Chest Pains and Arm Numbness Scared!

[Lisa45]

Hi,
I am 45 years old and just been newly dx. with Aortic heart
valve problem this. It is moderate regergitation and I have gone to one
cardiologist and he said I will need to have a non stress test and a heart cath.

I also have pulmonary fibrosis (either UIP or IPF) and I am in the process of getting worked up for a double lung transplant through Baylor Medical downtown Dallas.

I was on Phen Phen for almost 2 years straight a few years ago. I was trying to
get in touch with others that are going through the same type situation as I find I need someone to talk to that can relate to this feeling of not being in control and it is scary! We have one living child 22 who goes to school at Texas. Tech. She is a blessing and a delight but she is 6 hours away and she has her own life to live as it should be.
Thanks a lot for listening and feel free to email me directly.


__________________
In His Service
Lisa

[alicia]

I took Redux for 2 months and have been doagnosed with congestive heart failure,mitral valve leakage,cardiomyopathy. I had mitral valve repair last year and am going to Duke Medical in a month for evaluation of necessity of mitral valve replacement since the valve is leaking again. Ive been hospitalized 3 times with CHF. Ive settled with AHP plast year. They settled very quickly after I had my surgery in April 2001. In Oct 2001 I ended up being diagnosed with cariomyopathy and CHF (first time) I had an ejection fracture of 20%. Im on Prevacid/Reglan (for GERD)
Zestril/Demadex/Potassium/Lopid. Im dreading going to Duke and having all the usual tests (cath.etc) I have been trying to find others who took Phen Phen or Redux. I hope all goes well with you. Let me know your story. Will eagerly await word from you and others!! Lets talk Friends, Alicia

[JimL]

Welcome Alicia, Lisa,
I had CHF diagnosed in October 2001 as well.
If I may ask -- What is phen phen? What is redux? You seem to be suggesting or asking if these drugs (?) caused a heart problem; am I understanding correctly? I'm just curious.

[Nancy]

Hi Alicia-

You'll be glad you found this wonderful site. Everyone here understands about valve problems and lots of other heart related problems too. You're among friends. I'm sorry you find yourself with these conditions.

My husband is the patient and he has a long history of heart problems thanks to rheumatic fever. He has had 3 valve surgeries, 2 lung surgeries, has a pacemaker. He also has CHF, secondary pulmonary hypertension, chronic afib and several other things. He's 71 and still alive and doing OK.

I hope you take full advantage of this great site and read lots of the posts. There's a search function at the top of the page, so you can single out posts that apply to you and your conditions.

Hope to see you here often. Ask all kinds of questions, we're all anxious to share our views.

[alicia]

Hello Jim, to answer your question: Phen Fen and Redux are weight reducing drugs that were banned by FDA in 1997 (i think) it was known to have caused heart valve leakage from the mitral valve. I was sent to a lawyer frind of my cardiologist and received a settlement from the manufacturer. It was proven that in my case I had no family history of heart problems and only risk factor I had was being overweight. My heart condition was diagnosed after an internist heard a very loud heart murmur and rushed me to a cardiologist and the first test they did was an echo and the person giving the echo was very concerned in what he saw on the echo and rushed to get a doctor in the room and they questioned me as if I was about to keel over and die and scared me to death. Things progressed to where I had to have repair to the mitral valve and its now leaking again and I will probably have to have mitral valve replacement. Hope all goes well for you. Alicia:) :)

[alicia]

Hello Nancy, thanks for the response. Yes, this is a great site. Im trying to learn all the functions. Im new to this computer. I never thought I would get a computer, but boy am I glad I did. Sorry about all the problems your husband has. Hope to hear from you soon. Friends, Alicia

[JimL]

Thanks much for the explanation.

[alicia]

Hello Lisa, Im trying to figure out how this site works. I hope you got my email. I would love to talk to you. Im 41 years old,married,1 daughter,3 grandchildren,3 rottweilers. I hope you get a good settlement. You are not in this alone. Im glad to have found this site. Does the pulmonary problem come from Phen Fen? Im sorry you have to have surgery. In my case I was having shortness of breath and fatigue and my cardiologist sent me to a cardiac surgeon and he agreed I needed surgery so I had repair via a robot (cut down on recoup time) my incisions were not down my chest as they would be in a standard heart surgery. My incisions were under my right breast,right groin area, and the 3 holes that they put drain tubes in my back. The only problem I had post surgery was my groin incision. It was leaking fluid and was not healing so this idiot resident took a scapel with no notice and sliced open the incision. My daughter had to come in 3 times daily for 3 months and pack wads of gauze into this big open incision. It was sliced open to the arteries and was very deep. Well this turned out to be a blessing in sorts because it opened up my daughters eyes as to the career she wanted and she went to school and got her CNA1 certificate and is going to return for her CNA2 certificate. She is doing home health care and loves it. Everything in life has a purpose or meaning. Sorry to maek post so long. Responses are welcome by all and especially you Lisa.
Good luck to all. Alicia

[sonya489]

Alicia,
How bad was your mitral valve leakage and how did you find out about the cardiomyopathy was that with the echo...
How are you feeling now?

