Heart Test UPDATE:

[GreenPartyVoter]

I am A-ok!

Now I just gotta figure out what is causing these chest pains.

Thanks for the vibes everyone!

[Denninmi]

1. Hey, that's great.

Did they do an MRI? That would reveal things like arthritis in the sternum.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Nope, nothing like that. They did check my blood for ..... RA? factors? Came back clean. Also,

the pain isn't always near the sternum. Can often be toward the side of the rib cage, both sides (though rarely at once.) So, more investigating to be done.

[hollysmom]

3. been there

I have had chest pains for 30 years, lived just fine thank you very much. All they know is it is not the heart. Might be some dental work.

I hope the pain is not too often and that you have had some serious stress testing done. Different test look at the heart different ways and sometimes you have to look at the unusual.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Did the nuclear test. All I know is that my heart lights up fine, which means blood flow is good. I

am still looking at the possibility of Fibromyalgia, and a few other things.

[HopeHoops]

5. It could just be muscle spasms. I've had some pretty severe ones. Some things are just mysteries.

Like my osteoporosis for example. After countless (literally) tests, nobody has a clue why I've got a -3.3 or so T score. No clue. It sure cost me a shitload, but no clue.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Maybe. All I know is it's been going on for years. My Dad had the same thing, but since he

also had Angina and both parents dropped in their tracks from heart attacks, thought it would be good to check that out.

I am ready for medical science to jump forward to its next phase of evolution!

[HopeHoops]

7. You want to become a Klingon?

Yes, you are correct. Family medical history is very significant in trying to diagnose situations. Unfortunately, my conditions don't fit ANY pattern in my family history.

Not to make light of your parents' deaths, but my late grandmother liked the following joke:

"The doctor said I had acute angina. I always thought it was sort of weird looking."

She had a great sense of humor.

One thing I only recently realized (through applying for SSDI) is just HOW MUCH of your medical record they won't share with you. As part of the process, SS sent me a CD with all of the records they had accumulated (what I submitted as well as what medical records they had) in preparation for a court date (which has not been assigned yet). Reading the records was rather enlightening. Nobody told me most of what was in them, and I was never allowed to see them directly before that. It's frustrating as hell.

Just keep pushing for information. That's the best you can do. And I wish you the best.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Wonder why they hide things from us like that?

[HopeHoops]

13. Probably because most patients aren't capable of comprehending it.

I'm serious and don't mean to be at all sarcastic about that. Most patients just want the doctor to tell them what's what in simple terms. I've had several doctors comment on my grasp of the procedures and substances involved in my treatment. One technician totally freaked out when I asked her if the injection before my MRI was Technetium-99m. I use the generic drug names for my medicines rather than the brand names. I run my own medicine compatibility searches. I'm also not typical of most patients.

I don't think it's so much hiding it as much as just being in the habit of providing the minimum information necessary to satiate a patient's need for an explanation. My doctors know better, but the labs don't know me from any other vial of blood they get. Face it, how many people even know HOW many vertebrae they have, much less how they are referenced. I've learned how to read those reports and it wasn't an easy task, but my spine is my major concern so it has been worth the effort.

Perhaps the insurance industry and for-profit healthcare industry have something to do with it. If people understood how little it really cost to perform certain tests, they might challenge the ridiculous costs and sub-standard insurance coverage associated with them. The only thing you can count on is that you're going to get the financial shaft.

[grasswire]

20. In my experience, many MDs don't like to deal with a self-educated patient.

I have a certificate in medical terminology; I spent a dozen years working in hospital and I understand processes and procedures. And I research the hell out of any meds prescribed for me, and any ailments bothering me. Rarely have I found a physician who is willing to talk openly. I know what meds I won't take, but a doc always tries to talk me into it. Statins, for example. Also, I have found that traditional MDs and NPs are a bit behind current trends.

[HopeHoops]

21. My GP in particular likes that I'm up on the details, partially because of how many doctors...

... labs, and specialists are involved. I can communicate in very short order what has transpired so even if he has received the records I save him time on the background so we can get straight to the matter at hand. It took a lot of work to come up to speed on the terminology, but I've found it quite useful in challenging decisions. You can't expect every MD you deal with to be thoroughly familiar with your background and medication regime. I haven't found any of them who didn't appreciate the input.

