mini heart attacks...

[ivorytickler]

Hi LTS'ers,
 from Spring 2007 thru Fall 2007 I experienced three unusually dominate symptoms: shortness of breath/accelerated heartbeat, dizziness/disorientation and chest pain/discomfort. I kept my doctor advised throughout 2007 of these symptoms. Unfortunately, he kept passing it off as "gas". So I believed him. The symptoms continued to intensify until I had an "attack" in mid-december 2007. I was hospitalized for 4 days, with every possible test run. The results? NO ONE KNOWS. The team of doctors couldn't verify if it was indeed a heart attack or not. To this day, I still don't know. Yet, the symptoms are ones hauntingly similar to heart attacks/strokes. After returning home from the hospital, I had to remain in bed for weeks until the symptoms faded away. But in April of 2008, they returned and I had another attack with the same symptoms. More recently, the attacks are occuring more frequently.
 Cardiologists have put me on heart meds. My poz doc put me on cholestral/triglyceride pills. An acid reflux doctor put me on nexium. Nothing seems to work.
 In my own online research, I've come to the conclusion that one of my meds, Trizivir, contained an ingredient that could cause clogging/PAD/circulation problems. So I asked my doc to remove me from trizivir. He did, and now I'm on Epzicom. Duh...it contains the same ingrdients as Trizivir ! Bad choice.
 I'm seriously contemplating a long vacation from all meds, to see if my arteries would recover before I have a major, possibly fatal, attack.
 I quit smoking last year. I hardly drink. I exercise daily. I keep a positive attitude.
 I'm 46 and I've been poz for 20-25 years and NEVER been off meds. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Ivorytickler

[BT65]

Ivory, welcome to the forums.

I really can't offer any solid advice, as you have quite seemingly complex problems.  Before taking a drug holiday, however, I would have a serious talk with your ID doc.  I did a drug holiday at the end of last year/beginning of this year, and my CD4s dropped drastically and my viral load skyrocketed.  Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[redhotmuslbear]

Ivory,
The symptoms you describe could stem from other conditions, the first of which coming to my mind is anxiety.  Have you or your docs considered that option?  Stroke does not seem likely since you do not mention the loss of memory or muscle control, including speech problems.

As for ungunking your arteries, look for another HAART combination like Truvada and Viramune.  Don't look at a drug holiday as the solution, as you're only letting HIV have the run of your body, including assaulting your heart muscle.  Also, ask your doctor about high-dose niacin supplementation, on the order of 1000-1500mg twice daily in extended release form (unless you like feeling like you're on fire).  I've used niacin for several years to boost my HDL and moderate LDL, and my April full cardiovascular work-up left the cardiologist wondering why I had been referred to him.

Best,
David

[DanielMark]

Hello there,

I've experienced those same symptoms on and off my whole adult life (I'm 48 now). In my case it's  anxiety attacks. They feel like you're having a heart attack and can be terrifying I know.

Daniel