New Here!
Im very glad to have found all of you & this Forum Thread.
My Story is long...I will try to have it make sense.
9.5 years ago while on the Birth control pill (and having extremly heavy periods) I had a TIA. I didnt know what it was at the time. It was the middle of the night- my Husband called the Dr on call & he said to stop taking the Pill. Which I did.
I was very anemic at the time & had Extreme fatigue & SOB (Shortness of Breath)
And alot of that was cause by my Anemia....Fast forward 5 years & with some research I concuded that I had had a TIA.
I also had surgery (an EA) to help my heavy periods & was No longer anemic.
But my Fatiue & SOB did not go away- although it was less severe.
I told my PCP my symptoms each year...But nothing really was taken as being important.
Fast forward again to spring of 2007. I saw my PCP for my yearly check up- I told her my SOB & Fatigue were much worse & that I could hardly exercise, walk upo stairs, talk on the phone while walking.....I was doing 10 minutes of very Mild Cardio- thats all I could do & still could not breath (Im sure most of you know the feeling)
So she ordered many tests for my Lungs, heart...Also had an Echo. Everything checked out ok. Went a few more months & told my PCP Still somethign seems up. She sent me to a Lung Specialist who told me Anxiety was causeing my SOB & to take deep breths during the day & to work through it while exercising! I told him I do not suffer from Anxiety.
I told my husband who was at the Appt...I dont suffer from Anxiety- We both know that. But I give up.
Fast forward one more time...To Spring of 2008. I was diagnosed with Breast cancer. My Oncologist wanted me to take Tamoxifen - I told him I was concerned as it had a Stroke risk with it...and I had a TIA 9 yrs ago..He said and you have had your heart checked...I told him the tests I had had done & he said- No Bubble Echo? Nope.
So I had that test done. Exactly 2 months after learning I had breast cancer I found out I had a PFO & ASA. I was scheduled for a Bilateral Mastectomy- so met with a cardioligist very quick to make sure I could safely have surgery. 2 weeks later I had my surgery & was put on Plavix after it. it gave me severe side effects!...So I switched to 325 mg aspirin (on my Own) As I could not get my Cardioligist to call me back- His nurse will not give him messages.
Too Bad the Lung Specialist made me stop persuing my Symptoms- I could have had my heart surgery fixed & healed well before my Breast Cancer DX.
I had another surgery for Reconstuction 6 weeks ago- I switched to 81mg aspirin 30 days before that surgery & never went back to 325mg...Stayed on 81 mg because I had headaches 24/7 while on the 325mg.
This Saturday I ended up in the ER with a Probable TIA. Had an MRI & everything looked ok- No sign of a stroke.
ER Dr suggested Lovenox shot...I have heavy periods again & am anemic again- SO I asked about trying 325mg aspirin until Monday...Monday I already had an appt to see my Cardio to discuss closure of my PFO & ASA.
I think I am ok with the surgery- although I have many questions for him.
Hearing many good stories here has helped.
My Problem is- I have a vacation planned for less then 3 weeks away.
I do not think I could have surgery before & then go on Vacation- Although the ER Dr thought surgery on Tuesday sounded good & fine still with my Vacation- Easy for him to say.
I am wondering about waiting until After I get back...And will hope my Cardio will think that is ok. It would be about 1 month from now. I will still hope to recover ok before Xmas.
I am worried about drugs after surgery...Since the Plavix gave me such serious SE (Severe Headache & Fatigue, Restless leg & arm Syndrome, Insomnia, Nausea, Joint Pain, Flu like symptoms). My husband was ready to take me to the ER 3 times during the 3.5 weeks I was on it.
Have any of you not had Plavix after surgery & if so...What did you take after instead?
Thanks,
Dejaboo
Post Edited (Dejaboo) : 11/10/2008 7:39:12 AM (GMT-7)