Lorna,

I have put this post under the heading of palpitations because those are the symptoms that affect me in the most intense way. They are by no means exclusive. A staff member at Fiddleheads in Cambridge recommended I write to you here.

I am a 33 year old female with 3 children. My oldest is 10 and youngest is 13 months. I had a major drug reaction at 8 weeks gestation with #3 to an anti-emetic drug given via IV in hospital. The reaction was dystonic (see rare reactions to Metclomapride) and also involved my heart. For me the palpitations really started with this drug reaction though cardiology believes I could have had a pre-existing condition that pregnancy brought out. I had not had symptoms of sinus tachycardia (nor had i noticed arrhythmia) prior to this event. For the past 20 months I have suffered from palpitations often waking me up at night 1-3 hours after going to bed. My heart will jolt me awake and then race at around 130-150 bpm for up to a half hour sometimes with chest pain, sweating, etc symptoms that will prompt me to seek treatment at Emerg. I have had 3 48 hr holter monitors, a 14 day loop recorder, 2 echos, a stress test and countless Electrocardiograms. The 14 day loop showed minor sinus tachycardia and cardiology advised to check thyroid - it has been normal the dozens of times its been checked. The last time I was seen I was offered either beta blockers or anti-anxiety medication and I chose neither as the hospital worthy events only happened once every few months. Along with the symptoms of palpitations I sometimes get a "rushing" feeling through my body like my blood pressure (which is normally low) is all of a sudden high causing me to feel that sensation. For the past 10 years my "strange" symptoms have sent me from cardio to endocrine to gastro to rheumatology. Everyone says "check her thyroid" and its always "normal". Rheumatology falsely diagnosed me Fibromyalgia even though my symptoms do not all fit the criteria. I know people who have it and this is not me. Again I was offered anti-depressants to cope. These are my symptoms that affect my quality of life and I am just looking for a starting point for fixing myself!

Heart palpitations/nervous or fear feeling in chest Low blood pressure (90/60) intermittent sinus tachycardia/arrhythmia (irregular heart beats and also intermittent weak pulse detection) Periods of being cold Periods of being HOT and sweaty (perhaps flushed) aching in joints (without swelling) aching in muscles barometric pressure type headaches tinnitus ocular migraines (without headaches - vision disturbance only) startling loss of hair over past 4-5 years (appears to be telogen effluvium type loss. Hairs are breaking, I have bangs where I did not cut them!) and now patchy hair loss on my legs intermittent nausea intermittent trouble with stomach emptying occasional vomiting of undigested food (note I have no gallbladder due to stones) bowel habits range from constipation to diarrhea suffering from some pelvic prolapse 4-5 months ago sex drive became non-existent Cannot lose weight to save my life! I take off 5lbs and put it back on right in the front of my stomach..the weight is becoming unevenly distributed periodically get red blotchiness on my skin on my face, often accompanied with pinkish scalp which is hot or REALLY itchy and oily.

In mid October my TSH was 0.7, Creatinine was 39, Hemoglobin 131, ferritin 31, b12 - 282

I was diagnosed pernicious anemia at 26 and took shots of B12. At the time I was so tired and lethargic with hair loss and bruising that they thought it might be leukemia. B12 "seemed" to correct many of the problems I had at the time. Not sure if it was masking or not.

I don't know where to start. My quality of life as I attempt to homeschool my 3 kids pretty much stinks. I suffer from low concentration, fogginess, poor memory (not like me) and a lack of "get up and go" in the morning. I can't drink coffee for fear of palpitations so I just feel tired all day due to lack of good sleep. I rarely sleep all night. I wake up a lot.

I just don't know where to begin. The only step I've made on my own is to purchase Super Enzymes from Fiddleheads to help with food digestion. Most of the time it seems to help.

If you could just give me a starting point I would appreciate it. I do not know any of the alternative practictioners in this area (moved here almost 3 years ago) and do not have the funds for additional testing at a naturopath possibly for another few months.

Thank you...for anything...thank you.