Dizziness

Posted , 2 users are following.

Hello all,

New member here. I just got back from the doctors after requesting an EKG due to my mother passing in her sleep in December 2015 at just 45 years old and my aunt (her sister) dropping suddenly from cardiac arrest while waiting in line for coffee at a casino in Niagara Falls. Luckily one of the young women working behind the counter just graduated medical school and was able to perform CPR until paramedics arrived which saved her life. She had a pacemaker put in and is still kicking. She was 38 when this happened. I am turning 31 on July 6th and lately out of blue I have been having weird chest symptoms like chest tightness, trouble getting a full breath, feeling lightheaded. My EKG came back completely normal which is a huge sigh of relief although I still do experience the lightheadedness just not as extreme as it was. All the symptoms started beginning of May out of the blue for no reason at all. My blood test came back amazing a few weeks ago which my doctor is thrilled about. He is saying all my symptoms have to do with anxiety due to getting older and the family history with the heart. I am type 2 for about 10 years and only earlier this year did I get my eating under control and cut out junk food and pretty much all unhealthy carbs. My trig’s went from 333 to 76 which is amazing and my A1C went from 12.6 to 8.8. I am currently living in Phoenix, AZ since 2013 and am going back home to Buffalo,NY on Saturday till the end of July. I was considering having a stress test when I return. Do you think I need one or is the EKG enough. I’m trying to better myself but can’t seem to calm down my health anxiety. Thanks so much!

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4 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi! Well first, given the family history, I think you're wise to stay on top of things.

    Great on the trigs but the A1C is still high, though that could still be the bad old stuff that still hasn't cleared out. Do you take current BG readings?

    Given your family history you should get with a cardiologist now. Do NOT dismiss the symptoms, and don't let some lazy doctor just foist them off on "anxiety".

    I don't know what additional diagnostics are available in these cases. Do you know what kind of cholesterol numbers your relatives had? But it's probably not that, unless they were very high.

    Certainly you should seek more diagnostics, at least an echocardiogram, even if you have to pay for it because "insurance" won't - just make sure you at least get the insurance price even if you have to pay it out of pocket.

    Unfortunately these are just not terribly predictive - they are diagnostics, not predictors.

    OTOH my father's parents both passed at age 55, he was very nervous around that age, but he made it to 85 in good shape before passing - better diagnostics and care these days, and you're on the right track. I started having some cardiac issues before that age, but I'm still in reasonable shape, maybe, 10+ years later. Also with some diabetes issues, pretty much under control - dad had a little too, but once he lost about 40 pounds he was fine, and maybe his father never did that.

  • Posted

    unfortunately I don't have time to go to cardiologist right now due to upcoming vacation on Saturday until end of July and insurance is not valid out of state. I planned to get a stress test when I get back. I will look further into echo when I get back.

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