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Suffering From Heart Palpitations, Chest Pain, Nausea, Fatigue And Irregular Periods. Two Positive Lab Results For Abnormal D-Dimer. Meaning
I am 23 years old, seemingly heathy female.Even though I smoke cigarettes, drink coffee regulary, and drink alcohol socially. Ive recently had heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, neck pain, nausea, and severe fatigue and dizziness. Its happened in the past regularly for a short period of time, whether after I ate or drank a sugary drink, or was stressed over school finals or midterms, but this time it has over lasted four days. Yesterday, I went to urgent care, where they did a number of tests, EKG, breathing tests, pregnancy test, chest xray, thyroid and anemic blood test, as well as a D-Dimer. while everything came back absolutely normal (and I'm not pregnant) I had two positive lab results for abnormal D-Dimer. I was contacted (at 11 oclock at night) by a doctor in urgent care, and advised to go to the ER for a CT scan. I was admitted, and they ran all of the same tests I had done earlier that day, and had the same results. However, the ER doctor, adamantly talked me out of getting a CT scan, and actually, advised me to NOT get one for risk of cancer.
I seriously think I should have a CT scan, and I really think that something is wrong. What could all of this mean ?
Some other symptoms I have been have for years are :
Joint pain in legs, and my knees,
my hair has thinned, and fallen out frequently, it doesnt not grow like it used to when i was a teenager.. seems as if it hasnt grown at all.
VERY irregular menstrual cycle, I've went two years without a cycle, was placed on hormones to produce a period, and was placed on birth control. I went off of birth control in october of 2012, and did not get my period until the end of april 2013.
I bruise VERY easily.
frequent heart burn and nausea
I seriously think I should have a CT scan, and I really think that something is wrong. What could all of this mean ?
Some other symptoms I have been have for years are :
Joint pain in legs, and my knees,
my hair has thinned, and fallen out frequently, it doesnt not grow like it used to when i was a teenager.. seems as if it hasnt grown at all.
VERY irregular menstrual cycle, I've went two years without a cycle, was placed on hormones to produce a period, and was placed on birth control. I went off of birth control in october of 2012, and did not get my period until the end of april 2013.
I bruise VERY easily.
frequent heart burn and nausea
posted on
Wed, 8 May 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 8 May 2013
Answered on
Thu, 9 May 2013
Last reviewed on
Hi !
Thank you for your query.
Dear madam ,
Hearing you problem , i found that it can be more than just a panic attack . During panic attacks you can have all these symptoms but then D dimer would not come positive . May be your doctor has a suspicion of pulmonary embolism for which he wanted a CT scan.
You symptoms of joint pains , excessive hair fall , irregular periods warrant immediate investigations . although they can be a mimic for many diseaes ,autoimmune diseases needs to be ruled out at earliest as all these can be related. I advise you to consult a rheumatologist immediately.
Regarding CT scan if your doctor feels the need for it you can get that test done.
Hope you are satisfied with the answer.
If you have any further queries feel free to ask.
Wish you good health.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Thank you for your query.
Dear madam ,
Hearing you problem , i found that it can be more than just a panic attack . During panic attacks you can have all these symptoms but then D dimer would not come positive . May be your doctor has a suspicion of pulmonary embolism for which he wanted a CT scan.
You symptoms of joint pains , excessive hair fall , irregular periods warrant immediate investigations . although they can be a mimic for many diseaes ,autoimmune diseases needs to be ruled out at earliest as all these can be related. I advise you to consult a rheumatologist immediately.
Regarding CT scan if your doctor feels the need for it you can get that test done.
Hope you are satisfied with the answer.
If you have any further queries feel free to ask.
Wish you good health.
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
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