Ongoing, undiagnosed chest pain: I want to feel better

Posted by tplefka @tplefka, Apr 18, 2021

Hi! I am posting in the hopes of finding some answers or possible routes for me to explore after 7+ months of undiagnosed chest pains. I am a 25 year old female. In September of 2020 I woke up in the middle of the night with a sharp chest pain, nausea, and dizziness. Prior to that I had been experiencing premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) (did not know that is what they were at the time) sporadically, but after the night in September they started really picking up frequency. I ended up in the ER twice in one week with chest pains and excessive PVCs and left with no diagnosis each time. Since then I have experienced an array of symptoms including: continued chest pains, arm pain, numbness in hands and sometimes face, back and neck pain, fatigue, dizziness, head pressure, the list goes on. I have gotten just about every test done on my heart that I could - echocardiogram, Heart MRI, Holter monitor, stress test - all of which have come back totally normal. I've also explored neurology and got an EMG of my arms and hands as well as a brain and cervical spine MRI - again, all totally normal. I've also had bloodwork done throughout all of this, everything always comes back normal. The problem is, I feel terrible. Almost every single day I experience chest pain that often feels like pressure or squeezing and can be sharp. I've gone onto Nadolol (beta blocker) which has helped minimize my PVCs but has not eliminated them, and they can sometimes be debilitating. Every doctor I've seen (and I've now seen many in search of second opinions) just says because I'm young they don't think I have anything to worry about, which is extremely frustrating when each and every day I am in pain. Sometimes, I have episodes that are so serious I've been close to or gone back into the ER. Even as recently as a few days ago, I woke up in the middle of the night and felt pressure in my chest and then suddenly felt as if my blood was running ice cold and I was extremely faint. While getting ready to go to the ER, I had to lay down before I passed out and slowly started feeling better, so did not go in. I am living my life in constant fear of the worst happening, and am searching for next steps to explore to try to find some answers. Has anyone had a similar experience or any suggestions of where to go next? Any thoughts or help is so appreciated... I want to feel better!

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tplefka | @tplefka | Apr 25, 2021

In reply to @becsbuddy "@tplefka I’ve been thinking about you. Have you had any luck in finding a medical center?..." + (show)

No luck yet... I'm finding it very hard to get in anywhere any time soon ):

saygirl | @saygirl | Aug 10, 2021

I suffered the same thing. I went to the ER and found out that the chest pain came from indigestion. The ER doctor gave me a GI cocktail.. From Saygirl

phoenix1647 | @phoenix1647 | Aug 11, 2021

First....Don't give up! Never give up! The pain is REAL:, it is not just in your head. Heart issues can happen at any age. It took me some years before that finaly said I have AFIB. So keep on them. Can you tell me where you are located? How far away are you from Austin, TX?
NEXT" Track your blood pressure and pulse. Keep a chart so you can show the doctors. For example, I take mine first thing every morning. There was a time when I took my BP five times a day. Any time you are having problems, take and record your BP and also take your glucose reading if you can. Like someone else said, get all your medical records reguarding this issue and keep them handy. Keep a log going. Write down every time you have an issue..
I know this is very frustrating for you. Mostly it's the feeling you are being dismissed. I went through the same thing. I too did all the heart tests they could think of. It just took time and finding the right doctor.
I recently had a Watchman device put in my heart. Took me a very long time to get it done. What was the final deciding factor was after they did a Nuclear stress test on me and it showed some abnormalities. I may also end up needing a stent put in. Will have yet another cath done after the watchman healing process is done.
I wish you well and hope you get some answers soon. As before, don't ever give up. Best of luck to you.

cghader | @cghader | Aug 11, 2021

In reply to @phoenix1647 "First....Don't give up! Never give up! The pain is REAL:, it is not just in your..." + (show)

Had same problem and diagnosed as reflux..finally had heart catheter (angiogram) and found to have main heart artery 90%blocked. Stent placed and "reflux" problem went away.

Amanda Burnett | @amandaa | Aug 11, 2021

In reply to @cghader "Had same problem and diagnosed as reflux..finally had heart catheter (angiogram) and found to have main..." + (show)

Hello @cghader and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I am so happy that your reflux went away after you were stented after diagnosed with the 90% blockage.

Did your doctor explain exactly why that happened? Can you share that?

adam2363 | @adam2363 | May 22, 2022

Hello, have you had any luck in terms of a diagnosis? I am going through a similar situation

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 23, 2022

In reply to @adam2363 "Hello, have you had any luck in terms of a diagnosis? I am going through a..." + (show)

Welcome @adam2363, I know it can be difficult sometimes to get a diagnosis. @cghader share his diagnosis in a post directly above your post here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/625356/

Have your doctors mentioned any diagnosis or suggested treatment?

aar9 | @aar9 | May 23, 2022

Hi I hear your despair and frustration. So sorry that you are going thru all this suffering. I would recommend you to have a Left or Right heart catherization to check for possible SCAD. Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. All the symptoms you are experiencing you could have SCAD. I was diagnosed with it after my Left heart catherization. Good luck. Take care

markdeegan | @markdeegan | May 23, 2022

Get a Cardiologist. Have a CT-A. Takes
5 minutes. Then you know if it is heart related or not!

markdeegan | @markdeegan | May 23, 2022

In reply to @adam2363 "Hello, have you had any luck in terms of a diagnosis? I am going through a..." + (show)