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AIBU?

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Original poster

To take DS to A&E today

118 replies

VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 11:22

A bit of background. DS (16) has been having dizzy spells for a while now and they seem to be getting worse. He will become dizzy, his breathing becomes laboured and he gets chest pains. If I'm honest, it looks like a panic attack. However DS is naturally not a worrier and they don't seem to be brought on by anxiety. We have been going to the GP to get to the bottom of it since the beginning of the year. I cant fault the GP as she's been brilliant.

DS went for an ecg back in March, which showed a slight problem? We were told it was probably nothing and just down to DSs build. As a precaution the GP asked for a second opinion from the cardiologist. Next thing we know, DS had to have an echocardiogram. I really wasn't worried at this point, I just thought they wanted to rule things out.

When we went back for the results GP said the echo identified that DS's heart muscles were weak. She had spoken to a cardiologist who recommended an MRI scan. She also told DS to take it easy and don't take part in vigorous exercise.

So when we turned up for our appointment which we thought was for an MRI, we find out we were just there to see a Cardiologist. He asked us for a brief history and decided that he wanted to start again from the beginning as from what results he could see, he didn't think DS had a heart condition Confused but did think it needed investigating. He told DS he could exercise and to carry on like normal. He sent him home with a portable heart machine on to record any symptoms. That was 4 weeks ago and we haven't heard anything back.

So for the past week DS has been at a cadet camp. The camp was for higher level cadets and was physically tough. DS took a letter with him from myself explaining that he was undergoing tests but was okay to carry on as normal. During the week, DS has had at least ten attacks, which is way more than normal. Twice the instructions took his to hospital because he was taking a long time to recover. The hospital were happy to let him return to camp as DS was determined to carry on and finish the course. On the way home yesterday, DS had another attack on the minibus and he momentarily blacked out.

He is supposed to be going on another cadet trip in a weeks time for ten days. I can't get an appointment with his GP next week and we still haven't heard from the last hospital appointment. So do you think it would be unreasonable to take him to A&E and see if we can get some answers? I'm not convinced that he doesn't have a heart condition. The Echo results obviously showed there was something going on and the NHS website says panic attack type symptoms can manifest in some heart conditions. I really need some peace of mind before sending him off to another camp.

Sorry for the long post, I didn't want to drip feed.

OP posts:
Marshy · 25/07/2015 20:10

Fgs people let's keep some perspective here!

If he seems to be worsening then get in touch with ooh services, either ooh gp or a&e, but remember they will deal with an immediate issue and not provide a long term solution.

If you are happy to wait until Monday get on to the consultants secretary and make a follow up appt happen sooner
rather than later.

That's it really. If it is anxiety related, or even if it isn't, reducing the drama will help, whilst being attentive to what needs to be done obvs...

Marshy · 25/07/2015 20:16

What does your ds think he needs? He is 16 after all and old enough to express an opinion but don't let him go to cadet camp

blossommy · 25/07/2015 20:17

Hi OP - you might find it helpful to contact CRY on monday (Cardiac Risk in the Young) www.c-r-y.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/

There is also other background info on the website.

For whats its worth - if I was in your position I would be making sure that DS doesnt do any other strenuous exercise until medics have been updated on his experience last week and if he has any repeat before monday then yes at that stage I would take him to A&E.

blossommy · 25/07/2015 20:23

Ps I am particularly sensitive to this because sadly I know two families who have been involved with CRY for the very worst reason Sad.
I'd rather risk an over reaction than the alternative.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 25/07/2015 20:47

I don't mean to be alarmist but I would also get him to hospital. They don't sound anything like panic attacks. My dad had similar worsening symptoms that ended with a cardiac arrest which he was very lucky to survive. He had heart failure from cardiomyopathy. There was no warning of the cardiac arrest at all, hence why I think he should be in hospital. The paramedics told my family that only about 1 person in 10 survive cardiac arrests outside hospital. My dad is is still with us 10 years on (smile)

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 25/07/2015 20:49

Oops emoticon fail

Original poster
VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 20:51

marshy DS thinks he's all fine and dandy and it's all just a bit of an inconvenience.

blossommy thanks for that link. I have had a good read on the CRY website when we were first told his heart muscles were weak but I haven't actually spoken to anybody from the organisation.

DS has had no attacks today but has said he felt a bit dizzy earlier. I asked some more questions about his attacks at camp and they seem a bit random tbh. Not manifesting during physical exercise. One was walking between team building tasks, another when he was cleaning his rifle. So when he has been quite relaxed.

OP posts:
InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 25/07/2015 20:59

My dad's dizzy/breathless attacks were random- not necessarily brought on by exercise.

chiruri · 25/07/2015 20:59

I have quite a strong issue with PPs comparing OP's situation with what they feel is similar situations of their own. You do not know enough about OP's son's investigations to start bringing up SADS, SVT or cardiomyopathy as comparable, thus insinuating these as possible outcomes/diagnoses. It is alarmist and unfounded, and very unfair to OP.
FWIW SVT would have shown up on the holter monitor if he had an episode whilst on it, and cardiomyopathy or any significant abnormality with the cardiac musculature would have shown up on the ECHO.
Seriously, OP, speak to the cardiologist. I'd trust their opinion ahead of that of a bunch of strangers on MN.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 25/07/2015 21:01

Thanks chiruri- how very patronising

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 25/07/2015 21:03

Maybe we need to be alarmist, my dad was misdiagnosed with stress for months and nearly died as a result.

