The good news... and the bad... (follow up)

[Abbanabba]

Just thought I'd post a quick update....

Well, I've now been on these antidepressants for 3 weeks and I figure I might as well have been taking M&Ms (..at least they taste better..).

The last two nights I've been lucky to get 4hrs sleep, so today I am feeling really awful. Otherwise, I haven't noticed any difference to anything. My GP wanted to try them to see if it helped alleviate my symptoms - assuming, of course, that they were being exacerbated by anxiety/depression (..as suggested by the cardio..), but there has been no change whatsoever. And, well clearly, they haven't improved my sleep patterns at all.

As far as my "poor, fragile emotional condition" (..oh, can you taste the sarcasm!!..) that hasn't changed at all. I questioned several different people - who all know me very well - about my behaviour compared to the list of classic symptoms of depression. None of them thought I had any of these issues, but then they've all spent more than 5 minutes with me, so I think I'll trust their judgement over that of my cardiologist - at least on that score!!

Hmmmmm...... I guess this all sounds very abrasive, but I guess I'm just SOOOOOO sick and tired of having my problems trivialised as being "all in my head".

Anyhoo, I'm back to my GP tomorrow, so I'll see how that goes.

Cheers all
Anna : )

 

[Karlynn]

My GP wanted to try them to see if it helped alleviate my symptoms - assuming, of course, that they were being exacerbated by anxiety/depression (..as suggested by the cardio..),

Gosh, this really chaps my hide. I got the same treatment from my first doctor. Apparently it is a world view that women and their health problems are primarily due to it being "all in their head". No wonder heart disease kills more woman than the next 5 causes of death combined - a woman goes in with chest pain and they give her a sedative.

 

[Nancy]

Oh, it's not just women, unfortunately.

You just have to learn as much as you can about your or your loved one's condition, so you can tell if you are being taken care of appropriately or not, and then if you are not, you are going to have to be strong enough to leave an inadequate situation and find someone who is more knowledgeable and willing to help you with your problems. Missing a few things here and there is human, but when you are constantly being dismissed or ignored, then it is indeed another matter. If you don't respect the person treating you or they don't respect you, move on.

You also shouldn't fool around too long with someone who you find to be less than helpful. It probably won't EVER magically change and could cost you your life.

Doctors have many, many patients you only have YOU.

 

[Georgia]

One advantage of not being diagnosed until you're really really sick is that you don't have to listen to such pap.

My original cardiologist left shortly after I had surgery and through the luck of the draw I got a woman who was new to the area and specializes in heart disease in women. Perhaps such a person would be available to you. I really don't think anyone with your problems would hear such nonsense from this doctor. She's a gem and really understands the women's issues.

 

[Raverlaw]

Anna,

I suppose that one can't really *know* another person from interacting on a web bulletin board, but after reading your posts for several months I see a consistent personality that it would be difficult to *fake* - and I certainly haven't formed an impression that you are clinically depressed.

You have unresolved medical issues which are enough to give anyone a little anxiety (but the issues are not a result of anxiety). I guess your GP is being thorough in eliminating possible causes, but I agree with the others that there seems to be a reluctance to acknowledge and address your cardiac health.

You strike me as someone who is not a doormat and can stick up for herself. I don't know the ins and outs of the Aussie health care system, but I think it's high time you got maybe a little more demanding about having your symptoms taken seriously. Keep on being the squeaky wheel!

And if that doesn't work, post your doctor's e-mail address here so we can all flame him (or her!)

 

[Bryan B]

It's not just women. I got the same treatment from my PCP AFTER having endocarditis (we won't even discuss how long it took to finally diagois the endo). Because I was being treated for anxiety, all my post endocaridtis symptoms (fatigue, sob, etc.) were being caused by my anxiety and not by any possible damage left behind by the endocarditis (this according to my PCP). Interesting, my surgeon said he thought about trying to repair my aortic valve, but it was so full of perforations (from the endocarditis) that he decided not to try it. Even my cardio had an attitude to some degree until he did my cath. When he came to talk to me after the cath he said "I'm really glad you're getting this fixed".

I've learned that I know my body best, and if my doctor won't listen to me, from now on I will not hesitate to switch to a doctor who will.

 

[Blanche]

Anna:

I agree with you. You are having anxiety and depression problems because the doctors are not paying attention to your medical symptoms. I would wonder if you are having situational depression. The doctors are not paying attention to you and they are suggesting that your concerns are unfounded. That would certainly leave me with feelings of powerlessness and even make me question my own judgement.

Recently I took a cursory look at some antidepressants including Lexapro. My son had called to tell me he was ill. He had flu symptoms, indigestion, big time sinus pain, and he couldn't sleep. Since he recently had his spleen removed, any type of infection could cause serious problems. He went to the doctor who prescribed Zithromiacin and a cough medicine. What I did not know at the time was that my son had been taking an Lexapro for three weeks. Imagine my anger when I found that indigestion, fatigue, sinus problems, and INSOMNIA are common adverse reactions to many antidepressants. He went back to the doctor who is now weaning him off the Lexapro.

