Well today was a day that wore me out totally, but I managed to survive - just. It was like a route march to the Department, and I was exhausted by the time I arrived. The breathlessness was overwhelming, and sitting down was heaven, but short lived as they sent me straight for an ECG. Finally a position that was good for me - laying down. Alas not for as long as I would have liked, you know a couple of hours, but no just a few minutes while they did 3 tracings, 2 short and 1 long.
Then I had to return to where I started, and was passed to a Specialist Nurse, who took a detailed history. I was also questioned as to why when I had chest pain a few weeks ago, an ambulance was not called. Well as far as I knew I had indigestion, and wasn't aware I needed an ambulance for that. I was told indigestion might last for 15 minutes, not 4 or 5 hours. Ok so now we have that clear, next time I think it's indigestion that's taking too long to clear, call an ambulance. I do have a hate of people who misuse the Ambulance Service, and certainly wouldn't call them for indigestion or finger ache as I call it. Now we have that clear, we will be fine.
The Nurse then consulted with the Doctor, and it was decided that I could go home - that was good of them, I was going to anyway - and I would be called for an appointment to have a myocardial perfusion scan, this shows them how the heart deals with the blood and it's transfer round the body, which could explain why my ankles, feet are swollen like rugby balls. It would also explain why getting about in normal every day life is so exhausting for me. It could take 6-8 weeks for this to take place.
Today I also made a call to the Company who will be doing the Heart Scan, and this will take place on 29 September 2018, yes it's a Saturday, and I was told today that it's much quicker than waiting for an appointment on NHS.
I am still waiting for the results from the blood tests last Friday from the GP, I may try calling tomorrow to see if the results are back, but with the Bank Holiday last weekend, I think it won't be till next week now. But you never know.
So till I have more to report, take care, and if you need to find out more about the perfusion scan then may I direct you to https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/tests/myocardial-perfusion-scan this site has been a real boost for me in finding out things and explaining it in language we use in every day life - well most of the time. Do feel free to share if you have undergone this test, or similar.
Regards
Julia
Thursday 30 August 2018
Tuesday 28 August 2018
28 August 2018 - Early Morning Call
Don't you just hate those early morning calls? I know I do. Although it was 9.30am, so not really very early.
Today it was the Heart Hospital, I know the Doctor said it would be within 2 weeks, I wasn't thinking like the day after tomorrow. So with orders to wear loose fitting clothes, and be prepared to be there for 2-3 hours, as I may undergo various tests. I hope they are not going to put me in a Hamster wheel, and tell me to start running. I gave up running many years ago, and certainly with my spinal problem I can't do it, walking to the car is painful enough. Although I do realise that some kind of tests will have to be done.
I expect my next update will be late Thursday, when I get back from Hospital. Tomorrow we have a lady coming to see what help we need while we are in this flat, and what will be required for when we move back to our bungalow. Lets hope the council get their part of the job done properly.
Speak soon.
Julia
Today it was the Heart Hospital, I know the Doctor said it would be within 2 weeks, I wasn't thinking like the day after tomorrow. So with orders to wear loose fitting clothes, and be prepared to be there for 2-3 hours, as I may undergo various tests. I hope they are not going to put me in a Hamster wheel, and tell me to start running. I gave up running many years ago, and certainly with my spinal problem I can't do it, walking to the car is painful enough. Although I do realise that some kind of tests will have to be done.
I expect my next update will be late Thursday, when I get back from Hospital. Tomorrow we have a lady coming to see what help we need while we are in this flat, and what will be required for when we move back to our bungalow. Lets hope the council get their part of the job done properly.
Speak soon.
Julia
Friday 24 August 2018
24 August 2018 - Start at the beginning
Starting at the beginning, there are not many or any other places left to start. So the problem started about 24 May 2018, when we had to move due to renovations and replacement of things such as central heating/boiler, electrics, kitchen refurbishment etc.
The first night I noticed my ankles were swollen, but was more than happy when they had gone down the next morning. Hold on - don't get excited, next night - same problem, just a little bit worse. This has gone on getting worse since then, never looking like it's going to get any better.
Tuesday last week, I got Chris to do my blood pressure, and our new machine looked like it was going to have a Coronary, So with this info I managed to get an appointment for the Friday. Explained to the GP, about the blood pressure, swollen ankles, head pain and breathlessness etc. He took my blood pressure - normal - typical make me look stupid! Looked at my legs and ankles, I told him that by the evening, my legs would be red and shiny, and in the morning the skin would be flakey and not nice.
He then started listening to my heart, in various places - allowing me to breathe - occasionally as well. I sort of knew he had found something, when he asked me to stop breathing, so he could listen. He then told me that he could hear a heart murmur - an extra random beat to the heart. Next he wanted me to have an X-Ray - local Hospital, extra blood tests and an ECG, and he was getting me a scan on my heart - not sure what that would show.
Moving on to Monday this week, I went to the local hospital for the X-Ray, being told the results would be back with my GP by the end of the week.
Today, I went for the extra blood tests and the ECG. When Sister had completed the ECG, she took it to show the Doctor, then came back and asked me to wait in Reception, and Dr would call me through. Sorta knew that the ECG had found something or confirmed that the heart murmur was real. I wasn't worried about the heart murmur, as my Late Mother had one all her life, and I have a feeling her Mother - my Grandmother had one as well. I clearly remember Grandmother taking Dispirin daily, a form of Aspirin.
