep and people in my house were talking loud and everytime they did i'd get this odd feeling in my chest like my heart was just too weak to speed up. My doctors ran one test back in Febuary and said I didn't have AFIB but I probably just wasn't in an episode. I've had swollen ankles and considerable weight gain for a few months to top it off. Anyway this morning I started feeling Dizzy and felt like I was about to pass out so I went upstairs and went to sleep for a few hours. My mother just keeps putting off a doctors visit though.

The AFIB feels like its getting more intense but she really believes this is all in my head. This condition is crippling me and i'm always weak and tired. Is it normal for A-Fib to be this bad without CHF being present? (Read my symptoms)

I'm mainly afraid that since it's been untreated so long that i've got irreversible damage done to my heart.

I know you guys aren't doctors but I really am in a bit of a delima here with my mother not wanting to take me to the doctor.

Lenin · 08-05-2006, 07:15 AM

MHossa,

It seems you are determined to have A-fib and CHF no matter what...I read all your past posts.

What heart rates do you determine during your episodes of A-fib...something in the neighborhood of 200 is quuite common?

How much weight did you gain...weight gain is everywhere including ankles. If your weight gain is CHF related, then it will be responsive to salt so go for 3 days with absolutely NO salt (including any processed foods) and see if your ankles diminish in size. If indeed they DO, then perhaps a diuretic is in your future.

What kind of health insurance do you have? Can you walk into an E/R and be covered? If so, the next time you are suffering what you feel is A-fib, then go into the E/R and tell them your heart is in tachycardia. If they measure it and find that your rate is normal, then you've GOT to let go of your A-fib obsession.
If you DO indeed have it, they'll notice IMMEDIATELY because it's so very apparent. In that case a beta blocker is very likely to help.

My "diagnosis" though is that you are having a longish bout with hypochondria and "over-vigilance."

seaecho · 08-05-2006, 11:40 AM

I agree completely with the other poster. There is underlying terror and urgency in your post. I know the feeling all too well. You are obsessed, and certain that you are in AFIB, even though you've been told by medical professionals that you are fine. I have to agree that you should go to an urgent care clinic or ER when you are in the midst of what you THINK is AFIB. That way, you can be assured of getting a correct diagnosis. And I strongly feel you may just be suffering from severe anxiety and hypochondria. You sound too much the way I used to be - and when it is that severe, medication can help tremendously. (I'm talking about a medication to calm you down and help you to think rationally when you are frightened).

Timber · 08-06-2006, 07:41 AM

Go ahead and call 911. They'll bring a portable EKG machine into the house, and/or they'll hook you up to one in the ambulance. They'll be able to tell immediately if you are, in fact, in a fib or not. And if you aren't, then you have to accept that.

MHossa · 08-09-2006, 06:02 AM

I'm terrified and I CANT think rationally.

What scares me most of all is how if ANY kind of sound that i'm not expecting happens my heart stays at the same pace and feels like it can't speed up. I don't know how to describe it and I can't find anything about it relating to heart failure. Like my heart can't speed up at all. I'll be sitting on my bed and feel like my heart is being turned off sometimes. I just feel like i'm leaving my body and everything around me is getting dark but I come back at the last second.

(Like a dog barking loudly or someone speaking all of sudden and the typical things that can cause your heart to maybe speed up)

Here is my weight gain by the way.

Normal Weight

204

All of a sudden I went up to

209

---

209 all of a sudden I went up to

213

-------

213 and all of a suddent I went up to

216(This was a day or two ago)

It's like my heart is getting weaker incredibly fast and I cant live with the first thing I mentioned. This has all happened just a few months after CHF symptoms appearing.