Heart complications after surgery? Only 25yo

[countryrae2001 8]

Every since a week out from surgery, I was sent to the er for a high resting heart rate of 128 and chest pain and difficulty breathing. They thought it might be a PE, but it came back negative. However, the cat scan of my chest showed some Fluid around my heart and lungs. My er doctor wanted me to see a cardiologist in one to two days, but it was a pretty bad ER visit and someone else told me it wasn't that big of a deal so I left confused. I went to my pcm instead, and she immediately gave me a referral to a cardiologist, saying they don't mess around with that kind of stuff. Whoever was supposed to make the referral say on it for a week, and then the cardiologist couldn't get me in for another two weeks since I was a new patient. I ended up in the ER yet again and my d dimer was elevated which is usually indicative of a bleeding or clotting issue or heart issue... They have me a prescription for prilosec and sent me home. Now, I'm a little over a month out since surgery, and this has gotten progressively worse, and fast. I kept having episodes where I get sharp pains in my chest in the center, but now it has progressed to a spreading, cramping pressure like sensation that is very discomforting. It's in my chest, my left arm mainly, my center back, left shoulder, neck and sometimes my jaw. I'll get these weird recurring headaches that I've never experienced, and my heart feels like it's pounding out of my chest. All at once, my heart is racing and pounding and everything starts going black and I can't breathe but it doesn't feel like it's coming from my lungs. And this has been happening more and more sporadically. Before it was with intermediate exertion, now it's I can walk up a couple of stairs, or get out of bed, or simply walk across my house, or get in the shower. Simple everyday activities. Even sitting on the couch. And it takes a very long time for it to finally go away. I checked my BP at Walmart the other day to see what was going on when I feel this way, and this was after standing and waiting for five to ten minutes because someone was hogging the machine. If anyone has ANY beneficial insight, I would be hugely grateful. I know this is unusual for post surgery, but I am very scared. I am only 25 years old, and my bmi was borderline when I got the surgery.

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[Creekimp13 5,838]

Do you have a history of anxiety issues? When do you see the cardiologist?

Edited June 25, 2018 by Creekimp13

[Matt Z 4,139]

Elevated heart rate is also a symptom of dehydration. How's your Water intake?

Did they do a ECG/EKG while you were in the ER?

[countryrae2001 8]

I see the cardiologist this Thursday. I was trying to get a blood pressure cuff before then so I could track some more info for the doc. Also, I had anxiety issues many years ago, but I haven't taken meds in a long time. However, this is different than anything I've experienced. The anxiety was like an impending doom feeling, more mental than anything. I could feel the panic in my brain, and the physical symptoms were secondary. Now, these physical symptoms hit me like a brick wall and they are very primary. It's mostly with light exertion, like walking around my house, or the store, or being in the shower... And no anxiety going on.

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[KimTriesRNY 1,853]

Interesting. Did you have an irregular heartbeat on your EKG? Did you have any cardiac enzymes tested during your ER stay? Did they check a BNP or give you lasix if you said you had extra Fluid around your heart and lungs?

Do you have a history of a lower blood pressure?

Have you had any fevers since your surgery?

I would be concerned at your age as well. Dehydration does not cause radiating pain to the arm or jaw. Of course make sure you are getting your fluids but I hope you get checked out by a cardiologist ASAP.

I think sometimes too many people are brushed off due to age or other reasons and then something is wrong. We’ve seen it before on here.

Best wishes.

[countryrae2001 8]

Elevated heart rate is also a symptom of dehydration. How's your Water intake?

Did they do a ECG/EKG while you were in the ER?

My labs don't show dehydration, and I've been working on the water above everything. If anything it may be mild, but my urine looks clear. As for the er, they did an EKG, but no ecg. I was asymptomatic at the time because I had been lying there for a good while. I had also waited to go to the er till my symptoms were almost gone, because I had called my nurses hotline for my insurance as well.

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[Creekimp13 5,838]

Have you contacted your bariatric surgeon about your recent ER visits and problems with eating? What does your bariatric surgeon think?

[Creekimp13 5,838]

12 minutes ago, countryrae2001 said:

they did an EKG, but no ecg

Fun fact: It's the same test.

The dude who invented electrocardiography was Dutch and used the Greek spelling... Kardio for Cardio.

