Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Are The Symptoms Of Heart Failure?
Question: Last week I had fluttering feeling in chest. E.R. visit revealed an EKG was a bigemini pattern. I was given a beta blocker i.v. and a potassium drink because my blood work revealed low potassium. Physician stated I was not in heart failure but need to have a followup with a cardiologist.
I am 54 year old female with no history of heart disease. I do not smoke and lead a very active lifestyle - run, bike , hike. My primary care physician did a follow up ekg and it looked much better. She has also advised a cardiologist follow up and in the mean time she told me to discontinue my thyroid meds (liothyronine) and to keep my heart rate under 90 until after cardiologist visit. She stated she does not think my problem is anatomical, but physiological whatever that means.
What should I look for in cardiologist sub specialty? What questions should I be asking??
I am 54 year old female with no history of heart disease. I do not smoke and lead a very active lifestyle - run, bike , hike. My primary care physician did a follow up ekg and it looked much better. She has also advised a cardiologist follow up and in the mean time she told me to discontinue my thyroid meds (liothyronine) and to keep my heart rate under 90 until after cardiologist visit. She stated she does not think my problem is anatomical, but physiological whatever that means.
What should I look for in cardiologist sub specialty? What questions should I be asking??
Brief Answer:
General cardiologist can help for sure
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
General cardiologist can surely help you, I think there will be no need to consult a sub-specialist such as arrhythmologist. Your case seems to be an uncomplicated and most likely to be caused by hypokalemia, or thyroid problems if you take thyroid hormone.
There will be a need for echocardiography to rule out structural heart disease, holter monitoring to check the absolute amount of extrasystolies.
If you were my patient I would check thyroid function and repeat serum electrolyte tests as well.
The treatment mainly will be determined by the results of the examinations, if there is a need for treatment, the main strategy will be beta blockers and thyroid hormone level adjustment if there will be abnormality.
Hope I could help you
Wishing you good health
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
General cardiologist can help for sure
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
General cardiologist can surely help you, I think there will be no need to consult a sub-specialist such as arrhythmologist. Your case seems to be an uncomplicated and most likely to be caused by hypokalemia, or thyroid problems if you take thyroid hormone.
There will be a need for echocardiography to rule out structural heart disease, holter monitoring to check the absolute amount of extrasystolies.
If you were my patient I would check thyroid function and repeat serum electrolyte tests as well.
The treatment mainly will be determined by the results of the examinations, if there is a need for treatment, the main strategy will be beta blockers and thyroid hormone level adjustment if there will be abnormality.
Hope I could help you
Wishing you good health
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response. I have uploaded my recent blood work results from Friday which show a TSH level of .888 and a t3 level of 1.6.
My potassium seems to have been okay as well.
Does anything in this report raise a flag for you in light of my symptoms last Wednesday?
As I mentioned earlier, the Friday EKG seemed to be "in rhythm". I would appreciate it if you could look at this report with a cardiologist viewpoint and see if you see anything that needs to be asked by me.
Thank you again, XXXXXXX XXXX
My potassium seems to have been okay as well.
Does anything in this report raise a flag for you in light of my symptoms last Wednesday?
As I mentioned earlier, the Friday EKG seemed to be "in rhythm". I would appreciate it if you could look at this report with a cardiologist viewpoint and see if you see anything that needs to be asked by me.
Thank you again, XXXXXXX XXXX
Brief Answer:
Problem with the upload
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
Could you try to upload your report once more.
I couldn't see any uploaded file.
Regards,
Problem with the upload
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
Could you try to upload your report once more.
I couldn't see any uploaded file.
Regards,
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
