Originally Posted by ivy3200

Hi, I'm new, and have my first appt with the Neurologist next week.
I’m a 36 year old full time RMT, wife and mother of 3. I’ve had Hypothyroidism for about 7 years now, but otherwise healthy!
About 16 months ago, I suddenly developed shortness of breath in the middle of a workout - I hyperventilated for about 45 minutes or so. I’ve always led a healthy, active lifestyle, so this was obviously worrisome. Anytime I increased my heart rate, I became short of breath, dizzy, nauseous and weak. I went to the hospital and they tested me for asthma, did an ex-ray, and an ultrasound on my chest and ECG. 2 days later, was sent back to the hospital on suspicion of Pulmonary Embolism. I was referred to a Pulmonologist, and the serious testing began… In the next 5-6 months, I had a bronchoscopy, right heart catheterization, a bunch of ECGs, Ex-rays, Pulmonary Function labs, Pulmino-cardio stress tests, a VQ scan, Pulmonary Angiogram, Chest CT, Brain CT, blood work… I’ve seen Respirologists, a cardiologist, an immunologist, I’ve changed my family doctor (he thought it was just stress - and told me at least I'm breathing, so I’m fine…).
They thought I’ve had a hole in the heart / PFO / Pulmonary Hypertension / Vocal Cord Dysfunction / HHT (I even travelled to a different city for this one) / Pulmonary AVMs, and now we are on to MG.
About 9 months ago, my Pulmonologist put me on Bisoprolol (a beta-blocker), thinking that if we could slow the heart down, then my symptoms would lessen. It worked - all of a sudden, I could walk my 7 year old to the bus again! Life was good… but not great. My days would alway start out well, and then by 12 or 1, I would NEED a nap. That is soooo not like me. I’m usually A-Type. I can’t chase my kids or play with them. I can’t go for walks, or go to the park. My face goes pale, I start gasping for air, my chest feels like a rubber band is wrapped around it, and then my steps falter, my legs begin to shake, my vision goes blurry, my tongue feels like its twice it’s size, and I start slurring my speech. Even my smile has changed. I thought these were strange effects of being de-oxygenated, but I trusted that my doctors knew what they were doing.