Black Outs?

I always stretch 10 minutes before and 5 minutes after exercising. I always work out in the house, as well. I've learned to stand up slower, shower in the larger bathroom, and avoid similar situations. It's lowered my amount of episodes but they still occur. Sometimes no matter what I do I can still have up to 3 episodes a day. Other times I don't have them for a couple weeks. I'm not sure how relevant that is, but at this point I think any information might help. I sleep about 8 hours a night. Thanks for pushing my butt into gear about getting looked at.

Overt-training and just being 17 can affect your menstrual cycle and make it irregular. This issue could be separate. Anxiety could be normal response to having an attack of severe arrhythmia. The more guessing you do or us non-medical people do, the worse off you might be.

I haven't been to one, no. I don't understand how standing up or showering could trigger anxiety for me. A shower to me is the most relaxed, stress-free part of my day. Standing up and losing vision leads me to believe it has something to do with blood flow and not anxiety or distress.

I live in northeastern United States. I'm hours away from any large, smart hospitals.

At-a-girl! You will be better in the long run. i know websites that can advise you where the nearest and best cardiologists to you might be. I'll bet your you can get medical coverage too...But that is pure intuitive guess on my part. the medical coverage picture is a pure mystery to me!

You said that larger shower stalls help with your episodes...if the problem is anything other than psychological, how could this be? Perhaps you have some claustrophobia.

If you can exercise at least moderately without the episodes, without any chest pain, etc...then from what you've listed here, in my opinion, sounds psychological. But of course I'm not a doctor. You need a real doctor.

So far I think my guessing, as well as your 'non-medical' guessing, has gotten me further than any of my doctors ever cared to discuss. The reason I've been to different doctors was because my mother wasn't satisfied with 'it's okay.' I get the same response no matter where I go. I think she's as pessimistic about finding a reason as I am.

Then you can't be more than a day's drive from New York or Massachusetts -- both states have many top, modern research hospitals full of specialists to diagnose your problem.

Standing up quickly and nearly fainting or fainting is no laughing matter but not related to stress issues. Dizziness and showering have nothing to do with anxiety. Your symptom seems related to blockage of blood flow..and possibly could be an obstruction . Maybe like mine, it's related to an enlarged heart. These irregularities can happen as you mature..they show up at 16...while you hit puberty. or at age 50. I'm just guessing on that, but anxiety attack could be a separate issue, too.

I don't have claustrophobia. Small spaces are okay with me. I think it may have something to do with the water concentration in the air. It gives me trouble breathing, which causes an episode. I don't get chest pains when exercising. I sometimes have sharp pains while sitting or rare occasions when I take deep breaths, which my doctors also knew, but felt it wasn't a large deal. My brother also gets this, so I felt it was stress related as we both have panic attacks.

I've had x-rays on my chest a couple years ago while I was sick so I could get checked for pneumonia. I know organs, at least lungs, show up clearly on x-rays. If my heart was enlarged, it would have been seen. I think my problem has something to do with blood flow, to be honest, and nothing with anxiety.

Your doctors I'm sure were well-aware of your panic and anxiety issues...thus they were probably more likely to dismiss these other symptoms as being related to that. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't.

If you go to a major hospital though, they'll do all the necessary checks on your heart, lungs, brain, etc. first to rule out any physical problems. If nothing is amiss there, you'll be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist.

different symptom info now: is asthma an issue for you?

Stop self-diagnosing. Three years ago is hardly relevant now..especially to a growing young lady's body. I tested fine every 2 yrs when I had physicals. Then at 50, I was diagnosed after a battery of tests. It was a congenital defect that jsut showed yup and changed suddenly.

Get tested. Try not stressing out.

I've never been diagnosed with asthma and I never had breathing problems other than when I shower or I lose my breath because my heart is racing.

I realize at this point that I suck at self-diagnosing. It was just a thought. I will as soon as I can, thanks!

Yes, OK. Anxiety attacks be put aside. certainly get help with those, but don';t confuse or be distracted from the symptoms...which are very close t obstruction of bloodflow...and having an enlarged heart.

Mercy have I said it enough? LOL

I will say a prayer that you and your mom do the right thing and get diagnosed ASAP. I'm not a praying type, either.

Smart kid that one.
I still thing the US medical system sucks.

Lol, I completely get your point! At least there is no confusion with the message you're trying to get across. I'm not the praying type either, but I'll answer your prayers and push my mother into mode.

It does, truly. Too bad America isn't like Canada. Higher taxes, sure. I'm sure to some that paying taxes beats the cost of their medical bills.