QuestionQUESTION: I am a 44 year old female who on March 22 after returning to work from lunch suddenly became dizzy, numbness in both arms and both sides of my face, difficulty breathing, extreme rapid heartbeat. the paramedics were called and administered oxygen. i seemed to settle down and they told me i was having a panic attack and starting to hyperventilate. o.k. i went to the ER right after and they ran a ton of blood work, an EKG, urine, i was kept there for several hours and they too believed it only to be a panic attack. i was given an ativan and sent on my way. i thought and hoped that would be the end of it. not so. i missed over a week of work due to the extreme fatigue i was going thru and not too mention just feeling horrible. the dizziness continued as did the other symptoms repeatedly. i went to a walk in clinic where the doctor there told me, a panic attack too. given prozac and xanex. still happened so i saw another family physician, changed my meds again, by this time she just didn't know what was going on. i had a ct scan of the brain, normal, an echocardiogram, normal, wore a holter monitor for a week, normal. then i saw an ENT doctor cause they thought something with the inner ear, possibly Meniere's, not so. i have seen an internal md. he wants to do more tests. the fact is I have seen 6 different physician's since March 22. i have gotten no further than where i was the first time this happened. I have no answers and they don't seem to be in any hurry to get me any, cause I think they are at the point that they don't know anything. i know something is wrong and something is going on with me that has never happened before. the attacks seem to be getting worse. and i feel worse than ever. i can hardly function to get to work, much less do my job. the latest episode seemed to have caused me some difficulty in swallowing, a new symptom. i did run a slight fever of 99 on Sunday night after a pretty bad attack, another new one. i am at my wit's end, i am now to the point where i cannot eat, the attack's are getting worse and yet no one can seem to tell me anything at all. i need some advice. please help if at all possible. i can't take much more of this.
ANSWER: Tammy,
I am so sorry you are going through so much. Was a neurologist consulted? Endocrinologist? Rheumatologist?
The reason I am asking is because you have multiple symptoms that could relate to either of these specialties.
Hyper or hypoglycemia (high/low blood sugar), Thyroid or immune systems related.
You may want to see if you can be referred to someplace like Cleveland Clinic or a University (teaching hospital) Duke University Medical) hospital that will be more diagnostic. Did they do endoscopies? Glucose tolerance test? Tilt table testing? What is your heart rate? Any Tachycardia? You have so many symptoms.....that certainly need to be addressed. Panic attacks can be in addition to what ever else is going on.
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QUESTION: Thank you so much for your input! No endoscopies have been done, glucose tolerance test or tilt table testing. When I have these attacks my heart rate which normally runs 60-70 is well over the 100-130 mark. I know that doesn't seem high to some people, but when you are constantly at a 60-70 range, it feels like it is in my ears, and i literally mean that. at times i feel my heart pounding in my ears. and this normally doesn't happen unless i began to experience an attack. i am going in to have a thyroid ultrasound and an mri. i feel awful all the time. if you were choosing to see a specialist, which one would you first recommend of the ones you mentioned. I just need some sort of direction as to where to proceed forward with this. I am in the Fort Smith, Arkansas area and am contemplating going to UAMS in Little Rock. It is a teaching hospital and I have dealt with them over the past year. I was sent there for what turned out to be a bone infection in my left radius which had basically been almost eaten thru the bone by the time I was sent there. I was told here I had bone cancer. It turned out to be strep - osteomyelitis. Which they had not come across in someone my age and in the bone like it was. They were never able to actually determine how I got it. Upon leaving the hospital I was given the drug vancomyacin and had a severe reaction and nearly died. I have had thoughts wondering if in any way could any of this be related? And one other thing, I forgot too mention, and which I did mention to my physician and she basically ignored me. the few days prior to all of this happening on March 22, I sprayed roundup in my yard for weeds. I didn't wear a mask or anything and I have done this before, but was wondering if this could possibly be related? I again would appreciate your input. I am just trying to get headed in the right direction. I really need some help and soon.
AnswerAtrial fibrilation can cause tachycardia - increased hr - that needs to be addressed. Since you had the osteomyelitis you definitely need some work up. I think you are best going to UAMS.
Keep me posted I am concerned about you.
Diane - my email- dsc2148@aol.com