Doctor said that I did have a heart murmur, this was shown by the ECG, the X-Ray showed that my heart is enlarged. Then the Doctor did shock me, not much does shock me anymore, but he said that I have had a Heart Attack as well!! I told him I had very bad indigestion/heartburn - well that's what it felt like - about 3-4 weeks ago. He said he doubted very much that it was either of those, and was in fact a heart attack. He said I would still be having the heart scan, but also now he was sending me to the Heart Specialist, and this would happen within the next 2 weeks. I know from the time my previous GP had reason to believe I had a secondary tumour at L3-4, that 2 weeks in Dr speak means it's being considered very seriously.
So I have been having a read on www.bhf.org.uk and it says that us ladies are less likely to take the pain associated with Heart Attacks as seriously as the men, and we treat it more like indigestion etc. meaning that more of us suffer needlessly. Have a read, take it seriously, don't let your family suffer with loosing you, because you thought it was indigestion.
As you can imagine, it's been a rather strange feeling day. I'm not sure "strange" is the best description, but it's the best I can come up with at this time. If it turns out to be innocent and just the heart murmur, then I for one will be more than happy, if not and it's more, then I will share with you what goes on, and how I feel about it. Hopefully my sharing will prevent others suffering or worse. Remember the cost of of a funeral is rising all the time, and I for one want to give my family time to save for it - seriously though, I want to stay around much longer so that I can annoy them more than I do already.
You will be reading this well after the date I have written it, this is so that I can inform my close family members personally, rather than have them reading about it in public on Facebook, which is not a good place to read about things at the best of times.
Can I also remind you that this is not a medical reference, just a diary of my experiences, and as such, you should not use this as a reference for your own medical conditions. I can only speak about how I view things from my own perspective, and this could differ from others. As a personal blog, I do not seek permission from others to write about myself, and do not seek comments of a negative nature. I would like to keep things positive until, they are proven otherwise.
The first night I noticed my ankles were swollen, but was more than happy when they had gone down the next morning. Hold on - don't get excited, next night - same problem, just a little bit worse. This has gone on getting worse since then, never looking like it's going to get any better.
Tuesday last week, I got Chris to do my blood pressure, and our new machine looked like it was going to have a Coronary, So with this info I managed to get an appointment for the Friday. Explained to the GP, about the blood pressure, swollen ankles, head pain and breathlessness etc. He took my blood pressure - normal - typical make me look stupid! Looked at my legs and ankles, I told him that by the evening, my legs would be red and shiny, and in the morning the skin would be flakey and not nice.
He then started listening to my heart, in various places - allowing me to breathe - occasionally as well. I sort of knew he had found something, when he asked me to stop breathing, so he could listen. He then told me that he could hear a heart murmur - an extra random beat to the heart. Next he wanted me to have an X-Ray - local Hospital, extra blood tests and an ECG, and he was getting me a scan on my heart - not sure what that would show.
Moving on to Monday this week, I went to the local hospital for the X-Ray, being told the results would be back with my GP by the end of the week.
Today, I went for the extra blood tests and the ECG. When Sister had completed the ECG, she took it to show the Doctor, then came back and asked me to wait in Reception, and Dr would call me through. Sorta knew that the ECG had found something or confirmed that the heart murmur was real. I wasn't worried about the heart murmur, as my Late Mother had one all her life, and I have a feeling her Mother - my Grandmother had one as well. I clearly remember Grandmother taking Dispirin daily, a form of Aspirin.
Doctor said that I did have a heart murmur, this was shown by the ECG, the X-Ray showed that my heart is enlarged. Then the Doctor did shock me, not much does shock me anymore, but he said that I have had a Heart Attack as well!! I told him I had very bad indigestion/heartburn - well that's what it felt like - about 3-4 weeks ago. He said he doubted very much that it was either of those, and was in fact a heart attack. He said I would still be having the heart scan, but also now he was sending me to the Heart Specialist, and this would happen within the next 2 weeks. I know from the time my previous GP had reason to believe I had a secondary tumour at L3-4, that 2 weeks in Dr speak means it's being considered very seriously.
So I have been having a read on www.bhf.org.uk and it says that us ladies are less likely to take the pain associated with Heart Attacks as seriously as the men, and we treat it more like indigestion etc. meaning that more of us suffer needlessly. Have a read, take it seriously, don't let your family suffer with loosing you, because you thought it was indigestion.
As you can imagine, it's been a rather strange feeling day. I'm not sure "strange" is the best description, but it's the best I can come up with at this time. If it turns out to be innocent and just the heart murmur, then I for one will be more than happy, if not and it's more, then I will share with you what goes on, and how I feel about it. Hopefully my sharing will prevent others suffering or worse. Remember the cost of of a funeral is rising all the time, and I for one want to give my family time to save for it - seriously though, I want to stay around much longer so that I can annoy them more than I do already.
You will be reading this well after the date I have written it, this is so that I can inform my close family members personally, rather than have them reading about it in public on Facebook, which is not a good place to read about things at the best of times.
Can I also remind you that this is not a medical reference, just a diary of my experiences, and as such, you should not use this as a reference for your own medical conditions. I can only speak about how I view things from my own perspective, and this could differ from others. As a personal blog, I do not seek permission from others to write about myself, and do not seek comments of a negative nature. I would like to keep things positive until, they are proven otherwise.
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