You might want to ask your doctor if you could be suffering side effects of the antidepressant meds.

Hope you are able to resolve this very soon.

Blanche

 

[Abbanabba]

What would I do without your ongoing support guys (..and gals - of course!!..)? You're all wonderful

I just wanted to clarify that it was my cardio who sent me back to my GP with a letter telling her I was clearly anxious & depressed. My GP has been fantastic and immediately arranged a second opinion and was very open to listening to my thoughts about PH and has tried to find a cardio who has a bit of knowledge with this to see if we can find some answers. She thought she would try the antidepressants to "cover all bases - just in case" which is why I'll be seeing her this afternoon for a follow-up to see how they went.

Karlynn, Nancy, Bryan -
It does amaze me though, reading all the stories here, how so many health care "professionals" can so readily dismiss us when we have serious heart issues. You think they would get a clue!!

Bill -
I think my dark sense of humour sometimes gets me into trouble by being misunderstood as "morbidity", but hell, if you can't find the humour in the bad stuff, what CAN you do?? And yeah - I'm a feisty little bugger which I think that gets right up their nose!! (..squeak, squeak..)

Blanche -
I know what you mean about the side effects. What I'm taking at the moment is very gentle and hasn't got too many problems, but when I WAS having a terribly bad year and WAS depressed, I was put on to Avanza. The side effects were: muscle cramps, nightmares, dizziness, shortness of breath, tingling in extremities, fatigue... I thought "how the hell am I supposed to know if I'm suffering side effects when this is everything I'm already feeling??!". Needless to say, I stopped taking them as soon as I could.

As far as being depressed about my situation, sure, it gets me down on occasion, but I certainly don't sit around dwelling on it and crying "why me?". Whenever I start feeling miserable about it, I just watch the news and look at what is going on in the rest of the world, which tends to put my problems back in perspective REAL QUICK!!

Anyhoo - thanks again to you all for listening.

Anna : )

 

[Abbanabba]

Well the visit to my GP was pretty.... uneventful (..except the hour long wait after she forgot about me!..). She wants to keep me on the little happy pills a while longer because "..they can take a while to kick in..". Hmmmmm, wonder how long they take to kick in when you don't need them in the first place!! Meanwhile, one of the potential side effects (..which I thought was particularly amusing..) is "nervousness or anxiety"..... bugger!!

Patient: I'm still feeling really anxious...
Doctor: OK, well I guess we'd better up the dosage then...
Patient: I'm still having anxiety!! AAARRRGGHH!!!! What's wrong with me..??
Doctor: Hmmmm, very interesting, we'd better put you on a stronger dose...

.....can you see where I'm going with this..??

Other than that I found out that the mole I had removed was fine, but was the type that can change. As much as I miss it, I'm glad I got it taken out - once of my uncle's aunts died from a skin cancer that had been given the "all clear" from a biopsy 10 years earlier. She never knew it could or would change and by the time a friend advised her to have it looked at again, it was too late. Better to be safe than sorry in my book.

Anyhoo, enough of my inane prattling....

Cheers
Anna : )

 

[Raverlaw]

Anna,

You MISS your mole?

If you want, you can come over and pet some of mine. I've got a few extra....

 

[Nancy]

Have your doctors TOTALLY forgotten about your heart problems??? I don't think I've ever heard such tap dancing around a serious issue. I think you're being WAY too nice, which in other circumstances would earn you a gold star, but in this case it might jeopardize your health.

Time to take off the kid gloves and put on the boxing gloves, methinks.

 

[Debrinha GT]

Hi

Hi

Hi. I'm having problems with the site.

 

[Debrinha GT]

Sorry about that

Sorry about that

Sorry about that last message. For days now I've been trying to post and all I've been getting is YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO POST, PLEASE LOG IN. But I was already logged in. Well, it seems to be working now. Thanks everyone!

 

[Abbanabba]

Nancy -
I'm trying to be as proactive as I can, but sometimes it really can be like hitting your head up against a brick wall. I see this new cardio on Thursday and if I don't feel he has adequate knowledge to assess the PH issue, I WILL be insisting that he refer me to a PH specialist. I have finally managed to track one down in my state through the site you referred me to (thankyou!).

Bill -
Yes, I do miss my mole (..more evidence that I am clearly a freak!! ..). It was on my belly where you get that little strip of skin between shirt and jeans - very cute! Oh well, I guess I'll just have to find me a magic marker - heh heh heh.....

Meanwhile, not too sure I'm enjoying the new font. I don't think it's quite as easy to read.

Cheers
Anna : )