Warning to Our Parents

[KimC]

Hi,

I mentioned in one of my recent posts that my mother complained of chest pressure to my cardio while I was being examined. He told her to follow-up with her own doc, especially given the aortic disease on her side of the family.

My mom told her primary doc, and he ordered a stress echo on Thurs. which he had to stop due to her SOB! She joked that she was out of shape. He didn't laugh and said that her heart was a mystery, and that she needed to see a specialist.

The specialist, (my local cardio) was supposed to call her with the results on Thurs. but instead asked her to come in Mon. My mom then called her primary care doc, and he fessed up that one side of her heart isn't contracting normally under stress.

I'm trying not to get too worked up about this but obviously, something's up. I'll update as I hear more.

 

[Nancy]

Thank goodness they took her seriously. It's always better to know these things than not. So I hope that she gets a proper diagnosis and proper treatment if there is a problem.

 

[Ghosthunter]

The specialist, (my local cardio) was supposed to call her with the results on Thurs. but instead asked her to come in Mon. My mom then called her primary care doc, and he fessed up that one side of her heart isn't contracting normally under stress.

I'm trying not to get too worked up about this but obviously, something's up. I'll update as I hear more.

this bothers me, why would the primary care doc, hide this in the beginning?

Why dont they tell the patients everything?


Sorry to hear this though.

 

[gadgetman]

That was my experience when I first started down my road. During and after the Echo (which started it all) the tech said there were "some abnormal readings" but the Doctor would have to review the test and call me in if necessary. That call from the Nurse that said my Doctor needed me to come in (2 days later) to discuss the Echo findings was horrible. Of course, questioning her would only be met with "the Doctor will talk to you in detail during your appointment". Those two days my mind raced with all kinds of thoughts (usually bad). Unfortunately my worse fears came true on my Doc visit but it would have been nice if someone had at least shared their concerns about my readings instead of me being forced to think the worse for two days.

I think some Docs feel "you can't handle the truth" and will talk around what they already have decided. When he talked to me about what my Echo showed he said "not to worry" that the Cath they were scheduling for next week would give them a clearer picture. OF WHAT??????? Turned out it only confirmed the bad things the Echo was saying, only worse.

I sometimes wish they would just trust the patient.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

The Doc's reserve the right to tell you the news. Some people 'misintrepret' what they are told and may go off the deep end. That want you THERE to observe your reaction and to put things in proper perspective if you react negatively. If a tech or nurse 'spills the beans' before you see the doc, they will most likely be severely reprimanded, or worse, so don't blame them for holding their tongues.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[hensylee]

Kim, it's hard to hear about our parents ills, isn't it. Knowing how much we worry about them, just think how they worry about US. All else aside, please let your mother know we are thinking about her and want to hear what the results are. At least it's finally found and something is being done. Blessins.....

 

[McCln]

Not so much a warning to parents, but to anyone experiencing any pains or discomfort of the back, sides, and/or chest, needs to see a doctor. It cannot be stressed enough that no two people have the same conditions for heart attack, stroke, or warnings of heart problems. I have been on other boards where people experience pains for months before finding out what might be happening and the damage done. Thanks goodness, your mother was saying something to someone. Hopefully, she will be alright. Keep us posted.

 

[KimC]

Thank you so much for your thoughts/words. I think my mother comes from the generation that still believes heart disease is predominantly male. My own health crisis may have made her realize that it can happen to anyone. I'm glad I brought her to my recent cardio appointment now, even if she seemed a little silly blurting out her symptoms.

I can't help but think about her this weekend. NOT knowing is almost worse than knowing ... what horrible timing, especially given the Super Bowl festivities! It ruined our plans to make BBQ ribs, etc. Not that that matters, but you know what I mean.

My mom was on an Atkins-style diet for a year. Her recent lipid profile was terrible. I wouldn't be surprised if the diet didn't have something to do with her current state of health. (The weight she lost she put back on, too).

What I meant by a "warning" to our parents is that given our own heart conditions, it's probably a good idea to make sure our parents are keeping up with their own annual check-ups, etc. since heart disease can be hereditary.

Best,

 

[Karlynn]

Kim,
I sure am glad they caught your Mom's condition and that she has an attentive physician. More women die of first heart attacks than men because people are not geared into thinking of heart disease as a woman's health issue - even though the mortality from it outweighs the next 5 diseases combined. Keep us posted on what her progress is. (Not to mention your progress!)

With the approval of my cardiologist, I've followed a low-carb (Atkins-like) eating plan for about 5 years. Sometimes I'm hard core about it, other times I cheat. My blood work has come back great since doing that type of eating. I do have genetically high cholesterol. But on a low-carb eating plan and a statin drug, my numbers are in normal range. On a statin drug alone they were still a bit high.

Sometimes the problem with low-carb eating is that people indulge too much in the high fat foods and don't balance their intake. You aren't supposed to do low-carbing and low-fat at the same time, but you can't go crazy with the bacon and nuts etc. Gaining weight back usually results from beginning to eat too many carbohydrates again and still doing the higher fat foods. If low-carb eating caused her to lose weight and keep it off for a while, she should have maintained her weight loss if she continued on that type of eating plan. Maybe your Mom is an exception, but I'd be inclined to think her lipid # isn't because of Atkins.

Like all weight loss plans, people often gain the weight back if the eating change is temporary. There was so much misinformation in the press about Dr. Atkins dying obese and of heart disease. He died because he hit his head in a fall. While in a coma his organs began to shut down and his body increased in weight due to fluid. Hence the report that he died "over weight". He was at a normal weight when he had the fall. I'm one of those insulin-resistant people who gains weight on as little as 1200 calories a day if I don't limit my carbohydrates. (Or make my breakfast, lunch and dinner a pan of brownies. )

On a happier note - try not to miss Paul McCartney in the Super Bowl Half Time show. Chances are he won't be exposing anything.

 

[KimC]

Karlynn,

You kill me! I missed McCartney. What a bad week I've had -- Coulson came down with severe stomach flu today, and my husband left for the Super Bowl yesterday ... when it rains ...

Thanks for the diet advice. I'll share it w/ my mom, (whose name is Carolyn!!!).

Blessings,

 

[Karlynn]

Karlynn,

I missed McCartney. What a bad week I've had -- Coulson came down with severe stomach flu today, and my husband left for the Super Bowl yesterday ... when it rains ...

Oh no! Did your husband take a video camera to record the half-time show? Paul was excellent. His voice is still strong and right on. It wasn't one of the big, over-produced half-times, just Paul and the band and a bit of pyrotechnics.

Poor little Coulson (and Coulson's Mommy). I sure hope he feels better soon.