Just over a
month ago I had my annual visit to the cardiologist. It has been a bit of a battle for me in the
last four years to find a practitioner that is able to meet my needs, other
than when I visited the Mayo Clinic. For
one thing, I have a rather complicated medical history and I’m blessed to have
a couple lesser known disorders that I am dealing with, hence the trip to Minnesota back in 2021. Even still, please just listen to what I am
saying. You know what I mean?
Along with my
medical issues I was also battling Mayo Clinic bias. My doctors were not interested nor were they
willing to take any direction from
the Mayo Clinic. At one time I was even
told by one cardiologist that I had made a wasted trip and didn’t really need
to go there even though she did admit that there is no doctor in the state of
Idaho that specializes or treats patients with Fibromuscular Dysplasia, the
whole reason for that trip. Most doctors
have never even heard of it. Another one
thought I had Fibromyalgia and actually had the audacity to tell me it was all
in my head and that Fibromyalgia isn’t even a real disorder. I couldn’t get out of his office fast
enough. I’m sure there are plenty of
people with Fibromyalgia that would beg to differ. What a jerk!
I have a new practitioner
now and I love her. She is young, open to conversation and has a vast knowledge
of women’s heart issues and the unique problems they face with those issues and
in seeking treatment. A little over a
year ago I had shared with you my frustration with the side effects from one of the medications I was taking. Well, guess what? I’m not taking that one anymore.
She told me I
should have been taken off of that medication and prescribed something else
because of all of the side effects I was experiencing plus, and even more
importantly, I am also very much allergic to it. In the past two years I had become allergic
to that medication and was experiencing hives on a regular basis. When I saw the cardiologist last year and told
him about it he told me to keep taking it because it was the best medication
for my condition and unless I became anaphylactic I’d be okay. He then suggested I take an over the counter
allergy medication to combat the hives, but he didn’t tell me which one. I left there feeling so dejected, unheard and
uncared about and I shared this with my new practitioner.
She took me off the
medication (it has a staggering long list of potential side effects) and adjusted
another one I am currently taking and doing well with to help me with what I
was taking the other one for. Then she told me the hives would go away as would
the dizzy spells, I would no longer feel so tired and I’d get my energy back, plus
I’d probably start to feel a lot better too. The excessive sweating I’ve been dealing with
since the get-go , and my chief complaint, would go away within the next couple
of weeks as the medication got out of my system. Thank you God! That has been absolutely miserable. She also said my weight would start to go
back down and I’d stop steadily gaining!
You would think I’d just won the lottery with all of that good
news! I left my appointment feeling
hopeful for the first time since all of this started four years ago.
But wait! There’s more!
The next day she contacted me with even better news. The results of the test I had done the day
before showed my heart has completely healed from my heart attacks in 2021 (finally!)
and is strong and healthy. All we have
to do is take care of its little defects, which is what we are doing now, so it
stays that way and keep doing what I’ve been doing to avoid too much stress and
manage my anxiety. I am now physically
able to do whatever I feel I can do with no
restrictions. Whooo hooooo! Isn’t life just the best?!
Since then my
life has improved substantially. I am no
longer sweating like I’ve just run a marathon on a 100° day and I have not
broken out in hives either. I am
sleeping much better at night because I am no longer tossing and turning and
throwing off the covers to cool down from what feels like monster hot flashes
for twelve hours straight. My deodorant
is working once again. You are welcome!
My energy levels
are back to a normal level and I haven’t had any of those days where I feel so
exhausted I can barely move. My weight
is steadily going back down. I can
exercise again without feeling dizzy and short of breath. The best part is I no longer feel like I’m
fighting with my own body just trying to get it to function normally. At my last appointment the cardiologist said
the goal is to make me feel better, not worse and I think we are doing just
that. I am ever so grateful I persevered
and kept at it until I found a practitioner that would listen to me and was
willing to do something to help me. There
were many times I felt like giving up, but I am forever grateful that I found
her. It feels amazing to feel normal
again!
Great news!!! It's an amazing feeling to find a doctor who actually listens and works with you instead of against you. Congrats on all your hard work and for the progress you've made!!
ReplyDeleteYes it is! Thank you Brooke.
DeleteI am so happy for you! What a journey you've been on! Wishing you healthy days ahead!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteI am so happy that you have a found a physician that listens and knows what they are doing. Medication side effects are nothing to take lightly.
ReplyDeleteThey are the worst!
DeleteThat’s wonderful
ReplyDeleteIt really is! :o)
DeleteThat is amazing. It is like finding a needle in a haystack. I have had cancer 4 times and I have built an amazing and incredibly talented team of physicians. Being a nurse has helped. I am so happy for you. I am slowly getting my life back after having cancer last year. It has been the hardest journey of my life, but God and my family I am here today.
ReplyDeleteI pray you continue to do well. God bless you,
DeleteCongratulations on finding such a gem of a cardiologist! To have a doctor who HEARS what you are saying is such a relief!
ReplyDeleteAnd how wonderful that your ticker is healed. I think it's in no small part due to your positivity and your generosity in sharing this blog with the world. A heart as big as yours can't be kept down for long.
So much good news! Does a heart good to hear it, as well! ;^) ;^)
Oh, thank you so much Sue. I appreciate your kind words. XX
DeleteSoooo glad!!!
ReplyDeleteMe too! :)
DeleteI am a o happy for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
Delete(Little Penpen) such good news!!! So happy for you! I worked with a dr one time who also thought fibromyalgia was a term for “people who just couldn’t handle life.” He was also a jerk!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!
DeleteSuch good news! I'm so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteSadly, your experience is common. Doctors always act like side effects are no big deal. I've found most don't even discuss side effects. And if you bring it up they'll happily prescribe something for that!
Ridiculous! A pill to counteract a pill to counteract another one. I don't get it.
DeleteIt really makes me angry on your behalf how hard you had to fight to get proper treatment. I have a medical issue that everyone either wants to ignore and/or pretend all symptoms I ever have are related to it. I get that lupus is a complex diagnosis, but sometimes I have other problems!
ReplyDeleteThe good news is so very awesome! So happy for you. (Hawaii Planner)
I'm just grateful my perseverance finally paid off.
Delete