Marshy · 25/07/2015 21:18

Well that's good , op, that ds is quite chilled about it all.

Seriously, if you think he needs to be seen over the weekend then get along to a&e. There will be a 'why now' kind of question but you have enough recent increased symptoms to raise a concern and you can be sure there will be people there with far less to worry about.

I hope you get some answers soon. The trouble is with any kind of investigation, sometimes the more they look, the more they find and often it's all quite inconsequential. I hope that's the case for your ds.

chiruri · 25/07/2015 21:21

I don't care if I'm coming across as patronising. You are in absolutely no position to be making armchair diagnoses over an essentially anonymous forum with 3rd hand, layperson information. It is alarmist at best, and dangerous at worst.
I am very sorry that your family had a bad experience, but that has absolutely nothing to do with OP's situation. You know absolutely nothing about what his investigations have shown, nor do you have years of cardiology experience and time to take a focussed history and examination. His consultant has.

Original poster
VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 21:24

Don't worry chiruri there is nothing anybody has posted that I haven't researched through Google and we all know that you should never Google symptoms if you don't want to be alarmed. I think posters are just genuinely concerned and it's only natural that they will compare DS to personal experiences.

OP posts:
chiruri · 25/07/2015 21:29

Thanks OP, and sorry for getting worked up and derailing your thread.
I wish you the best of luck over the weekend and with getting in touch with whoever you choose on Monday (I'd still try the cardiology secretaries first, btw). I hope your DS isn't too gutted about missing cadets again, if you decide to keep him off.

Original poster
VoldemortsNipple · 25/07/2015 21:32

As I said earlier, I'll keep a close eye on him over the weekend and try and get an appointment on Monday. At the very least we will see a GP. Obviously if his Health is deteriorating we will go to A&E but he seems his normal happy self at the moment and I'm happier that he is under my roof than hundreds of miles away in the back and beyond. Smile

OP posts:
StillStayingClassySanDiego · 25/07/2015 21:38

OP, hope all's well tonight.

You don't need any further advice I know , I hope your cardio responds quickly to your call on Monday .

I would keep your boy off any further cadet courses but you already know what to do with regard to that .

GemmeFatale · 25/07/2015 23:21

As someone who until recently used to run adventure training for the cadets please don't send him to the next camp until you have been seen by the specialist concerned (not a&e or the gp).

MissJoMarch · 25/07/2015 23:38

I'm genuinely sorry if I've armchair diagnosis or alarmed you. Your post was just one of those that resonated so deeply with me, I felt the need to share my personal experience - which with Benefit of hindsight maybe wasn't helpful.

Hope your son is well & you get the help you need xxx

Original poster
VoldemortsNipple · 26/07/2015 08:02

Thanks MissJoMarsh you haven't alarmed me and neither has anybody else. Yes it is worrying waiting for a diagnosis or (fingers crossed) the all clear. But from what I've read myself, when it comes to the heart, it's not knowing that is dangerous. I was leaning to the side of hopeful after our visit to the consultant but the increase in attacks during last week has made me cautious again.

Anyway, I'll update tomorrow after I've spoken to a professional. Thank you everybody for the support and advice.

OP posts:
Kayden · 26/07/2015 10:43

You're right to be cautious. I think the GP needs to see him tomorrow, in absence of any further attacks today. Then, the GP can contact the cardiologist. It must worrying for you.

Jeeves93 · 27/07/2015 16:33

What was the name of the camp/course he has been on, and what is the next one he is going on?

chippednailvarnish · 27/07/2015 16:38

Hope you got some answers OP...

Original poster
VoldemortsNipple · 27/07/2015 17:28

Hi everyone

I took DS to the GP this morning to let her know what's going on. She asked DS to explain in detail what happens when he has an attack and seems to think that they are more likely to be an anxiety attack. Although she said she can't be sure until the cardiologist has ruled out a heart condition. She told DS he's needs to monitor himself better and rest if he's not feeling 100%. DS asked if he could go to camp next week and she said he can go as long as he takes it easy. She could see DS was really determined to go so this was more of a compromise.

She asked me to chase up the cardiologist secretary which I have. The cardiologist is on holiday but apparently the results from his cardio call are back, so she has put a note on his records to interpret them when he returns next week and get in touch with the GP.

Don't really know what else to do while we're waiting for the results apart from keep a closer eye on him and straight to A&E if he deteriorates again.

OP posts:
InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 27/07/2015 21:58

Sounds like a fob off from the GP and the consultant's sec. I personally would ask the sec to get another cardiologist to look over the results tomorrow to ensure nothing showed up that needs immediate action. I would also call CRY. Good luck!