Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
Crushing chest pain and bradycardia
I am a 22-year-old female. I have a number of health conditions including POTS, PVC's Supraventricular Contractions, and Vasovagal syncope (presyncope upon laughing, activities using abs). It was a big challenge to get any diagnoses as they said: "it's just anxiety", "stress", "if symptoms continue, refer to a psychologist" among other things. But the tilt table immediately showed POTS.
I had/have episodes of crushing chest pain like an elephant sitting on it when I lay down, a squeezing while standing making me clutch my chest, my HR drops significantly, simultaneously and the pain is so bad that I don't take a breath for about 20 sec until less severe or need O2.
On bad days it drops more than half its rate. In an ambulance, it went from 178bpm to 34 to 140's. It wasn't printed out, so the hospital took no notice. They say "is just anxiety" but it's not. It's different from POTS and often triggered by laying down, walking fast or hills, but occasionally it's random. Can anyone help please?
