Four Docs, Two Years, One Drummer: A Mystery Diagnosis Solved

Tell Me More

As the drummer in a popular band, Jeff has been playing music and performing for audiences of thousands for many years.

But at the end of 2020, he started experiencing symptoms of dizziness and a feeling of heaviness in his upper body during shows. Jeff relied on kinesthetic memory to play the drums, while he focused on not fainting.

And despite the best efforts of his primary care doctor, a GI specialist, a gallbladder surgeon and the team at his local ER, Jeff still didn’t have answers two years later!

On this episode of Tell Me More, Jeff shares his frustrating two-year journey to find an explanation for his nagging symptoms.

Jeff discusses his decision to see a different PCP for a fresh set of eyes, describing what the new doctor learned by monitoring his heart over a two-week period.

Listen in to understand how taking a mild beta blocker has resolved Jeff’s symptoms and learn how to reach out for a second opinion when your case is hard to diagnose.

Key Takeaways The symptoms of dizziness, pain and heaviness Jeff started experiencing just over 2 years ago

How Jeff’s episodes seemed to occur only when he was playing drums

The testing Jeff’s primary care doctor conducted and why she sent him to a GI specialist

Why the GI surgeon decided against removing Jeff’s gallbladder

Jeff’s difficult conversation with a physician who dismissed his symptoms as nerves from performing

How Jeff underwent another round of testing in the ER after a rough weekend of episodes

Why Jeff went to a different primary care practice for fresh eyes and what the new doctor learned by monitoring his heart over a 2-week period

How Jeff’s vagus nerve was overreacting to the adrenaline rush of playing drums

How taking a mild beta blocker resolved Jeff’s symptoms

Jeff’s advice to patients with nagging symptoms who can’t get answers from their PCP

Why Jeff is considering a shift to the practice that resolved his issue

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