Emergency room trip last night

[daveinaustin]

CL, Doing worry about it! Seeing you've had two prior PEs, it's better to be have a false-negative once in a while than to ignore it. Also, as you've mentioned, something sounds "off" with your system.

You're probably already doing it, but if not, you might keep a journal on your diet, exercise, and medicinal regimen and try to notice when you feel "off."

Best of luck. I pray that soon things will stabilize for you. You've gone through so much over the past year. But, you are very strong!

-Dave

[Cindylou]

Thank-you Dave, Fuzzy, Katie, Greg, and Justin. I had another episode of the shortness of breath yesterday morning actually, while I was on the telephone with a friend. She asked if I was on the treadmill of all things, so at least someone else (besides my husband) heard it. I said no, I was sitting down. Today I mostly experienced severe fatigue with it. I do not think I am coming down with something as my primary suggested. I'm not sure what it is, but it's NOT a virus. I know my body too well. Maybe a hiatal hernia? Don't know. I also get severe sweating with it, and it lasts about 10 to 15 minutes. If my heart is okay, and it's not a pulmonary embolism, I don't know what it could be. I don't like my primary at all. We have no connection whatsoever. I am attempting to get in to a new internist but it could take weeks before it actually happens. Sorry I am whining with all these issues. But shortness of breath scares the crap out of me.

[Katie]

The sweating along with the shortness of breath makes sense, Cindylou. Your body is working really hard with the basics (breathing/getting oxygen to the cells) and the perspiration would be a side effect of that, no matter what is causing it.

And you are NOT whining! This is very scary, and I would be in the same position as you are. It feels awful to not be able to depend on your primary care physician

I believe you when you say that you don't think you are coming down with something. We do know our bodies after all these years...it's one of the few perks of getting older But please be careful. There were two fatal cases of the H1N1 here last weekend, and there were very few symptoms.

Two pre/early teens were a little under the weather, one played hockey, the other just mucking about, and after seeming to recover quickly, they both collapsed in about 24 hrs. Different days, different cities, but similar circumstances. No fear mongering here, but these kids did not present with normal flu or virus symptoms. It was more respiratory-like symptoms and also just stopped the heart for unknown reasons.

This is presenting differently than in past cases, past years. Even if it isn't something as 'simple' as the flu, please be careful. Shortness of breath worries me too.

[Patti]

Cindlylou..

Gosh, you have been through hell and back. I've had two similiar experiences landing me in the ER...everything "checked out"..just like you. On the first front, I'm no longer embarrassed about the appearance of "crying wolf"....God knows, that's what doctor's are supposed to do..take care of us. I think people of our generation were trained to think that you have to be on your death bed before going to the ER. As women, I also think we are bred to focus on what other people think, and put ourselves last.

If there is anything this experience of daily pain and disappointing surgical outcomes has taught me is to be my own advocate and not settle.

As to the shortness of breath, I can't help but believe that being under constant stress and anxiety causes the muscles to spasm sometimes in the diaphragm. The constant pain has to take a toll at some point. Just a thought. In the meantime, hope springs eternal and I have to believe that we will all get better. Don't give up and continue to fight the fight and go to as many ER's and doctor's that you must to get relief and a peace of mind. Rest easy.

[KBear]

CL- Glad everything checked out and definitely don't feel like you cried wolf, it could have been something serious, so better safe than sorry. Hope you are feeling better,
Kathy