Above link is to a Youtube Video I made on 5/1/13 explaining my entire ordeal.
Hey folks.. Just wanted to share with everyone what I just went through. I was having terrible chest pains for the last month. My Dr.'s kept telling me it was Reflux c/w GERD and NOT my heart.
I was eating Antacids like they were candy and these attacks were like 5-10 times/day. The pain radiated up into my left shoulder and down my left arm. It was Scaring me so bad, that I went to the ER. Labs were 100% normal, so I was sent home.
My Cardiologist did a Stress Test in his office, which was also 100% normal. I just kept pushing through things, like cutting my lawn, changing my brakes on my car, other things that required heavy lifting.
Finally, I called my cardiologist and told him he had to Cath me. I was sure this was not GI. He told me he would do it to put my mind to rest.
So here you go: 1st picture shows the 95% blockage in my right coronary artery.
This shot shows my Right Coronary Artery after the Stent was placed.
So, now I'm on 3 heart medications and a Statin drug for my high cholesterol. I'm certain this is Lyme induced. Lesson is: Don't take your Chest Pain Lightly. I've been to the ER a gazillion times over the years for Shortness of breath, tachycardia, etc. I had stopped b/c they can never find anything, but you never know which time something will show up. I hope this post helps someone here.
I''m ok now Heart wise. Still a ton of Lyme head stuff. Still on Salt/c and Antiparasitics for now.
[ 05-01-2013, 06:39 PM: Message edited by: lymetwister ]
Posts: 1227 | From District of Columbia | Registered: Mar 2009
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Kudzuslipper
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posted
oh Twister! big hug to you. sorry you had to go through this. SO glad you pushed your cardiolgist to test you. glad you caught it.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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posted
Twister, so glad you listened to your instinct and that things are going better now. Thanks for the warning for all of us. Best wishes.
-------------------- 'Hope' is a thing with feathers, that perches in the soul-- Emily Dickinson Posts: 160 | From Indiana | Registered: Nov 2012
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lax mom
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posted
Oh my goodness! I am so glad you are ok and kept advocating for yourself! That is beyond scary!!!!
posted
Glad you kept persisting. As most of you know we have to be our own dr anymore. Sure glad you are ok.
I did have a heart attack Feb. 21st. I didn't have the symptoms you would think when you were having one. Mine started with the worst headache in the back of my head. No other symptoms but it was so bad I was crying and almost screaming from the pain.
Hubby had enough sense to call an ambulance and by the time they got me in it I was having a little shortness of breath, a little chest heaviness ( no pain whatsoever). The headache had eased down a lot. So ladies our symptoms can be so different than a man's.
I couldn't believe they were going to send me home from the ER until I asked about the chest heaviness. Did bloodwork and it showed I 'd had a H/ A. I was shocked and almost died that night. Blood pressure went to 40/10 and they sent me to ICU. I don't have any blockages but my heart isn't pumping like it should but with meds I'm better. It's directly related to Lyme and 3 cardiologists agreed. I couldn't believe it. Since I had no blockages they didn't have any other explanation.
I have to say that many of my symptoms that I thought were Lyme were heart related. I've felt so much better since the H/ A. I just wanted to let you ladies know how few symptoms we can have but don't want to scare you.
Posts: 495 | From KY USA | Registered: Dec 2004
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lax mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38743
posted
Sapphire thanks for posting. So glad you're ok too.
There have been alot of close calls on Lymenet lately. I hope that's not a common occurrence.
lymetwister
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19590
posted
To be clear, I didn't have an actual heart attack. As you can see from the Pre-Stent picture, some blood was getting through, but I didn't have the pain at those times.
I imagine, there would be No blood seen distal to the Stenosis at the times I was having the attacks, thus the god awful pains I was having.
I could feel them come on over 2-3 minutes and they would intensify in both Pain and location. The pain in the arm was almost as bad as the pain in the chest. Again, I would think at those times, there was no blood flow past that 95% occlusion.
Dr. says no damage, yet my Ejection Fraction is just 45%. I will have a f/u Echo in a month and see what that shows.
I hope the Plavix helps the the Cerebral Hypoperfusion.
Crazy stuff !!