I also wear a dog collar with, yes, actual PetSmart dog tags - double sided, four lines per side, laser engraved. They list ICE numbers, hospital preference, my body's rejection of fentanyl, tonic-clonic seizures, osteoporosis, hypertension, and instructions for handling my service dog. I put them on a key clip (really just a dog leash clip with a swivel end) along with my pill case and attached it to my collar for easy removal by an EMT. The dog has a similar collection of tags and a pill case on a clip on her harness (matches mine just for fun).

What made me really focus on it was a sequence of two events where I was prescribed incompatible medications. In the first case, I was given Adderall when I was depressed, not eating (at all), dehydrated, not sleeping, and barely strong enough to walk. This did not turn out well. In the second, it was a combination of two drugs (forget which, but one was a muscle relaxant) that were prescribed almost six months apart. I hadn't finished the muscle relaxant but since they were both prescriptions within that period I figured it would be fine. It wasn't. Neither the GP nor the pharmacy flagged that, but I can see why since it could be assumed I'd finished the first one.

It's worse now. My "maintenance" drugs have to be ordered mail-order (insurance requires it) and the opioid and bennies have to be picked up locally. Despite having the same insurance card (CVS CareMark) for both orders, THEY CAN'T SHARE INFORMATION!!! There's no way for my pharmacist to cross-reference my drugs anymore for bad interactions. He's just as pissed about it as I am. And on top of that, the mail-order costs more and I've found packages of pills I vitally need just sitting on the front porch (non-USPS deliveries only - the USPS mail carrier puts them in the box or brings them to the door for hand delivery).

I guess you could say I'm not one of the "take two of these and call me in the morning" sort of people.

[grasswire]

22. A person has to be his/her own advocate these days.

Can you imagine what managing one's health care is like for people who don't have a clear mind for any of various medical reasons? Gah!

[hollysmom]

15. have you taken your blood pressure during an attack?

I know mine flies up to like 180 or 120 during my attacks, thankfully they are for less than 10 minutes and then it is fine again, probably adrenaline.

anyway, I find it is useful to give the doctor as much useful information as possible - well if you have a good doctor, not one who wants to push you through.

[HopeHoops]

16. Well, no. I have a machine (Omron) but that isn't the first thing on my mind.

What I'm worried about is having another tonic-clonic seizure. They claim it's latent epilepsy. The next seizure could kill me, but I am on meds for that. Taking my blood pressure has to be left to the EMTs at that point because I'm out of commission when that happens. They're so severe that I've broken my own vertebrae during them. We'll file this under "not good".

As for blood pressure, mine used to be in the 150-160/130 range - as in "near death". Between losing 1/3 of my body weight and taking meds, I'm back into a very normal range. I still have to take the meds, but at least I'm not about to pull an alien bursting out of the chest thing. I've got at least a dozen doctors (including specialists) and get bounced around all the time. The bills are worse than the bouncing. I think I've hit the point of acceptance. It's what it is and what it's going to be. I've been close enough to death that I have no fear of it.

It's not like any of us will be the first person to ever die. And remember, it isn't the person who dies who has the problem - it's those who are left behind to grieve that do.

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. Not specifically for that reason, however I am sure I have had it

taken during the pains, as well as had EKGs. It doesn't seem to be tied in other than pain raises your BP anyway.

[ohiosmith]

8. Excellent news!

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Yes, indeedy!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. I'm so glad your heart checked out, my dear GreenPartyVoter!

Now, let's do find out what's causing the chest pain. I'm rooting for you!

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Thanks, Peggy!

[GoCubsGo]

14. Glad to hear.

Do you drink a lot of carbonated beverages, by chance? Gas can cause chest pains. I get 'em if I drink too much Diet Coke or seltzer, or if I eat something that makes me gassy, like raw bell peppers. Usually, I can burp it out, but not always.

Stress also does it. The pains go away when I stop stressing.

One more possible cause?: Big boobs. Sometimes, the pressure from my bra straps pinches a nerve in my shoulder(s), and it comes off as chest pains.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. I am carrying a lot of weight, but this is definitely not the pinched nerve thing. Been there,

done that.

[applegrove]

19. Excellent!

[LiberalEsto]

23. Have they considered costochondritis?

That's an inflammation of chest cartilage.
One of my daughters had it years ago and it was very painful.

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. It's come up, along with fibromyalgia. More investigating to do.

[Odin2005]

25. I confused indigestion with a heart attack, once.

It gave me the worst panic attack I've ever had!

[LiberalAndProud]

26. That happened to DH

It was frightening for both of us. His face was grey, sweating in rivers. Scary stuff.

Expensive intestinal upset that turned out to be.