Mind if I vent- medical issue

[phorsenuf]

So a year and a half ago I had a heart attack (I was 44). I had no huge risk factors and when they did the angiogram they found no blockage of my major arteries. They still aren't 100% sure what even caused it to begin with.

Since then I've been hospitalized off and on for what was suspected heart related issues. Never had another heart attack though, thank goodness. My cardiologists keep saying the chances of having another heart attack are slim. Um, ok. But weren't they slim to begin with?

So I just spent another night in the hospital last week with no findings again. All they did was some blood work, 2 EKG's and observation. The ER DR told me that both my EKG's were abnormal. No indication of a heart attack, but abnormal. He said this as he was walking out the door. I saw the Dr on call but again, no answers. He was foreign and had such a thick accent I could hardly understand him so I let it drop.

While on the heart monitor I noticed that it looked much much different than it usually does and quite a few times the alarms went off for PVC's. I asked the nurse about it and she was like no big deal. Well in all the times I've been hooked up to heart machines I've never had that come up so it raises a few eyebrows to me.

My cardiologists never came in to see me or called. I'm following up with my pcp tomorrow (who is awesome!) and I guess we'll go from there. I've told her before that I don't like my cardiologists because he poo-poo's everything I say. It's as if he dismisses my symptoms because he's convinced I will never have another heart attack. All the cardiologists in town are in the same practice. I know I can go somewhere else but we are moving soon out of state so I was hoping I could just wait and see a new Dr then. I'm starting to rethink that though.

It's just so frustrating. Something isn't right. While in the ER the DR mentioned coronary artery spasms. He's the second DR (at the ER) that has mentioned that. It's something I'm going to start looking into. I'm just at the end of my rope I guess. If it were you would you seek out another DR if you may be moving in a month. I know I probably should have done something a while ago but after I have issues I feel good for a while so I just go on. Then wham, pushed back down.

Anyway, just needed to vent I guess. Does anyone here deal with spasms or other odd heart related issues?

 

[golfgal]

I would suggest finding a different doctor. I see you are moving to Florida soon, perhaps a trip to the Mayo clinic there would be in your best interest.

 

[PatsMom]

I'd look for another doctor. Not sure what part of NH you are in but there are quite a few excellent hospitals with top notch cardiologists. You should never have your concerns ignored, that is just wrong!

 

[sharlon]

Phors, honey, get a different doctor ASAP! It's not like this is a bunion, it's your beautiful little heart! As for the Mayo, I agree with golfgal, except that it's in Jacksonville. You would have a long drive. Plus you will be in a big retirement area. I bet there are cardiologists on every street corner.

 

[dakcp2001]

The one thing that I have noticed is that Cardiologists never agree with each other. They fight & argue all the time. If yours is not working, get another, and keep going until you find one that takes the time to actually work with you. Sounds like yours is ready for the boot. It can never hurt to get a second opinion, and is many cases, a third to see which one the third will agree with (either dr 1 or doctor 2, they never all agree).

 

[bumbershoot]

I would find someone else, even though you're moving soon.

While on the heart monitor I noticed that it looked much much different than it usually does and quite a few times the alarms went off for PVC's. I asked the nurse about it and she was like no big deal. Well in all the times I've been hooked up to heart machines I've never had that come up so it raises a few eyebrows to me.

That isn't just you being paranoid or being a hypochondriac. Obviously you are intelligent and have noticed the normal things on the monitor, and this is out of the ordinary for you. YOu need someone who will listen to you, not blow you off. After all, if you have another heart attack, will it affect the MD in any way? No. Will it affect you? Um, yes. So they need to listen to you.

Friend of mine always had low low low blood pressure. While pregnant, it stayed low. She had an OB office where she cycled through all the OBs so she would meet them all, and any of them could be on call. On her last visit there, at 24 weeks, her BP was "normal". The OB said "great!" My friend said "oh gracious no, NOT great, not even good". He ignored her. Within a few days, her husband came home from work and found her passed out on the floor. She was out for days, and when she woke up he had to tell her 1. she'd been pregnant (she had lost that memory) and 2. she now had a very very premature baby. All because the OB didn't listen to her and thought she was being a silly pregnant person. (baby is fine now, relatively healthy 6 year old)

You have to have people who LISTEN to you.

 

[DMickey28]

Friend of mine always had low low low blood pressure. While pregnant, it stayed low. She had an OB office where she cycled through all the OBs so she would meet them all, and any of them could be on call. On her last visit there, at 24 weeks, her BP was "normal". The OB said "great!" My friend said "oh gracious no, NOT great, not even good". He ignored her. Within a few days, her husband came home from work and found her passed out on the floor. She was out for days, and when she woke up he had to tell her 1. she'd been pregnant (she had lost that memory) and 2. she now had a very very premature baby. All because the OB didn't listen to her and thought she was being a silly pregnant person. (baby is fine now, relatively healthy 6 year old)

You have to have people who LISTEN to you.

I have very low blood pressure ... especially while pregnant. I am on the look out for exactly this situation myself.

Phors - I would not hesitate to find another cardiologist, it's ok that you are going to transfer again in a little while. The heart is not something you want to wait in. Are you in S. New Hampshire? My DH has a cardiologist he really likes in Andover, MA I can recommed. I don't know where Palm Harbor is but we also have two in Florida if they are nearby. One is in Boca Raton but he has one in West Palm Beach that is AWESOME.

 

[BellvilleDad]

I would suggest finding a different doctor. I see you are moving to Florida soon, perhaps a trip to the Mayo clinic there would be in your best interest.

