Doctor wants a follow up after blood and ECG

[Ruu 39]

Hey all, I had a bit of an episode last weekend. I started having constant skipped heart beats, that went on for over an hour. That sent me in to a wild panic, nearly went to hospital but managed to resist. But the next day had to go to the doctors. They gave me a blood test and an ECG. My heart rate was very high, as expected, but the rhythm was ok. The doctor gave me some propranolol to slow it down.

All seemed ok, and I'm slowly getting over it. But then today I got a call saying the doctor wants a follow up to the ECG, which I wasn't told about when I had it done so it sounds like he's spotted something else in the results.

On top of that my bloods came back today which are normal, except for my full blood count, which shows a probable infection apparently, and to go in at some point next week to discuss both with the doctor.

Now I'm starting to worry again 

[Mike L 86]

Which aspect of your blood count was high? The majority of the time, the cause is a common cold. Anything can throw your levels off. I am confident you have nothing to worry about. Nothing you said sounds like it is serious.

[Ruu 39]

Thanks Mike! They didn't say over the phone. Only the 'full blood count'. So I'm not sure if the white is high, or low, platelets, or something else. Everything else they checked was fine, I don't know what they actually did check, but the lady on the phone said a bunch of letters that didn't mean much to me. I'm sure you know what it's like... Ignore everything that they say is ok, and focus on the one thing they say it did pick up.

Thing is, I don't feel sick in any way other than the usual anxiety symptoms. So my mind immediately goes to it being something very much internally that I can't feel on the surface like a cold. Something like Lyme disease or Leukemia or something like that.

[Bailey 1]

Anxiety can cause your blood counts to be off as well. I went into the ER a few weeks ago for rib and back pain and I was so anxious that they had to give me an IV of saline to slow my heart rate and lower my blood pressure. My white count came back slightly elevated but the doctor wasn't concerned. I looked it up when I got home (of course) and I read that stress and anxiety can cause the rise. 

[Ruu 39]

Thanks Bailey. I had just read that too.

I guess a positive I need to focus on is that they didn't say "the doctor wants you to come back NOW". They said book an appointment whenever. So if they do think I have an infection, it can't be a very bad one and maybe they think it's going to clear up on it's own. And I guess an ECG follow up will just be to see how I'm getting on.

[Mark G 1187]

Yes, it's most likely a follow up ECG due to the speed of the pulse. I had a 48hour ECG when I had an episode of palps with no issues found.  It sounds to me like your test was clear so it's just precautionary.