Posts: 1227 | From District of Columbia | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
So glad you're okay! What a relief that your condition was caught. Good for you for taking charge!
Your post is a big warning to me. I've been having symptoms in my heart for a long time. Began years ago with a constant flutter and now feels like a heaviness and severe weakness/ lack of oxygen in my heart. It's hard to describe and it's getting worse.
Electrocardiograph only showed a "short PR interval", but it didn't concern the Cardiologist too much. His nurse said I could come in to discuss further testing 'if I wanted'. I declined after hearing that it was 'up to me'.
How quick I am (we are) to endure symptoms because that is what we're used to doing. Though heart symptoms shouldn't be taken lightly.
I will follow up with this.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Posts: 57 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Apr 2011
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To be clear, I didn't have an actual heart attack. As you can see from the Pre-Stent picture, some blood was getting through, but I didn't have the pain at those times.
- But you were very close to one! I would be very angry with my Dr if he had ignored me.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Tammy N.
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posted
Wow, thanks for sharing. It's wonderful your instincts led you to push your doc, and it's great your doc responded. Wishing you the best.
Posts: 2238 | From East Coast | Registered: Jul 2010
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lymetwister
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19590
posted
Gratitude:
Variations in the PR interval can be associated with certain medical conditions:
Duration A long PR interval (of over 200 ms) may indicate a first degree heart block.[1] Prolongation can be associated with hypokalemia, acute rheumatic fever, [2] or carditis associated with Lyme disease. [3]
A short PR interval may indicate a pre-excitation syndrome via an accessory pathway that leads to early activation of the ventricles, such as seen in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
A variable PR interval may indicate other types of heart block. PR segment depression may indicate atrial injury[citation needed] or pericarditis.[4]
Variable morphologies of P waves in a single ECG lead is suggestive of an ectopic pacemaker rhythm such as wandering pacemaker or multifocal atrial tachycardia
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
This is extremely scary. I'm very glad you got the help you needed, but as others said, I'd fire that doc instantly for his/her actions. That is just not acceptable. Unfortunately, it's the norm many times. A true shame. Thanks for sharing the reality of the medical field Gary. I hope you feel better.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Lymedin2010
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posted
Did they ever check your troponin levels, before they Cath you? Was that normal too?
Posts: 2087 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2011
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posted
So glad to hear you are okay! Such a scary event to go through.
I had a heart cath 2 years ago at 33 and was okay. I just had a stress test and EKG this past week and both were ok.
I've been having some cardiac symptoms and have been assured everything is ok and that my nervous system is likely out of whack and is what is aggravating me so badly.
This story is exactly why so many of us are scared. Many blessings to you for a full recovery!
Posts: 132 | From Central New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2012
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lululymemom
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At 38 I spent 3 days in intensive care with elevated troponin levels and uncontrolled blood pressure. I also had high cholesterol. I was put on blood thinners, beta blockers and nitro patch. Doctors couldnt understand what was happening..
I went on a vegetarian diet and added magnesium citrate among other supplements. It has been 12 years and I just got my latest blood work back and everything is now normal. I should say I also walk and do light weights everyday.
It becomes a lifestyle change and well worth it. Sometimes we need a wakeup call to make a positive step forward.
Bartonella henselae 1:100 Posts: 2027 | From British Columbia | Registered: Jun 2010
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nonna05
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posted
So, glad you made him look further.
Little surprised he did.. You must have good insurance.
Did either of you have swelling of lower limbs?
Dizzy, nauseous ????????????????????????
Posts: 2563 | From Denver,CO | Registered: Aug 2011
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lululymemom
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posted
When I was admitted I felt very nauseous and sick. I can recall them giving me gravol for the nausea. I also had sternum pain which was a predominant symptom. The only swelling I was getting was in my feet. I should say I was of normal weight.
Bartonella henselae 1:100 Posts: 2027 | From British Columbia | Registered: Jun 2010
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
This is all so frightening. I am glad you followed your instincts and averted a heart attack! Just curious, did you discuss the salt c and parasite meds with your doc? I know that for some, the sea salt actually is good to stabilize the BP.
Wishing you all the best. Thanks for sharing this important information!!
