Doctors only - Please diagnose me.

Background info:

I’m 21. I’m mildly asthmatic. I was a smoker (although I gave up two weeks ago). I smoked for roughly 10 months. I never smoked before that. I eat a lot of junk food. I am about a stone overweight. I hardly exercise.

Symptoms:

Mild chest discomfort/ache that comes and goes.

Mild “pins and needles” sensation in my left hand that comes and goes.

Dull ache in my left arm (usually along the tricep or around the armpit) that comes and goes but spends more time aching than not aching as far as I can tell.

Unusual pulse. Currently, while sitting, my pulse is 84. Were I to stand up and slowly walk down the road my pulse would, most likely, rise to around 95-100. If I were to walk with any real pace my pulse would probably be somewhere around 95-110.

I last worked out two weeks ago. I was on a treadmill and ran fairly slowly (10.00kph) for 20 minutes. My heart rate when I came off was 165 which, according to the chart on the treadmill, is normal. I’ve since stopped all exercise until I get a diagnosis.

When walking I sometimes feel very slightly short of breath, but not always.

I am seeking treatment and am in the process of organising a 24 hour ECG exam.

I cannot detect any other symptoms. However obviously that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.

I’ve had 2 ecg’s and they’ve both been normal. However, both of them have been taken while I’m resting and my pulse is usually at normal levels (around 60-7-) when I’m resting.

I’m more than a bit freaked out and would appreciate your professional opinions, whatever they may be.
Thanks in advance.

You’re ‘freaked out’ and you come here first? Are you really expecting a valid diagnosis that you are going to like? Why not just ask strangers on the street?

sheesh

I haven’t “Come here first”. I’m seeking treatment. In the mean time I’m here seeking information from what I consider to be a reliable source.

Well, IANAD but when you go fishing with a net, sometimes you catch a dolphin (I’m the dolphin in that absurd anaology, BTW).

Anyhoo a couple of thoughts -

How well controlled is your asthma? Do you have to use an emergency inhailer every day? Once per week? Once per hour?

A panic attack can have similar symptoms to what you’re describing. Given the normal ECG a panic attack seems possible.

Could be side effects of the quitting smoking. Two weeks is a bit long for the tingling limbs and what not to last, but if you cheated in the last two weeks that could contribute - basically nicotine withdrawal.

As I said, I am not a doctor - I’m a dolphin.

My opinion? No reputable physician would diagnose you over the internet.

Ask your doctor.

QtM, MD

Our resident physician just gave you his opinion.

It was good enough for me to close the thread before you get bad or confusing info.

samclem moderator, GQ