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Suggest Treatment For Premature Ventricular Contractions

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Posted on Mon, 15 Feb 2016
Question: Hellow, my story, ugh. I felt faint all day, nearly blacked out twice when standing - legs feel heavy - feel overall very weak, my bp is 130/82 on the right arm but higher on the left arm - i've been diagnosed with premature ventricular contractions, atrial ventricular contractions, and recovering from both a concussion from 8 mos. ago (post concussion syndrome) and a tooth infection. I'm currently taking doxycline for the infection - day 7, allegra, nasacort, valium 5mg 1x a day, percocet 7.5 mg today, vit d, multi vitamin. I just feel awful and I am not sure what is going on. Really weak and lightheaded especially when standing/walking. Any suggestions? Our local hospital is a joke. You have to be dead in order for them to be able to diagnose you correctly...as in "your dead"....so I hesitate going there but.... So, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

Your symptoms seem to be related to orthostatic intolerance.

This means that your blood pressure lowers when standing up from sitting or lying position.

I recommend measuring your blood pressure in sitting position and then in standing position (after 5 minutes of standing). If there is a decrease more than 20mm Hg in your systolic blood pressure when standing up, compared to sitting position, this would be indicative for orthostatic hypotension.

A head up tilt test would be necessary to diagnose this disorder.

Some blood lab tests (complete blood count, thyroid hormone levels, cortisol plasma levels, blood electrolytes, kidney and liver function tests) are necessary to exclude other secondary causes (chronic anemia, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal gland dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance, etc.).

I would also recommend stop taking valium, which may contribute in your symptomatology.

Hope to have been of help!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (7 hours later)
Thank you for your response!
Regarding the blood work you suggested - would a "comprehensive metabolic" blood test include the tests you discussed?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

A head up tilt test is not lab blood tests. This is a physical test, which determines if you are suffering from orthostatic intolerance.

The blood lab tests that I recommended you to perform help exclude other secondary metabolic causes like: thyroid gland dysfunction, adrenal gland dysfunction, chronic anemia, inflammation, which can be the cause of exacerbation of your symptoms.

A comprehensive metabolic blood test would include the tests I discussed.

Hope to have been helpful!

Best wishes,

Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9536 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Premature Ventricular Contractions

Brief Answer: I would explain as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello! Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM! Your symptoms seem to be related to orthostatic intolerance. This means that your blood pressure lowers when standing up from sitting or lying position. I recommend measuring your blood pressure in sitting position and then in standing position (after 5 minutes of standing). If there is a decrease more than 20mm Hg in your systolic blood pressure when standing up, compared to sitting position, this would be indicative for orthostatic hypotension. A head up tilt test would be necessary to diagnose this disorder. Some blood lab tests (complete blood count, thyroid hormone levels, cortisol plasma levels, blood electrolytes, kidney and liver function tests) are necessary to exclude other secondary causes (chronic anemia, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal gland dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance, etc.). I would also recommend stop taking valium, which may contribute in your symptomatology. Hope to have been of help! Kind regards, Dr. Iliri