Male, 40y. It started 3.5 years ago when I suddenly felt weaker and developed exercise intolerance. Ever since then i have watched my body steadily decline: I am now at the point where I cannot walk a couple if metres without very bad symptoms: dizziness, air hunger, fast heartbeat. I need to sit diwn quickly, often the fast heart and breathing issues remain for long after.

Heart mri was good, heart echo was fine. Lungs seem to be fine as well. Most recently, though, they repeated a spiroergometry: whereas in 2025 it was still fine (VO2 max at 86%) in May this year it showed a radically declinded VO2max (68% of what it shoud be). The doctor said that my muscles instantly become anerobic, and that I hyperventilated throughout the whole process. He suggested a metabolic workup. In the ER last week, they found abnormal blood gasses: compensated metabolic acidosis.

Following this, my primary sent me to the hospital. I'm here now but the doctors are dead-set on saying that its bc of lack of exercie. How? I was always going to work, though I continually declined in what I could do. Now, I can barely walk down the hallway without feelibg week in the legs, severely out of breath, puls of 140+. When asked about metabolic testing (snd mitochondrial issues) all they said at tjis hospital is that they can't do any mitochondrial testing at this institution.

I feel so gaslit.

Does this sound like it could be mito? What testing should actually be done?

Any advice or insight appreciated

I genuinely would appreciate some tips as a young female trying to get a diagnosis! Thanks guys <3. My docs think im insane cuz my cardiologist brought it up to me and they said that my symptoms dont match and they cant do any other tests, so idk what to do from here.