same symptoms

[imhayley]

I have been feeling so much better in the past few weeks (7 mos. post-op) and figured it can only get better from here. However, yesterday I had sharp pain in my chest (under left breast) then my left armpit cramped up and my left arm did the same. My hands were tingling and my palms were sweaty. I literally had to go to my knees. This is EXACTLY (well minus the anxiety attack and racing heart) the symptoms I was experiencing prior to surgery. I dont know what to do now. Im soooooooo scared because I KNOW something isnt right. Could this still be pain from healing? Why would my left arm cramp up so bad. I also experienced a strange state of being while this was happening because I looked at my dog while it was happening and things didnt look right and the room seemed kinda fuzzy. PLEASE ANYONE!!!! I called to get in with my cardiologist yesterday and guess what?...yep...he's gone from that office now. Today I called to see if I could get some help and the receptionist was angry because I didnt go to the E.R. and just told me she would have someone call me back. errrrrrrrrrrrrrr Any input at this point will be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[baradonai]

maybe...

maybe...

Hi Imhayley,
I don't know much more than my own experience. It turns out I had two other health problems (repercussions from a stroke and GERD) that were muddying up the waters. Symptomology was difficult for a while while the Dr. pinned them down. Perhaps you've got something else going on other than the valve? Regardless, get yoself to the Drs ' and figure this thing out. Perhaps you've got a pinched nerve?

Hang in there, kiddo!

 

[Georgia]

I hope you've heard from a doc by now. I can't offer any help except to let you know I'm thinking about you and hope everything turns out OK.

Certainly the pain and cramping could be nerves reawakening. I still get odd jabs now and then, and it's 3 years for me.

The fuzziness could be part of the anxiety attack.

I hope you can relax and not worry too much until someone gets back to you. If it happens again go to the ER.

 

[Karlynn]

Hayley,
I'm glad you are feeling better. If the incident happens again in a short period of time, I'd give a quick call to your cardio to see if it's an issue. If it doesn't I'd chalk it up to a strange occurance.

I had so many nasty symptoms prior to my surgery that when I'd have a brief reoccurance of one after surgery I'd start to freak out a bit...not wanting to go "there" again. Even now, 14 years later, if I have a day of arrhythmias I still go back "there" and worry that it will continue. It's really hard to retrain the brain to step back and look at things logically when they are things that led to problems in the past.

So take a deep breath....

 

[Christina L]

I was told when I had a weird

I was told when I had a weird

kind of "blackout" experience after my surgery that if it happened again to go immediately to an emergency room so they could take blood, get vitals, etc. - to check things when the event was occurring or at least immediately after. (I never had the event again.)

I would suggest that you do the same with your episodes.

I, personally, think that our bodies are just so, so complicated and we have been through a major assault on our bodies and there are just all sorts of strange things that happen to us post surgery. I would guess your muscles, ligaments, nerves, etc. are healing and causing these symptoms and when you get anxious about the physical symptoms, you have anxiety attacks.

However, as someone else said, if you had these same symptoms before your surgery, it could be GERD or a number of other "benign" etiologies.

I am most certainly not a doctor and these are only my personal opinions, but I would suggest going to an ER right away after/during one of your episodes - BUT I hope you never have another one and you probably won't!!

Christina L

 

[Granbonny]

Can you post the meds you are taking? I know, my hubby takes b/p meds..He will have several weeks of energy..then 1 day he will feel lousy... He will take his b/p and it's mostly too low, when he feels lousy..... I was driving the other day..when my right hand got cramped.Scary..after 4 years..but, just relaxed it and the cramp went away.......and I take no meds..Other than coumadin... Bonnie

 

[imhayley]

cardiologist in the p.m.

cardiologist in the p.m.

Thank you all for your input and I did manage to get into the Doctor tomorrow thanks to a cancellation.(Thank You God). They are quite concerned (okay well the nurse was) since my vision is distorted while the event takes place yet are happy and optimistic since I wasnt having trouble breathing. I will see the Doctor in the afternoon tomorrow and let you know what the outcome is.
You all are the best....Thank you from the bottom of me tickin heart!

 

[tobagotwo]

Bonnie's right about the meds being a possibility.

Another possibility is ventricular fibrillation. In your position, I would either tell the bossy receptionist to do her job and get you an immediate appointment with one of the affiliated cardiologists, or try to get into another cardio group on an emergency basis. Then ask her why no one saw fit to notify patients that their cardiologist had left the practice.

My feeling is that you should be given a holter monitor to wear, so any arrhythmias can be captured and analyzed. It may be just a passing phase, as the heart does get arrhythmias as it remodels to its original size, but an arrhythmia (if that was the cause) that makes you go to one knee is nothing to ignore.

Please get to a cardiologist A.S.A.P. If you can't, then go the E.R. route, if necessary.

Best wishes,

 

[imhayley]

the meds

the meds

Please dont pass judgement based on this list.
trazadone (25 mg bedtime zzzzzz)
coumadin 2.5 / 5.0
ativan (1mg 3x day)
lithium (150mg daily)
And with this combo I finally feel alive again for the first time since surgery. The despression is under control and I can work but now we shall see whats up tomorrow any way here is the list of meds you asked me about.