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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lymetwister
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19590
posted
My Insurance is Medicare.. It just dawned on me that it could be the reason he was reluctant to do the cath.. Hmmm... Not much to go in his pocket.
Troponin was Negative prior to the Cath. Again, so was my Nuclear Stress test.
I wonder how many wind up dead after complaining in their local ER or Cardios office only to be sent home on Antacids. Those people never get their day in court.
BTW, a few have PM'd me that I left my name and birthdate on the pics. I didn't do this intentionally, but most of you know who I am, so I expect some birthday wishes on 11/27 if I'm still around :-)
Thanks for all of your comments. I want you all to know I specialized in Cardiology before I got sick. Besides being an ER RN, I worked in CCU (Coronary Care Units and ICU's Intensive Care Units) for years prior to all of this, thus my determination to push forward on the Dr. to do the Cath.
If any of you have questions shoot them my way. I won't give medical advice, but I will answer you as follows: "If it were me I would.....". Just to Cover my you know what...
Thank you all again... I still feel sick in so many ways, mostly head stuff, but I'm still on the strong Antiparasitic Herbs/Salt-c and I'm Herxing all the time. I hope to get some of this stuff under control soon.
posted
Trying to understand how your blockage didn't show up on any of your prior tests or hint that it needed to be done. Is this a common occurrence?
Thrilled for you that it was found and stent put in place. Many times docs won't listen to a patient asking for an additional test when everything else is clear.
Posts: 120 | From MA | Registered: May 2010
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posted
I probably should add I've been to ER 3x over last 7-8 years with chest pains. Nothing was ever found. I had stress test and another couple comprehensive tests that were fine. Day after I had last incident I ran 20 miles the next day.
I keep asking ER doc and cardiologists how do I know what to do when nothing is ever found. ER bill is $5K easy. I now think it has been TBD related.
Posts: 120 | From MA | Registered: May 2010
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posted
I had a very intense episode recently where I woke up with terrible chest pain over the full width of my chest and into both arms. I could hardly breath and felt totally panicked for at least 20 minutes.
This hasn't repeated, but I have constant aching in my heart, my heart rate won't go below 90 bpm and if I strain my body at all (i.e. walking up my stairs, carrying grocery bags etc) my heart just throbs and I brake out in a cold sweat.
Also, a few years ago I was hospitalized for "air humger" where I was waking up gasping for breath.
Could these symptoms be related to a partial blockage like yours, and could the 20 minute episode have been a heart attack (it sure felt like one to me)?
-------------------- m2 Posts: 13 | From Redmond, WA | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
I find it amazing that a stress test didn't pick up a 95% blockage....crazy. So glad you pushed through and went for the cath and you are doing better.
I have had "chest wall pain" and have been to the ER for it. I wonder what this REALLY is?
I'm beginning to think that this country needs better testing for EVERYTHING!
Thanks for your post!
-------------------- LAXlover Posts: 371 | From Northern Baltimore Area | Registered: Apr 2010
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lymetwister
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19590
posted
I finally got an explanation !
Cardio tells me the Stress test missed it b/c it only looks for perfusion abnormalities, not Vessel Narrowing.
If you look at my pictures above, I was getting equal perfusion at the time of the test, or close to it. The Narrowing (Stenosis), although 95%, was still allowing bloodflow through.
This is why they "Stress" your heart during the test, so that if there are blockages, they will pick up on Perfusion abnormalities, but again, not any type of Narrowing.
Why I didn't have pain on the treadmill is beyond me. How 5% of an Artery allows blood to pass through to the other side is beyond me.
I can only say that during these attacks, I would think I would have been 100% close as I could feel the "Lack of Oxygen" to the tissues = Pain.
I guess this is why the Heart Catherization remains the best test.
Hope that helps explain to some of you...
Posts: 1227 | From District of Columbia | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
When I was first dxd with A-fib my doctor ran me thru all the usual tests; the echo, the stress, etc. Those were pretty much OK.. stress test was fine.
But then he said he wanted to do a cath to make sure. Now I see why he did that. I thought it was overkill at the time. (my cath test was fine)
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lululymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
m2, one way for them to check if you had a heart attack is to check your troponin levels.. It should be done as soon as poosible after the incident and then repeated a few hours later because the levels rise.
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