Dr. Mary:

Thanks for your note. I am actually writing about my girlfriend. She has had the above tests but not an ekg. She went for pulmonary tests on Wednesday and although results normal, she was exhausted for the remainder of day. Also yesterday she experienced dizziness, severe headache, and at times had difficulty with her vision and described it as "shifting." She did not, however, experience breathing difficulties yesterday. I was very concerned and thought about taking her to an ER but we decided to wait and speak to her doctor first thing in the morning. The doctor did not seem to think this was urgent and told her to schedule an appt next week. She also informed her to go to the ER next time she is experiencing this in order to get an EKG.

At this time, she is feeling like no one is taking her seriously in the medical community and that they keep asking her if she is depressed. She is a mental health professional and quite self aware and able to recognize depression but is very clear that this does not feel like depression. I have seen the changes in her, as have friends, and am assured it is not hypochondriasis nor depression as she looks incredibly pale on the days, has incredibly low energy, and her voice sounds breathy. She tends to have several good/normal days, then a day or two when she is hit incredibly hard. The symptoms began in December when she nearly fainted at work and it seems the symtoms are more often and more intense as time passes. I worry that this may be due to an underlying condition and also know that women are often under and/or mis-diagnosed, seen as depressed, or anxious.

Thanks so much for your insights!

TB