Just over a week ago I had some chest pain and didn't feel right. I took myself off to A+E and to be fair the staff and Drs there were awesome. I had the full works, ECG, Ultrasound on the heart, full bloods, you name it.
The diagnosis was Pericarditis - basically an inflammation of the fluid filled sack that houses the heart (Pericardium). I've had it before - once briefly in 2010, when I collapsed completely. On that occasion, I was uncomfortable for a week or so, but recovered, and by the end of the week my ECG was normal again.
In late 2012 I again had chest pain and went to hospital - again, diagnosed with Pericarditis. This episode lasted about six weeks, and I struggled, I was out of breath doing not very much and felt crap. It's worth noting that I never had a 'Normal' ECG, after this bout. There were still some unusually high ST elevations. My last ECG in 2012, the cardiologist said whilst it was out of a range he would expect, it may well be normal for me, being of such slim build, and that he wasn't worried and I need not come back.
In recent months I have felt lethargic and not had much energy. I have put this down to the fact that I am a rotating shift worker, working long hours in a mentally and physically demanding job, and haven't really worried about it that much.
A few days ago, I got up to go to work. My alarm clock went off at 0530, and I sat upright in bed as I always do. I suddenly, after sitting up, felt massively light headed, and fell straight back down again onto the pillow. I put it down to getting up to quickly, so got up again, slower, and went for a shower. I felt a bit disorientated, but put it down to the fact I had just woken up and not had much sleep.
During the shift, I felt a bit unbalanced, and on a couple of occasions, stumbled, but recovered from it.
I finished work and got home at 1900, there was just me at home. Out of nowhere, the room started spinning, REALLY fast, everything was a blur, I felt like I was falling, but had no control over my body to put my arms etc out to save myself. I had a sensation I was just falling and falling, EG like jumping off a building, and my vision at the same time tunnelled into darkness, and I blacked out.
I went into hospital, by ambulance, and again have had a full neurological and cardic examination.
ECG is apparently very consistent with Pericarditis, which appears alive and well, but, with that said - the Drs do not think that is related to why I blacked out.
Since then, I have not fully blacked out again, but I have had spells of extreme dizziness whereby I get the falling sensation, but have managed to recover. One of these happened in front of the Dr, who to be fair, was very concerned.
To cut a long story short I have been discharged, and despite all the tests, they can't work out why I blacked out or keep going dizzy. A CT Scan was not conducted, because a bleed on the brain was considered very unlikely, in comparison to the risk of exposure to radiation, from the scan.
Currently now at home, thankfully I have a long block of restdays, but if I'm still unwell afterwards I'm going to have to speak to work about a few adjustments (Eg I can't drive at the moment)
I just want to feel better
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Topic: Really scared - Health (Read 4990 times)