C-YA
Sonya

[alicia]

Hey Sonya. I had moderate to severe leakage that warranted the mitral valve repair that was done April 2001. In Oct 2001 I had to go to ER due to extreme shortness of breath and fatigue. They diagnosed me with CHF and after a TEE echo was done my cardio diagnosed the dilated cardiomyopthy and mild to moderate leakage again from the mitral valve. My ejection fracture was then at 20% and I was told I would need a heart transplant if I didnt get better. My cardiologist refused to allow cardiac surgein put in an artificical mitral valve. Now my cardiologist is referring me to Duke to see a specialist to determine if its time to do a replacement. Alicia

[sonya489]

So in a matter of 6 months time your situation went downhill.
Well it's sounds like Duke is a very good place to be from what I have read. Now what is the tee echo is that the transesphoical echo where you swallow the camera. So did you do well with the first repair as far as re-coop time goes or did you have any complications at first?It's sounds like that you are on the right track with some good Dr.'s!
C-YA
Sonya

[ALCapshaw]

TEE stands for TransEsophagael Echogram where an Ultrasonic Transducer (NOT a camera) is placed down the patient's throat.
I 'assume' the transducer is similar (at least in principle) to the external Echogram transducer and / or the ultrasonic transducers used to look at a developing fetus.

'AL'

[alicia]

Hey Sonya, my recoup time from the surgery would have been shorter since I had this done by the Davinci robot,there were 2 incisions in groin and under right breast. The incision in the groin did not heal well so this idiot resident sliced it open with a scapel without any warning!!!My daughter had to come in 3 times a day and pack gauze into that deep open wound for 2 months. It finally did heal. I was up and walking 2 days after surgery. Day after surgery I had to have blood transfusions. I stayed in hospital for 5 days. After 6 months I did go downhill fast. Im dreading going to Duke and having all tests again (TEE/cath,etc) but I know its time for something to be done. Hope this helps. Alicia

[sonya489]

Alicia was yours measured in the % or was it measured with the #'s like 3+ as far as the regurgitation goes. Mine is in % so I don't know what it means in the#'s...

C-YA
Sonya

[alicia]

Hey Sonya, I cant rememeber what my percentage of leakage was. Sounds like you/ve got a pretty significant leakage. What is your next step? Did you take Phen Fen or Redux? Alicia

[sonya489]

I did not take the Phe-Fen or Redux!
C-YA
Sonya

[Ross]

TEE stands for TransEsophagael Echogram where an Ultrasonic Transducer (NOT a camera) is placed down the patient's throat.
Dang it Al, quit taking all the fun out of these things. :D

[Jennie]

Ah, Rosso! It's good to see you back here stirring up trouble!! :D
-Jennie

[Ross]

Ah, my favorite Dolphin friend has come upon one of my savage replies. :D
I don't suppose I can con you into posting a picture of yourself instead of the Dolphin, could I?

[Jennie]

heh heh heh-- NO!!! Don't you like my dolphin?? I think he's kinda cute!
-J

[Ross]

There's nothing wrong with your Dolphin and yes, he's cute. Can't blame a guy for trying or can you?? :(

[Jennie]

All I'm saying is, you might regret that you mentioned it, once you see my picture....! It's for your own good, you know....

[John Cochran]

Jennie is messing with you Ross! I happened to see her in person in the hospital (guessing maybe that wasn't one of her better days) and even then she looked just great! The reason she's not gonna post a picture is she doesn't want your heart beating any faster than it already is!

[Ross]

I knew it! It's alway's the good ones that buck sending a picture.
She's beautiful no matter what she says. ;)

[Granbonny]

I mailed you my picture to post..ARE you saying I'm NOT good:D :D :D :D Bonnie, The Stalker

[Ross]

Bonnie your a Fox! Have you considered posing for Playboy? :D

[wlaldridge]

She did already, I think it was 1959 or 1960. A special about college cheerleaders.

Hasn't changed much since then. Still a great cheerleader besides being a beauty and beautiful person.

What more to say!!

[Granbonny]

No Playboy :( :( :( But was Miss Cotton Maid of Alabama, 1959...:p :p :p And did all of Delta Airlines publicity 1960-1966..Did an ad hanging off of a real streetcar in San Fran..all of this in the Stone Age..and we were Stewardess's..NOT Flight Attendants..Geez, what happened to me:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: Maybe I can be Miss Golden Girl of Sautee Nursing Home..:D :D :D Sorry Lisa, we have ruined your thread. Enough nonsence.;) ;) ;) Bonnie

[Jennie]

Yes, people, what does this have to do with chest pains? John, you are too kind! You're right, though, that was not one of my best days...! BONNIE!! A stewardess and model??!! Doesn't surprise me one bit, from your photo here!
-J

[John Cochran]

Yes, people, what does this have to do with chest pains?

Jennie, what you attractive women don't realize is that you have EVERYTHING to do with our chest pains!:eek: ;) :D

Hey Bonnie, you should consider doing some more modeling--seriously! There is a strong demand for mature models who know what they're doing. I've been doing print and TV advertising for a long time, and it is always hardest to find poised and attractive models over 35.

This group sure has an amazing range of backgrounds and talents--never ceases to amaze me!

--John
P.S. Hey Ross, what do you think about a "Women of VR.com Calendar"? Lisa, I do apologize...your thread was important, but sometimes we do run off on tangents!

[Ross]

Jennie, what you attractive women don't realize is that you have EVERYTHING to do with our chest pains!
That was going to be my whole point exactly!!

We tried that Calendar idea on another forum and the people didn't go for it. Maybe because some goofs photoshopped the pics and made the woman look...well, you get the idea. Still it's a nice suggestion though.

I sort of been thinking (Danger--I'm thinking) maybe I should try out for Playgirl with the almighty catchers vest. What da ya think of that. That should really bring some good hardy laughs to the depressed peoples of the world. ;)

[Lisa45]

No problem sounds like an interesting prospect you have going there.