The number one killer of women...

[Bamboozle]

...is heart disease.



Something has been bothering me for a while and I want to talk about it here...

I was a moderate to heavy drinker for about six years. One year ago, I experienced heart palpitations. Turns out they are PVC's (Premature Ventricular Contractions) and I’m getting some trigeminy, too...they feel like skipped heart beats. When these first started, I was scared out of my mind. I had an inkling that perhaps they were caused by my drinking...but I wasn't sure.

…SO…

I went to the doctor in June, 2008. She didn’t do much for me…she prescribed me meds for the palpitations--and the label said for PANIC ATTACKS. Now, this bothered me…and I was completely honest about my drinking history…but I was brushed off…and I went about my business.

Fast forward to December, 2008...I had quit drinking for the umpteenth time (I've been sober since then) and it was two days into my sobriety that I had a frightening symptom that lasted a total of 20 seconds. I thought my heart was going to stop. I thought I was going to die…it’s possible it was related to withdrawal, but it was a completely isolated incident. My heart kept speeding up and then immediately slowing down into a completely irregular beat…repeat. I did end up panicking after I realized something was wrong, and for whatever reason, my heart reset.

Moving forward to January this year…I was adamant to my new doctor that something needed to be done. In a nice way, I let him know that I thought the panic attack thing was a bunch of hooey…I kept emphasizing my drinking history. He ordered a heart monitor for me to wear…and because of the results he’s trying to get a cardiologist to see me (that might prove impossible because I’m a self-payer, but that’s another thread for another day…I’m still waiting to hear back).

The stereotypes about women being emotional wreaks is still prevalent in the health care industry. Women must speak up for themselves when they seek treatment. If you are experiencing chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, or anything that could possibly be cardiac related, do not let ANY health care worker dismiss your concerns as merely being caused by too much stress. Tell your friends...you could save a life.

[Evanna]

Originally Posted by Bamboozle

The stereotypes about women being emotional wreaks is still prevalent in the health care industry. Women must speak up for themselves when they seek treatment. If you are experiencing chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, or anything that could possibly be cardiac related, do not let ANY health care worker dismiss your concerns as merely being caused by too much stress. Tell your friends...you could save a life.

Thanks for this Bamboozle. This is very relevent for me right now. About 9mths ago i felt uncomfortable in my womens region (haha) and on poking around found a lump on my cervix. I went to the Doctor, she took a look, said everything looked normal, there was no lump and very much gave the impression i was imagining whole thing. She said i had caused the discomfort by poking around. I said, 'no...i felt around to see what was going on because i was uncomfortable' but she wouldnt listen. So i went away thinking that i was just paranoid and stopped thinking about it.

Yesterday i had a routine smear test and the nurse immediately pointed out a lump. She described to me what she was seeing and it was EXACTLY the same thing that i described to the doctor that i could feel 9mths ago. So now i have been referred to gyno.

Now i am not unduly worried as i feel in marvellous health and i reckon it will transpire to be something like a benign cyst but i do feel annoyed that the the Doctor didnt take me seriously when i reported it and even more so that i didnt insist that i knew my own body and she must listen to me/refer me on.

Please do let us know how you get on and whether you get to see the cardiologist. Well done for being assertive with the new Dr.

[Philly]

Hi Bam

I agree with you immensly. We have to listen to our own bodies. We are the only one who knows how we usually feel and when something changes we have to make a stink about it. Should it be like this NOOOO! But it absolutely is. Good for you for argueing your point. Do keep us posted

[Bamboozle]

Thanks, everyone.


Evanna, thanks for sharing your experience. I hope everything goes well for you. It makes me angry when medical professionals are dismissive...as much as I don't like to admit it, I am intimidated by people who are more intelligent than I, so I have a tendency to cede to their expertise....but not this time. I just need to stay strong.

Everyone stay strong.

[Horselover]

Thanks Bam for sharing and I wish you well. It WILL be okay. I had the same thing happen here and I think I told you about it. I was completely dismissed and went on to an emergency room for further testing. I'm okay, but it was scary and I feel for you. Thank you for bringing up such an important topic.

[Toomutch]

Thanks for sharing that Bam - we do need to listen to our own bodies, and not always take what the doctors say as correct information.

Praying your doctors appt. goes well Evanna.

[TryingSoHard]

This isn't heart-related, but is still relevant. When I turned 30 my health suddenly went down the toilet for no apparent reason. I spent - literally - 4 months going to the doctor every week to two weeks, getting stabbed and prodded and subjected to every test imaginable. My symptoms all pointed to gallbladder problems. Not gall STONES, but a non-functioning gallbladder. Since I didn't have gallstones, my doctor very quickly decided that was NOT the problem. I then got 3 months of kidney tests and liver tests... IVP, nuclear medicine, MRIs, you name it.

Finally, when everything kept coming back negative and I'm sure everyone in the medical community thought I was just plain crazy, my doc agreed to order a gallbladder function test. Guess what? My gallbladder was functioning at 8%. She told me the threshold for surgery was 30%. I was so freaking relieved that I burst into tears. Never in my life could I have imagined I would be so happy to hear I needed surgery!

4 months and god knows how much money in tests, and I was right all along.

THANK GOD I never quit insisting.

[Anna]

Thanks Bamboozle!

It's always good to be reminded to look after our health.