Lorraine
Well-known member
On Good Friday I went to have my INR checked. This past week I was having shortness of breathe and chest pains off and on that felt like it started underneath my ribcage and traveled up my neck and into my left arm. With just the slightest exertion, such as walking two blocks from the bus to the train it would bother me. I also had been complaining to my cardio nurse the last month or two that my blood pressure had shot up! I have always had pretty good reading. I told my cardio nurse about it and she said I should go straight to ER so I could get all the testing done at once to see if there was something wrong with my valves or arteries. They have the equipment there but you have to schedule appts to have all the test done. This way I could get everything done at once!They did all the tests and bloodwork at ER including the Nuclear test that Weaky Cat ( Jean) mentioned on another thread! All the test came back negative. My blood pressure was going through the roof though. I even have welts on my arm to prove it! One reading was 215/115! I had even ripped off the first cuff they put on my arm after I went back to Er after my stress test, because it was too small. I wasn't having any problems with the cuff in the first ER room. This one everytime it automatically took a reading was pressing so hard into my arm, my whole hand was turning beat red and i was in a lot of pain. A blood pressure machine shouldn't be that uncomfortable or leave welts on you!
My cardio said my heart and lungs were fine though. I too did not have a problem with the nuclear test. I didn't have shortness of breathe during the test though it was somewhat uncomfortable when they put the dye in you when I was on the treadmill. They sent me home with a new medication though. You guessed it, high blood pressure medicine. I am now on 5mg a day of Norvasc.
My cardio said if I continue you keep having these pains we may do an agiogram. Right now they think it could just be either stress related, maybe I pulled a muscle or something else is going on.
To be honest though it could be stress related. I just found out my 14 year old cat Cleo has hypertyroidism. I had blood work done on her a week ago and learned the results Monday. I had just put my other cat KC down last fall. She was 16. I did get very depressed during that time. My sister in law had just passed away too. I guess I thought I was over it but probably finding out Cleo is now on Meds must have un nerved me. I have been very irritable this past week. I'm not a very nice person when I'm irritable.
On another note I need some input. I took my INRatio machine to the cardio office on Friday to check it once again with theirs so i can start home testing. They are both INRatio. Their reading was 3.7 for my INR. An acceptable range for having two mechanical valves. My machine reading was 4.8! How can I home test with such a variance? I know we did a thread about a month ago about variances in the machines. Has anyone had to send their monitor back to QAS to be recalibrated? I had called them a few weeks ago because my first comparison with my cardio office wes: their monitor: 3.4. Mine was 4.0. That wasn't too far off. With a INR of 4.8 I would think I would have to adjust my dosage. With their monitor I would be fine. I plan to call QAS tomorrow but I was just looking for inputs. I do know the readings would never be exactly the same but I think this is too big of a variance. All replies would be appreciated. I want to start home testing and not have to go to the cardios office every month!
I know I don't post a lot, because I'm usually too busy working and commuting to work. A long day! I do read the threads though, even though I never have time to post. I always keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers though I don't get a chance to post and say it. Thanks!
