Unknown Illness - Side pain & Snycope
For the past few years I have seen multiple specialists and had many tests.
Physical - Female, white, 32yo, 200 lbs.
Historical symptoms:
Ongoing: Low blood pressure, bradycardia (normal resting is in the 40s bpm range)
Side pain 1
Frequency changes from weekly to multiple times daily. Can happen anytime, but laying down can make it worse.
Duration is hours to days.
Pain is throbbing, increasing and decreasing in intensity, ranging 2-9 in scale.
Location - lower left side behind last ribs.
I have always experienced this pain in my left side since childhood.
Side pain 2
Frequency - infrequent. Only occurs at night while sleeping.
Duration - until I revert to a safe position (laying firmly on left side or sitting up).
Location - left side, under lower ribs.
Pain - intense, burning, feeling like something burst.
This pain is immediately followed by dizziness, clamminess, nausia, and sometimes fainting.
If I feel this pain, I immediately change my position to reduce the intensity of the symptoms.
Syncope 1. My "normal" fainting is from failure to eat, blood loss, etc. I have remedied my behaviors over the years and no longer faint for silly reasons.
Syncope 2.
While laying down, losing consciousness multiple times in a row. (For 30 minutes, losing consciousness, waking up for less than a minute, before fainting again).
Other symptoms: numbness in the back of my head, neck pain, chest pain, clamminess, nausia, exhaustion that last multiple weeks, etc.
Original tests all came back negative. Latest episode - didn't faint but was dizzy for several hours while trying to sleep. Couldn't move without making it worse. This episode resulted in a heart murmur that went away after a month or so.
I have seen:
Cardiologists
All tests were fine, until this last time. Health does very well during exercise.
Rheumatologist
Test positive with very low levels of autoimmune. Since all my other tests are healthy, they say they can't help/diagnose me.
Neurologist
Heard my symptoms and told me I wasnt his problem
Gastro doctor
Clean endoscopy and test for acid reflux.
Endocrinologist
Nothing appears off with my thyroid.
Other:
Have had an abdominal untrasound - clean
Any suggestions for who to see next is welcome. My doctor doesn't know what to do or what's wrong with my. After an episode, my vitals are in the toilet but stable.
Omg, Gina! You're cardiologist is crazy! I just got rushed to the ER last week from just taking a nap and I just started spinning and vomited like The Exorsist. I have over 30 conditions and have told all of them that I throw up, dizzy, migraines, fall down, racing heart, low bp...I have now in less than 6 months from my last MRI, have developed calcifications in my carotid and aortic arteries from my neck into my brain. I'm seeing him Thursday and you only have 3 options. One, the worst two, and shunt and they try to clean the calcifications out. Three, 4 inch cut into your carotid artery on the left side. Unfortunately, its a risky surgery, but they seem to think that's the best option. My pulmonologist is actually going to do anything on me. But that cardiologist of yours..run! I've had these symptoms for 2 years. His notes state it's from exhaustion and having anxiety. I'm going to let him have it Thursday. It's very serious and can cause what I know have in my brain. I mean, my brain is making bone now. Idk where I am sometimes, forget everything, I'm mean, I cry, trouble slurring speech...girl, get on it and I hope you find out the truth soon. You're supposed to address it 2 weeks the most after symptoms. I've got 2 years. And I have lupus. Wishing you the best!
, I'm sending (((hugs))), love and light in hopes that there is good news when you visit the doctor. The calcifications sound scary, is this something they can control? Please stay in touch and let us know how you're doing. - Warmly, Donna (Team Member) 
Hi. I didn't mention having a cardiologist... Maybe you meant to address another commenter? I have recently been treated for low BP, tho, and am doing fine, thanks. In any case, I'm glad that you have an appt in a few days time. Wishing you all the best with your treatment options, and I hope you get all of your questions answered by your providers. Gina Miller, team Member
I know you already saw a neurologist, but I'm wondering if a consult with a different neurologist would be helpful. Your side pains remind me of some of the pain I've had with my abdominal migraine. My neurologist put me on medication for the pain and nausea and physical therapy also was helpful in further reducing my pain. And I recently learned from attending stretching sessions that when our muscle are tight they can compress our nerves causing numbness. Hi
, Thank you for sharing the details of your long history with the mystery pain and dizziness, plus low BP and low resting pulse.
The only suggestion I can think of right now is to keep pushing your primary care doctor to refer you to another specialist, if possible. Perhaps even another cardio doc? Have you stressed with your primary care physician the scariness and potentials dangers of not knowing if/when dizziness and possible fainting may occur?
Hang in there... and, I sure hope that someone else will see your post and can help with suggestions on other specialists to consider, given these symptoms.
Hugs,
Gina Miller, Team Member
