being computer illiterate or really ignorant at least..I didn't know how to add to list of symptoms :-)
I had a heart attack last Saturday. Cardiologist, who did the angiogram and angioplasty and stent insertion on Monday, said it was directly related to my PsA.,
Smitty! I’m so so sorry, and I’m glad that you’re well enough to be back here. Thank you for posting.
Thank goodness you got help and treatment promptly! And I’m impressed that your cardiologist made the connection with PsA. With careful monitoring and good care, I hope you’re on the mend.
Just this past week, we started a “Newbies’ Guide” in the Discussion section. Here’s an info post which reinforces your unfortunate story –
http://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/forum/topics/graphic-and-in-your-face-psa-info
As we say here, fear the disease, not the drugs.
Take very very good care, Smitty, and be sure to let us know how you are doing.
Seenie
thanks Seenie..For now I am ok..there is still one artery 50% blocked but it can't be fixed with angioplasty..hoepfull the thinners and other meds will fix it up..we'll see in approx. 3 months..
See my rheumy again in mid april..not sure what he'll try next for drugs .or if he will right now given the mitt full I just got from the cardiologist. who btw is an excellent man and very, very smart. The world and Psa folks need more like him.
Definitely fear the disease not the drugs!
I am so sorry you have to deal with this. Glad you got help in time.
May I ask how it is related to PsA
That’s the 64 thousand dollar question, Robyn! I don’t think that anyone is sure exactly how cardiac problems are related to PsA, except that it’s probably something to do with chronic inflammation. For whatever reason, heart problems are one of the things that go along with PsA. Here’s the infographic … not the happiest of information! –
http://www.brandpointcontent.com/InfoGraphics/8084620101.jpg?r=3029…
Oops, I see I gave that link earlier. Never mind, I’ll leave it there. Good info.
yep it is Seenie. Unfortunately being a relatively new disease..Everyone is still learning, doctors and specialists included It can affect all major organs and body systems. So next time someone says' ' oh you just have arthritis..suck it up' I think we should be able to slap them..they have no idea!
Nobody here will argue with you on that point, Smitty!
I never realized how many issues this causes. The more I learn, the more frightening it becomes
Which is why we say “Fear the disease and not the drugs”.
Wow-How terrifying! Sounds like you have an excellent cardiologist. Hope that you are on the mend. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
If you are comfortable with sharing-I sure would like to hear more about this. Do you have any cardiac history?? What where your symptoms?? Dare I ask-how old are you? I think that so many people and doctors are ignorant to this connection. Thank You.
thank you..on the mend I am..Other than a high B/P diagnosis 2 years ago that has remained stable since with medication I had no other cardiac history. This was my first and hopefully my last. I will be 53 in June. History of cardiac problems in my family yes. but even with looking after myself I beat my mother to the ticker repair table' by 5 years. Symptoms..I had no warning until the day of.
you sure you want to hear this story?? It is a bit scary, for me. Not Stephen King like or anything tho ;-)
Here goes.
Saturday March 22 started off like any other day for me for past 2 .5 years , since I can no longer work. Got up, gimped my way down the stairs to the frig for my kale juice and make my morning coffee. Felt the normal crap I always do in the morning( sometimes it gets better as day goes on, sometimes it gets worse) . By noon I was feeling really off, not the normal off..this was different. Went for a nap, naps are good sometimes,. Didn't really nap tho..got up about an hour later with this awful pain in my upper jaw and down my right arm. I couldn't stretch it out. It was not the 'normal' pains I live with. Came down stairs again..told hubby he needed to take me to the hospital. He ran for keys.I never say take me there.
We arrive..I tell them In ER I think I may be having a heart attack..just put the papers in the door, she says..someone will be with you shortly. 20 minutes later they call me into triage. Nurse takes my B/P..ask me where it hurts , I tell her it's my jaw and shooting down my left arm . She then says..any other medical history..I say yes I have psoriatic arthritis..oh she says..that'll be what it is..pain can cause your B/P to rise..I say no..that isn't it..she says..have a seat in waiting room..someone will be with you shortly. 2 hours later shortly. To make a long story short..nobody in that hospital would listen to me. The doctor of the day was an idiot , was sending me to city for a catscan. was sure it was my brain giving me a problem. I thank whatever made me the strong bitch that I am and the change of shift in doctors that happened that |I am here to tell you this. and I finally got some aspirin and many, many bloodthinners and a trip to icu instead of an ambulance to 100 miles up the road.
Arrangements made for me to go to the city on Monday 25 for an angiogram. Dr.and nurses there are a wonderful crew. Cardiologist told my husband..procedure normally takes about 45 minutes ..but if we take longer , do not worry..I'm just fixing her up before we come back out. End result I have one artery still 50% blocked because they do not like to stent it( the one that goes down middle of your heart) but the problem one the cx , that's the one that comes from neck around left side of heart was 98% blocked. They did talk sending me to 5th floor for bypass surgery. In case you are not aware..you are awake thru this procedure. Dr. did something..said..you are going to feel some chest pain..10 seconds later..I said no..it's that jaw pain I had on Saturday..he said oh good I got it then. Guess that is when he angioplastied and stented the cx. After All was said and done he said 'You are one very lucky lady. You really shouldn't be here now and the psoriatic arthritis brought you here for sure'
and that folks is my story. Appoinments like crazy with docs for next while..hopefully I can get more information as I proceed thru them. And hopefully there is still something out there that I can take for my Psa that doesn't give me nasty side effects or interfere with all this heart medication I now have to take..
Stay well, stay safe everyone . Remember women don't usually have chest pains with a heart attack..neck, jaw, arm pain more common.
OMG!! I am appalled that the ER treated you that way! They should have had you hooked up to a cardiac monitor and drawn labs immediately! I am so glad that you finally got someone to listen to you. I think that I would let the hospital know what happened. It sounds like their ER staff is in bad need of some education. Thanks for sharing your story!
Oh my, Smitty. You really are one lucky lady. The part of your story that really makes me feel sick is the ER scenario. What happened to you is, I’m afraid, just the kind of horror story that I’ve heard of in our local ER as well. And typically, if you survive that and get to the specialist, you get really superb care. ERs don’t show Canadian health care at its best!
It sounds like you are in great hands now, and it’s all under control. Thank goodness for that. And thank you for the reminder about how women experience heart attacks!
Take very good care, Smitty.
S
PS I’m with jhelvey. I think you should file a complaint about the poor triage and care you received in the ER. I did this after an ER nightmare, and it was very effective.
Thank you both for kind comments. This type of situation is not typical thank dawg!! and yes I filed my complaint before I left the hospital..In hopes that it never happens to anyone else.
Mother always said. 'everyday you wake up on this side of the dirt, is a good day' and I plan on having many of them!
Was blessed to still be here to welcome the arrival of my 4th grandson on Monday. Brings me to a total of 7 :-)
Smitty, we should all heed your Mother’s words!