Women and Heart Disease Part II

Excellent article, Teri. It really stinks that from 2001 til 2003, there has only been an 11% improvement, since it's so abysmal to start with.
An even more sobering thought it that the stats in the article only reflect the women who are receiving any treatment at all. I wonder how much goes undocumented. (I'm guessing 50%?? - using their stats)
I know that in my own case, with a prior documented heart history, my referral from my clinic to the affiliated teaching hospital has been denied twice (no appeal without a new 'event') and 4.5 months have gone by. I just picked up my medical records today from that clinic and saw the first EKG that they took in early January which was marked 'probable' for ischemia with a large stamp on it to do a repeat EKG. I was not told about this and it was never done - possibly because I was in the hospital 3 weeks later, being treated for chest pain, but discharged with a bogus diagnosis of GERD. If I am having this kind of trouble, I can only imagine what other women are facing in getting appropriate and timely treatment. (in my case, no health insurance)

Teri

I learned when I went up to Dc in 2004 that women do account for only a msall fraction of people in trials for we donot speak up and the medical director of FDA Suasan Wood PHD told us the drug comapnies donot use that many women for we donot obey the doctors orders all the way and our bodies are smaller and more   complicated than a mens for our homones also affecty us too and  we are trying to get more women in clinical trials too but we donot speeak up and as Dr. wood would say how can we complain if we donot speak up to be considered in the clinical trials going on all over the us now a pacemaker the size of a quarter and other things too amazed me but I tend to agree with yuor article and dr Susan Wood head of FDA.

Heidi

LOve ya Girlfriend

Thanks Teri sems as I read it then yuo my dear post it for people who donot get the pper or who live elssewhere than the USA  who might not hear but it. Keep up the good work girlfriend.

ONly vitmine e i get is in my daily vitamin if I take any extra it makes me stink  alot when I swet so I use my daily every other day.

Heidi

Heidi, I find your blue post much easier to read than the red! Anyone else or just me? Stay safe Heidi even though I hope Dennis goes your way not mine! Sorry! 

Teri, no problemo!!! I'm afraid I will always let you know what I think. ROFL!

Seriously, I believe we must be skeptical, given the money motives on both sides of that fence. I'll agree with your last statement, though. Well put. We must always try to make the best decision for ourselves. If we don't, someone else will.

hugs,
Oona

Post Edited By Moderator (Teri16) : 7/9/2005 7:24:20 PM (GMT-6)

I didn't mean to hurt anyones feelings! I just have a problem with red posts and I hate to miss Heidis' posts. I am not sure why that would hurt feelings! Heidi, sorry I really didn't me to offend you.

I may be repeating what has been said here, but I think it's important that they said that unless contraindicated, women with known cardiovascular disease should receive aspirin therapy. I feel similarly to Oona that it seems that pharmaceutical companies deem these simple medications ineffective or harmful quite frequently. It can be a scary proposition to try and figure out who to believe. I guess I have to depend upon my cardiologist and keep on reading to stay informed!

Re meds...don't you just love it when you are waiting for your Dr.'s appt. and you have to wait while he/she is talking to the Pharmaceutical Rep.! 

 

Oona, wow, what a neat message!! No, I haven't seen the commercial, but I've not seen TV that much lately...I'll have to keep my eyes open for that one!! - Thanks.

 

Hugs, Teri

Hi (((Star)))!! It's good to see you again, though I am sorry to hear you continue with this ongoing issue.  I've mentioned this to you before, but did you ever ask your Dr. if it's small vessel disease, or arterial spasms causing any of these symptoms??

 

And btw, your EF goes down with heart damage and heart failure.  That doesn't mean you can't feel badly with a normal EF!! 

 

Star, they don't want to try another cath?  Please keep me posted!!

 

Big Hugs from Texas to you, Teri

Miss Teri-- YES  my cardio has thought all a long I am having spasms but can't seem to get rid of the periodic cp --the sob came back about a month or so ago and seems to be getting a little wose slowly as the days go by if ya know what I mean--I think the Cardizem is contibuting to the sob and I refused to take a higher dose I really want off it  so I have to go see my pcp tomorrow go figure-- when I was hospitalized over the Memorial day weekend the cardio that was taking care of me said I needed another cath however, MY cardio is taking a less aggressive approach and started to tell me that he felt he could manage me on an out patient basis- that is why they changed my meds but I have JUST REFUSED to keep taking the second dose of Lasix at 1800 (usually I didn't even get home until after that)  I think I am right back where I was last April when they were dragging their feet to do a cath (not that I want a cath)  and then when they finally did it I ended up with TWO NEW STENTS--I really don't think there could be much room left in my arteries for more stents

 

I almost called you today Teri as I was home but I couldn't remember if we had a big time change or not as I am on Eastern time-

 

I saw that commercial today and it sends a really strong message! It was really sad--

 Miss Teri--+

 

The cardio that admitted me where I work said I should have another cath and he only took care of me while I was here and he isn't my regular cardio--(if you remember I told you my regular cardio was  not on call that day and his new partner said if I had a clean cath in Jan there was no way possible I could have blockage --ya right what does he know?--anyways he wouldn't have me transported to that facility--) I never was transported to the other facility as there were NO BEDS in ICU and I ended up being here from the 25th tothe 28th- talked with my regular cardio who said he thought he could care for me on an outpatient basis--(I DID see him in the office that Thursday after the holiday)  he changed my meds

then--I am betting these are my SAME SYMPTOMS I had last April when they kept putting me off-- anyways I have an appt with my pcp today we will see-

 

I am glad you are only one hour behind me I thought it might be 3 that is why I hesitated to callthought it might be too early--LOL-- who sleeps anymore???

Miss Teri-

 

Saw my pcp last evening through the "monsoons" it was really really raining got soaked! LOL!

 

Course after I got there he said we could have done this over the phone! Imagine that -oh well bottom line is my cardio really doesn't know what to do next--we changed my meds again now back to the Toprol XL ( I seem to feel better with this) Said absolutely no more anit-imflammatories--great now I'll never walk right again!  He did tell me that if I were having spasms that the Cardizem should have made it better and since it didn't and I seem to  feel better on the Toporol that perhaps I do have another blockage or small vessel disease--Said he was going to call back my cardio and talk to him about doing another cath --course like I said before can't imagine what else could be blocked with all the stents I have-afterall a heart is only soooooooooo big!  I did tell him I feel my best when I am on a nitro drip!!!  (You would think they might give me a nitro patch????)  My cardio really didn't thnk I had small vessel disease go figure  perhaps I might have spasms AND A NEW BLOCKAGE STARTING!!??!!  As I think about a cath I really don't want to do that if there is nothing there- afterall my last cath was clean-- I started on theToporol  last evening and I began my day with cp--imagine that!  Anyways my am dose must have kicked in as it seems to have lessened  I think I GIVE UP--- I DEFINITELY AM NOT SPENDING MY WEEKEND INCARCERATED IN ICU!! LOL!!

 

Heidi--thanks for the encouragement!