Question: I found out about a year ago that I have patent foramen ovale. I am now 67. I went to the hospital because I had shortness of breath and a feeling of congestion in my jaw. They did quite a few tests - blood test for heart attack every hour for 24 hours, ekgs, and finally a stress echocardiagram. The one thing the found was the PFO. About 10 years before that I thought I was having a heart attack and I went to emergency room. They didn't find anything, but did send me for a cardiology follow up. In this study doing an echo with XXXXXXX the one thing they found was a slight mitral valve "floppiness", but nothing to be concerned about. Going back even further, when I was 42 I had a TIA which included complete paralysis of my left arm and numbness and lack of coordination with my left leg. I was in the hospital for a week (the paralaysis) only lasted about 4 hours. They did CT scan, ultrasound and lots of watching me, blood tests, etc. They could never figure out why I had the TIA. At the time I had low blood pressure, good cholesterol levels with a great HDL to LDL ration. No apparent reason for the TIA. But I did have a history of migraines, so the final report said that it was a migraine. One other theory was that I had a temporary muscle spasm of the carotid artery, but there was not actual proof. They put me on a calcium channel blocker and one aspirin a day. I am not sure why, but within a few years they stopped the calcium channel blocker. After menopause at the age of 56 I developed moderately high blood pressure - 140-150/ over 70 or 80. Although often it is in the 120 over 60 range. I take 10 milligrams of Lisinopril daily. I also have a history of sinus problems and I have been using a SUAD device for sleep apnea for about 7 years. (Oral device that pushes my lower jaw out and opens the air passage) I have never used a CPAP. I fall asleep watching tv and reading, but have no trouble staying awake when working, driving, etc. I do feel tired and slightly out of breath doing things that did not make me tired a few years ago. I am overweight 148 lbs and 5' 2' - more weight in my hips, thighs, legs than abdomen. Finally, I get heart palpitations, but not severe. I make them stop by coughing. I feel a bit like a hypochondriac because I am very aware of all my symptoms, but I try to ignore them. For the last 40 years I have had ocassional tingling of hands, but usually only lasts minutes and doesn't happen often. Lately, I am having the palpitations more often. I also sometimes hear my heartbeat in my head/ear and sometimes when I am in bed I can feel my heart beat in my chest - like it is sort of popping out. This does not happen often. What is making me write today is that after spending a delightful day with old friends from college, I was driving home and I got the weirdest sensation in my head. I don't quite know how to describe it - sort of like a rushing of blood that came in waves. I tried deep breathing but I think that made it worse. I opened my car window in case there was some sort of exhaust leaking in. I think that helped a little. We did eat quite a bit that afternoon and had about 3 glasses of wine over 7 hours. Also had cake with frosting and strong coffee. I drink coffee every day so that was not something different for me. I wish I could describe the sensation in my head - not light-headed really, more like a feeling of something filling my head in a rush and then fading away. It happened like that for about 30 minutes. I was able to think, concentrate, etc. I did not feel panicked. I have never had a panic attack or anything like that. Is that what one feels like? Or could all of this somehow relate to the PFO?
I forgot to say that I was treated for hypothyroidism from the age of 24 to 37. I took synthroid. At 37, an endocrinologist said I did not need to be treated and maybe never had needed it. I have many of the "Classic symptoms" of hypothyroidism - lack of energy, thinning hair, no underarm hair, minmal eyebrows, no hair on arms and legs, but my T3 and T4 tests are normal.