Heart issues, Cardiologist not helping

[DAB19]

I recently decided to buy a heart monitor for home use, I mostly got it to help bring peice of mind when I’m having strange heart symptoms, I never actually expected it to show anything... well... it did and I went to the ER. They did their normal cardiac stuff, said everything was fine, then released  me.  I, then decided to call my cardiologist (not a dysautonomia specialist) to see what my next steps should be... He returned my call at 9 PM and started to basically belittle me, over the phone and at night no less. I’m so discouraged, I feel like I’m between a rock and a hard place. I told my doctor of the new developments and he wouldn’t listen. Fast forward to today I was driving when I had a weird muscle spasm feeling in my chest, this was accompanied by lightningheadedness and shortness of breath, needless to say I’m in the ED again! !! I definitely plan on seeing another cardiologist, luckily I found a dysautonomia doctor during my research today that was close to me. But as luck would have it his office was closed today. I’m so upset I don’t really know what to do. Has anyone else ever felt like your heart was spasming? I’m also wondering if it could have been something esophageal mimicking a heart issue? Just looking for some consolation, trying to come up with theories. I should note that what I felt today didn’t feel like a PVC or PAC, it was different then what I’ve felt before. Just looking for some peace of mind, thanks for the replies. I included a picture of the home heart monitor reading. I showed the ER doc and they didnt give me a clear answer.

[StayAtHomeMom]

The ER doc may not have actually been able to read an EKG. My hubby's PCP told him based on his EKG he had some heart damage. We totally freaked out. It turns out she was reading what the machine told her and not the actual graph. His cardiologist read the graph and she said it was fine. That the heart damage we were told about was a common fault with EKG machines. When I showed her my handheld one my boss lent me she was so excited and actually looked at the graph. 

It sounds like you are on the right track. I would see if a new cardiologist can help. Explain yourself and hopefully they will understand where you are coming from and can help alleviate your anxiety. 

Also EKG graphs can be misleading. If you just barely move sometimes it can show it and it turns out to be nothing. 

[potsiebarbie]

Do you have a hiatal hernia? I get so many weird random things that I really think my stupid hernia causes since doctors can't really find much else. I've seen tons on similar issues with hiatal hernias on other forums so it seems totally possible. Just a thought! 

[Help4Me]

yes there is a syndrome called Cardiac Spasm....it usually happens at night though but you can google it....

[Help4Me]

Sorry I think it is called Cardiac Vasospasm....

[Peter Charlton]

Firstly, I am not a cardiologist, just a medically retired mechanic.

That last line, where it has the bigger gap between the QRS waves, that is a PAC. I attach a picture of one of my PACs. My second picture will be of a PVC, rather than a gap, they have this huge spike. Picture that looks like a child's scribbling, is my Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia, when its like this they like to see you in ER. PACs and PVCs are nearly always benign and they say nearly every body gets them.

Last picture is how my heart looks like when I suspect I am getting Prinz metal angina, or Coronary artery spasm, feels like really bad heartburn, you will notice that the little bump after the normal spike of the QRS is actually huge, this is called the "T" wave and is a sign of LAD Occlusion which would in effect block coronary arteries the same as Prinz metal angina, so I don't think I am wrong in guessing one would see a similar ECG.

Please note if you ask a question of me, even though I select the notification box, I never get notifications, apologies if I don't reply.

 

 

 

[WinterSown]

On 12/7/2018 at 6:47 PM, DAB19 said:

I recently decided to buy a heart monitor for home use, I mostly got it to help bring peice of mind when I’m having strange heart symptoms, I never actually expected it to show anything... well... it did and I went to the ER. They did their normal cardiac stuff, said everything was fine, then released  me.  I, then decided to call my cardiologist (not a dysautonomia specialist) to see what my next steps should be... He returned my call at 9 PM and started to basically belittle me, over the phone and at night no less. I’m so discouraged, I feel like I’m between a rock and a hard place.

Do yourself a big favor and never go to an ER without calling them or your doctor first. Describe your symptoms and let them tell you to  go to the ER. Having wonky numbers doesn't mean you are emergent and your cardiologist bit your head off for it--you were probably his last call from his home before he dragged his bones to bed.  

I told my doctor of the new developments and he wouldn’t listen. Fast forward to today I was driving when I had a weird muscle spasm feeling in my chest, this was accompanied by lightningheadedness and shortness of breath, needless to say I’m in the ED again! !!

Put the phone down and have a friend hold it. Patients using hand-helds in the ED aren't considered as ill as the ones who are barely breathing. Basically, if you are so ill that you need to be in the ER you shouldn't have the energy to even be distracted by text, calls, or games. If you are emergent act like it otherwise wait to be taken care of behind anyone who is slightly more ill or traumatic. 

 I definitely plan on seeing another cardiologist, luckily I found a dysautonomia doctor during my research today that was close to me. But as luck would have it his office was closed today. I’m so upset I don’t really know what to do. Has anyone else ever felt like your heart was spasming? I’m also wondering if it could have been something esophageal mimicking a heart issue? Just looking for some consolation, trying to come up with theories. I should note that what I felt today didn’t feel like a PVC or PAC, it was different then what I’ve felt before. Just looking for some peace of mind, thanks for the replies. I included a picture of the home heart monitor reading. I showed the ER doc and they didnt give me a clear answer.

Talk to a gastro if the cardiologist says your numbers are fine. Which, btw, is actually a good thing. It's what most of us want to hear.

 

 

 

[Pistol]

I have prinz-metal-angina. I do not actually feel like my heart is "spasming" - I just get chest pain. And I was never told that my EKG changed during an episode of angina ( monitored in ED, telemetry units, implanted loop recorder etc ). I was diagnosed after a heart cath. 

[lieze]

Yes I have gotten that spasm feeling. Then I started feeling that same exact sensation in other locations in my body so I am not sure it really was my heart.

I have horrible anxiety and I think many of the sensations I get are related to not managing my stress well so it comes out in other ways. 

I respect that your situation might be different but I have worried way too much about everything to be honest.