Edited June 25, 2018 by Creekimp13

[Frustr8 7,886]

Don't please brush it off just because of your youth! I had a son who died at 31, looked healthy, acted healthy, seemed healthy. Walked into our local ER, 17 hours later was dead. He had congenital cardiac defects never diagnosed, his aorta explodes and he died. And there is a possibility my genes gave it to him. 10 years, I still carry sorrow and guilt within me. I could not save my Kevin, my first- born son, but @countryrae2001 if I can speak out and save 1 more young person in his name, his death and. my sorrow will not be in vain. If you do not,have a cardiologist and most people your age don't, call the nearest big or university hospital nearby and ask to be seen . If not totally for yourself , for those who love you that they do not have to mourn as I do. Please do it for me, your friend Frustr8.😪💦😪

[Frustr8 7,886]

Good I see. you posted while I was relating your story, if you can get seen sooner than Thursday do it, I don't want Thursday to be too late. I see you are in Georgia, go to Emory, go somewhere closer to Marietta if you have to. But please with tears in my eyes💦Go!

[countryrae2001 8]

Good I see. you posted while I was relating your story, if you can get seen sooner than Thursday do it, I don't want Thursday to be too late. I see you are in Georgia, go to Emory, go somewhere closer to Marietta if you have to. But please with tears in my eyes[emoji97]Go!

I actually have tried multiple times to get in sooner and they wouldn't have it. I am very scared, because I feel this is something I've never experienced and I can tell, I have a gut feeling is very serious. I feel it getting worse quickly. So I'm just taking it as easy as I can until I get in. Thank you so much for your concern.

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[countryrae2001 8]

Fun fact: It's the same test.
The dude who invented electrocardiography was Dutch and used the Greek spelling... Kardio for Cardio.

Really? I thought the EKG was the test with the sensors to get a printout of the heart rate /heart beat. And the ecg was where they take an ultrasound of your heart to actually watch it function

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[Frustr8 7,886]

PPS I used to work at Walmart myself. They have reasonable BP cuffs, I recommend the wrist ones, easy to read even doctors offices use them now. The symptoms you describe are cardiac , now panic and dehydration, even GERD can be mimic them but I guarantee I if you were my age (72) they would put thi,kmonitoring stuff on me before I could say Excuse ME. Let me give you a mini-tutorial. There is a cardiac syndrome fairly recently admitted to and women are more prone. Called microvascular syndrome, your smaller cardiac vessels spasm, unless they can get you at that exact moment they relax and it doesn't brow,on the easier tests. Just a strong possibility. I'm not going to relax until I know you are okay?

[countryrae2001 8]

Have you contacted your bariatric surgeon about your recent ER visits and problems with eating? What does your bariatric surgeon think?

My bariatric surgeon is actually on leave so I haven't seen her in a while, but the other doc/nurse thinks I should go to the cardiologist as well, but they also think I'm having issues with acid reflux. I do know I've had major issues with Gerd in the past. And I can tell I'm having some issues with it now. But it's a separate side of the plate, the things I feel when it comes to the acid reflux and "when" i feel them in comparison to what and when I feel these heart issues, if that makes any sense.

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[countryrae2001 8]

Interesting. Did you have an irregular heartbeat on your EKG? Did you have any cardiac enzymes tested during your ER stay? Did they check a BNP or give you lasix if you said you had extra Fluid around your heart and lungs?

Do you have a history of a lower blood pressure?

Have you had any fevers since your surgery?

I would be concerned at your age as well. Dehydration does not cause radiating pain to the arm or jaw. Of course make sure you are getting your fluids but I hope you get checked out by a cardiologist ASAP.

I think sometimes too many people are brushed off due to age or other reasons and then something is wrong. We’ve seen it before on here.

Best wishes.

I cannot remember the last time they checked my enzymes, I think it was at that first week er visit. At this most recent visit they mainly checked the d dimer lab, and the regular labs. They did not give me anything for the fluid at the first er visit, actually they did not even tell me about the fluid or tell me why they were giving me the cardiology referral in the first place. I have a history of lower than normal BP, but that BP was even low for me. But usually when I have a lower BP, the numbers still look somewhat normal, like 90s over 60s or something similar. Never seen it where the numbers were close together like that? No fevers that I know of...

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