Agreed with this. I've never dealt with heart problems (knock on wood!), but I have dealt with indifferent doctors. I'd find another doctor ASAP.

 

[golfgal]

Phors, honey, get a different doctor ASAP! It's not like this is a bunion, it's your beautiful little heart! As for the Mayo, I agree with golfgal, except that it's in Jacksonville. You would have a long drive. Plus you will be in a big retirement area. I bet there are cardiologists on every street corner.

One reason for going to Mayo is their team approach to care. What if it is something totally unrelated to your heart causing the heart attack and a cardiologist doesn't catch it??

 

[doxdogy]

I am not sure when you are moving to my neck of the woods, but another hospital I recommend is either Shands Gainesville or Shands Jacksonville. Both are teaching hospitals and are associated with the University of Florida. I am providing a link for Shands Jacksonville.

http://jax.shands.org/

 

[phorsenuf]

Thanks everyone! I know it makes sense to switch DRS but it just seemed like a hassle with the upcoming move and all. When I feel good, I feel really good but then I get knocked down.
When I was in the hospital the time before last they found fluid around my heart. They figured that was what was causing the symptoms. They didn't do anything about it as they said it wasn't a lot. There was never a follow up on it. When I started feeling crappy again this time it was the same type of symptoms. Said something about it in the hospital but they didn't see the need to do an echo while I was there. They said I could do one on an outpatient if I wanted. Yes, I want. Maybe the fluid isn't enough for them to be bothered by it but it sure seems to bother me.

I am one of those type of people who is in tune with their body and that's why I have that nagging feeling something isn't quite right.

I'll talk with my DR tomorrow and see if she feels I should see another cardiologist or wait. I am going to ask her to order an echo for me.

We are moving to the Clearwater area.

I'm just so tired.....

 

[minnie56]

I have a big family history of heart disease and see a Cardiologist yearly just to 'be sure' alls well. I have PVC's ..a few months back they were really bad. I ended up in Emerg about 6x...they referred me to a Electrophysiologist. She sent me for multiple tests..and I wore a monitor (event monitor) for 14 days. She said women present with the weird and the wonderful stuff and she saw nothing of concern. I am not sure if you are a woman..and/or menopausal but that can play a role in the electricals of our heart. My cousin who is a Cardiologist calls them 'electronic nuisances' and indeed they are!

Hope you get it resolved soon and feel better...

If you are a man...SO SORRY! I didn't read all the posts!

 

[CathrynRose]

I will just echo what other posters have said. See another DR.

It sounds like even your gut is telling you it seems strange. Trust it.

 

[davidsprincess]

google fluid around the heart and see what comes up. arm yourself with as much info. as possible. hope all goes well with your own doctor.

 

[tevagirl]

4"s, first ..hi .

Second, listen to your body. No one knows it better than you. If you feel something is wrong then it needs to be taken seriously. Please get yourself a new cardiologist. One that will listen to you.

I hope everything is ok.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My mom has corornary artery spasms and she's had them for over 20 years that I know of (she's 73). She's never had a heart attack but has been to the ER many, many times with chest pains and a rapid heart beat. The ER docs would do a bunch of tests and then send her home with a clean bill of health. She was still sure that something must be wrong and she finally found a cardiologist who wanted to do a cardiac catherization. She ended up having a spasm while she was on the table having the test done and they were able to see exactly what was happening. She takes Procardia but doesn't have any restrictions on activity. She's been told it's a very annoying but benign condition. She still wakes up with a rapid heart beat in the middle of the night sometimes and, being my mom, starts thinking the worst but it always goes away. I sometimes catch her taking her pulse when she thinks no one is looking (she's a retired nurse). I ask her what's wrong and she says she feels a spasm coming on so I change the subject and have her focus on something else and it goes away. It's a very real condition but can be aggrevated by anxiety so we try to get her to minimize it whenever possible. Good luck! I hope you find the answers to your symptoms and that it's something that can be easily controlled.

 

[phorsenuf]

4"s, first ..hi .

Second, listen to your body. No one knows it better than you. If you feel something is wrong then it needs to be taken seriously. Please get yourself a new cardiologist. One that will listen to you.

I hope everything is ok.

Hi Teva!

My mom has corornary artery spasms and she's had them for over 20 years that I know of (she's 73). She's never had a heart attack but has been to the ER many, many times with chest pains and a rapid heart beat. The ER docs would do a bunch of tests and then send her home with a clean bill of health. She was still sure that something must be wrong and she finally found a cardiologist who wanted to do a cardiac catherization. She ended up having a spasm while she was on the table having the test done and they were able to see exactly what was happening. She takes Procardia but doesn't have any restrictions on activity. She's been told it's a very annoying but benign condition. She still wakes up with a rapid heart beat in the middle of the night sometimes and, being my mom, starts thinking the worst but it always goes away. I sometimes catch her taking her pulse when she thinks no one is looking (she's a retired nurse). I ask her what's wrong and she says she feels a spasm coming on so I change the subject and have her focus on something else and it goes away. It's a very real condition but can be aggrevated by anxiety so we try to get her to minimize it whenever possible. Good luck! I hope you find the answers to your symptoms and that it's something that can be easily controlled.

Very interesting. My heart rate will sometimes just take off as well and I have been known on more than one occasion to check my pulse. Does she have issues with her blood pressure too when that happens? Sometimes my BP will just spike up for no reason.
I'm really starting to lean towards these spasms may be the culprit. I'll talk with my pcp about that and then ask her about switching cardiologists. Guess I better get going on getting my medical records together.