HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Seen my Rheumy today..

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/28/2007 3:23 AM (GMT 0)

Hello and hopefully a good day to you all,

Well I went to see my Rheumy today. He freaked out when he learned that I had all those issues with my heart and lungs. All caused from the RA. I had assumed he already knew about them because I knew he had talked to my cardiologist. I guess I am not out of the woods just yet. He listened to my heart for a long time with the stethoscope. Then he asked me if my cardiologist had me on any meds for my heart. I said no. I said she was going to put me on a beta blocker but she was too afraid because my blood pressure being too low. I have been having heart palpitations since the last time I had seen her. I told him I had called her yesterday and still haven't heard from her. He was not too happy so he left the room and went and emailed her..I don't know what was said but I do know he was concerned.  He also wants to put me back on the Methotrexate along with the Enbrel. But I guess he is waiting until he finds out more about the heart. I asked him if the Myositis on the heart is permanent, he said well if it was caused from the RA then probably yes, but we will try to keep it under control. So I'm a little nervous about that. I thought I was going to be able to get off the steroids but I only get to drop down to 10 mgs. until I see him in two months. I also told him that I have had severe pain in my neck shoulders and upper back but he said it is probably from the steroids, I said no I have had this for years it's just getting worse...He said I have to see my reg. Physician.

 

Also I gave him 8 pages of symptoms and diagnosis that I have had...I told him since we don't have much time I had put it all on paper..he was actually cool about it. And asked if he could put it in my chart. I said yes as he was reading it. And then I told him that I have been off work for two years now and am still too sick too work so I have filed for disability...he agreed. After reading some of my pages he said he wants to refer me to a shrink. He thinks I am too depressed. I guess I am. I have lost so many family members my whole life and in the last few years. And I just lost a young dear friend that I was very close to monday morning @ 2am. He liked trouble and I was one that tried to keep him out of it. Any way he was a beautiful identical twin. Monday morning his father went to the back garage and found him hanging. He was only 23..He considered me the mom he didn't have. It didn't hit me until today. Then the tears just kept rolling. So I guess it is time to accept the fact that I can use some help in that area. I won't allow myself to get close to anyone...they always leave me. Everyone that I have ever let get close to me I have lost. I just don't want to be put on those meds. Any way the cardiologist called me back and I go see her Friday..Well see what's up with that then. Sorry for the long book.

Thanks for hearing me out....

Lori
Posted 2/28/2007 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
swan, ur post brought tears to my eyes for the young man you lost. it is important that u get a chance to speak to someone about all the losses u have in life as stresses lilke these effect out health and it sounds like your body has already gone through too much. i am deeply sorry for the young man his family and you. please know u are all in my prayers. good luck with the new physcians in ur life and i hope all will be well. keep us posted. ~*yalinda
Posted 2/28/2007 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Oh Lori.. Hang in there sweetie.. I know how hard all this can be.. especially when faced with tragedy.. but you will get through this.. ALL OF IT.. we will help you.. know that we are always here and will never leave you.. take good care..

Duck
Posted 3/3/2007 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Yalinda and Ducky,
How have you's been feeling? I pray, not too bad. I went to my cardiologist today and she said I still have the Myositis on the heart. She said it is like a cut, some heal and leave a scar and some heal and don't. She also said that it will probably be a few more months before I find out the outcome. In the meantime my cholesterols are very high. I thought I would do some research because I have been very careful of what I have been eating and I found that the steroids can cause the cholesterol levels to rise and very quick. I have been on the steroids for a year. I started getting the high numbers in June/06. She told me to watch my diet, I said I have and that it had to be the steroids..she agreed and said I have to be very careful while on the steroids. They had to increase them when all this began. But I have to be on them until this flare is gone. She's also going to put me on a heart monitor for a week for the heart palps..to see if they are normal or abnormal. It's hard for me to think the RA did this to me..but because of Erin.... she is reason for my believing that it can..thank you Erin!!!...
Please take care of yourselves and God Bless,
Lori
Posted 3/4/2007 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
just want you to know that i wish you the best, i see you as a very strong person that is already on a road that i just entered, i will pray for you. i see that even little moments in time make such a big difference in our souls, i hope to pass a moment on to you.
Posted 3/4/2007 7:13 AM (GMT 0)
momwithra,
Thank you so much, It's very encouraging to hear kind words as yours. I have been through alot but I am getting through it. That's the key word. Knowing you're going to get through it. It may take some time, but time heals. And everything I have been through with RA I like to share with everyone because everyone is affected in so many different ways. I try to be positive but I too get knocked on my butt....so I will rant. And that's because they allow me too...here. Thank you for the prayers and I will keep you in mine.
Many Blessings to you,
Lori
Posted 3/6/2007 10:43 AM (GMT 0)
Lori you are soooo sweet.

I hope the heart monitor goes well & isn't too annoying ( i hate em'! mad ). lol.

It's tough for doc's to pinpoint the etiology of heart/valve/scarring problems with the heart; especially if you have more than one thing going on.

 

It took a lot of back n' forth between pulmonologist & PCP & neurologist to figure out it was heart & lung complications from RA.

 

                                  *** But I pray for the best outcome for you ***

 

Actually, ever since I started the DMARDs & TNF meds and all...the lungs have been better (breathing & out of breath issues are better).

The heart problems I forget about until I get an actual "squeezing" pain in the heart area and some "flutters" (but hey I may just be in love tongue )

 

When do you go back to see the doc again about this?

 

peace/love

erin

Posted 3/6/2007 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Erin,
Yes it is a pain in the butt, all of it..Right now I am back to the trouble with breathing, tight chest. It feels like I am going back to where I started with this flare. I go back to the cardiologist after the haulter monitor. I haven't got it yet but waitng...I'll feel you in later...Hope you are doing ok..
Blessings,
Lori
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply