I am a very healthy 67 year old women today. Prior to November 2007, I was on no medications and was flying along feeling wonderful.I had somewhat high chlorestrol...230 but the good was very high. My general physician said it was not necessary to take a statin. In February 2007, I did a treadmill exercise test and passed with flying colors. All part of my annual physical with above physician.
In early Fall of last year I was getting a little discomfort in my chest. It would come and go and was not pressure...but felt like getting off a treadmill and needing to get my strength back after a good workout. It progressed till early November, Then I began getting short of breath and still had the same chest discomfort now almost all the time with any amount of moving around and I was very fatigued. Getting up, showering, makeup and making up the bed, I would need to sit hours. Very unusal as my frieds and family called the the "energizer buddy"...also very involved and never stopping. I went to my physician thinking I had walking pneumonia since I had babysat my granddaughters.
He saw nothing in the very basic tests I was given except an extra heart beat or two. I empowered myself to call my husbands cardiologist and went to see him. He put me through a battery of 14 different, difficult and exhausting tests including an angiogram. He saw that I was fatigued and at times witnessed my shortness of breath...all the tests kept coming back that there was nothing wrong. I was given a couple of meds (which I don't remember)...both dropped my already low blood pressure so low, I could barely move. The doctor kept saying "we can't see anything"...my large cario vessels were very clean...almost prestine...and he was frustrated and at one point almost crossed the line of saying this might be my imagination...was I depressed? etc. Well that comment was all I needed to make me take charge of my own health.
Out of total frustratin while still working with the cardiologist, I started researching my symptons. The internet is a great place for doing searches for anything. I came across a couple of different web sites that featured several FEMALE cardiologists....Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Cedar Mt. Sini, Los Angeles and Cleveland Clinic. These doctors are pioneers in working with women who have something called....micro cardiovascular disease...heart disease(blockages) of the small blood vessels that feed the heart. While I was researching I completed all the tests at Mayo, here in Scottsdale could give me....and on the last appointment in early December, my cariologist said "you might be a rare person who has something called, micro vascular disease". He was very shallow in his comments...because he could not "see" anything...out of desperation and not knowing what my problem was he prescribed 10 Mg of Norvasc and immediately put me on Liptor. The Norvasc was to open up all my blood vessels as a person has a large network that you are born with as well as develop additional small vessels....Within 10 days of being on the Norvasc, I was 100% back to myself and I have never looked back.
This is a very hidden form of heart disease and because cardiologists and physicians like to have tests that prove their conclusions, they never even thought this might be my problem.
I am a huge believer in "know thyself" and trust by always verify.
I am on the treadmill 6 days a week...including doing some running. I can't you how great I feel....a plus my Chlorestrol has dropped also. I was about 10 pounds over my BMI...and now I am well within the ranges.
Thanks for this new website....only sorry it was not there...but have hoped I could share my story. I am going to meet with Dr. Sharrone Hayes at Mayo in Rochester this summer.(We are originally from MN and returning for a few weeks). She has reviewed my records and has said she will be able to share much more information about what to expect going forward.
Thanks for letting me share my story.
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I live in Phx. I went in and May and they did angio to find nothing different or wrong just the 2 previous stents. The drs havent said much I will see them again on the 19th for follow up. I have no new meds other then the patch they just put me on and yes it elimates the pain a great deal but gives me a bad headaches since its now giving me blood flow and oxygen I hadnt been getting. Yes the stents are in major arteries,one is in the back of the heart and the other is in the front of the heart.
October 5, 2009 - 7:34pmThis Comment
I'm glad you have a followup appointment this month. It sounds like you should go with a few questions written out ahead of time so that you can understand better what's going on with your heart.
I am not sure I understood what you mean when they said the whole bottom of your heart was damaged. Can you tell me more about that? What is your exact diagnosis?
Have you had other contributing problems, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or anything else? If so, are the doctors helping you take care of those other issues too?
October 6, 2009 - 9:31amThis Comment
I have all of those but Diabetes . I already have a list of questions Started... I am on meds for the other things and my obesity is something only I can work on and I am not that over weight. but enough for it to be dangerous.
October 6, 2009 - 1:04pmThey told me the bottom of my heart is full of scar tissuses and harden of the arteries..
By the way my name is kelly
This Comment
Hi, Kelly. I'm really glad to meet you officially!
I know it's frightening to be dealing with a heart that may be compromised and with procedures that you are unfamiliar with. But you are doing the very best thing you can do -- you are learning about your condition, you are taking your medicine, you are seeing your doctors and you are working on your weight.
In case it helps, here is our EmpowHer page on hardening of the arteries, including risk factors, diagnoses, treatments and more links at the bottom:
https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/atherosclerosis
We have this video by Dr. Suzanne Sorof on how scar tissue affects a woman's heart:
https://www.empowher.com/media/video/video-dr-sorof-%E2%80%93-how-can-scar-tissue-affect-woman%E2%80%99s-heart
Dr. Sorof has actually done 16 videos for us; under her picture, you will see a box in which you can click arrows that go left or right to see the other ones she has done for us, they may help you in making your list of questions.
This was another person's question about heart stents (her name is Kelley!); the answers give some links that have great information in them:
https://www.empowher.com/community/ask/heart-stents-need-info-and-research-sites
I know you are concerned about the need to wear a nitroglycerin patch, but honestly, right now it may just be the best treatment for your pain. Perhaps when you and your doctors get a little further down the road it won't be necessary? But for now, be glad for it and that it is relieving your symptoms so that you can focus on other important things.
Please be sure to update us after your appointment. Do you feel that your doctors are being proactive enough with you? Are you pleased with them? Do they share enough information with you?
October 7, 2009 - 8:55amThis Comment
Diane,
October 7, 2009 - 9:35amSo happy to be happy to speak to someone who understands.... My family is hurting and in denial. I sometimes wish I could be in denial but it wouldnt make it easy I know that much.
I dont know how I feel about my drs I guess I will know more on the 19th when he tells me whether he can do anything for me or not. I am a lower dosage of the nitro now so no headache.
I really enjoy speaking with you and trying to understand all of this crap I am going through. Thank you
Kelly
Have a great day my new MCVD Friend
This Comment
Kelly,
I'm so glad you found us at EmpowHer. I hope we will be able to help you even more as you find out more information!
I'm sure it's very hard on your family. They are having to deal with their own fears about your condition now and what's ahead. There's nothing much more frightening than worrying about someone you love. I know you know that too.
For now, I'm glad that the headache has gone away. I'll cross my fingers that your appointment on the 19th will go very well, and I'll be eager to hear your update.
Take care, and know that we're here for you!
October 7, 2009 - 9:43amThis Comment
I am a 43 yr old white woman who was just dignosed with this. I have had two stents in last one being in Feb of this year. In May I went back in because of not feeling right they found nothing now they go in and find out my whole bottom of my heart is damaged. How is this possible so fast??? I am scared
October 3, 2009 - 2:56pmThey used the paddles on me twice in 15 min and I just know I dont want to live every day the rest of my life with a nitro patch because of the pain...Hope to find more answers.
This Comment
Anon,
Welcome to EmpowHer. I'm so glad you found our website. Thank you very much for your question.
First of all, it sounds like you have paid attention to your body, seeing your doctor again just because you knew you didn't feel right. You did exactly the right thing. You say they "go in" -- you had surgery again in May, then?
Please tell us a little more about your symptoms now so we can help you do some research.
What exactly have the doctors told you?
Do you feel that they are paying enough attention to what you say?
What medications have they put you on?
You mentioned that you have a nitro patch for the pain -- without it, do you have constant pain?
And your diagnosis was microvascular heart disease? Are the stents in major arteries?
Where do you live, Anon?
October 5, 2009 - 8:47amThis Comment
Kathy,
I just wanted to tip you off that I'm sitting in the EmpowHer.com studio right now (recording live) and our Founder & CEO Michelle King Robson just asked cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Brian deGuzman your question.
I'll be editing his reply and posting it ASAP.
Thank you for sharing with us.
-Todd
June 11, 2008 - 5:47pmThis Comment
Kathy:
This is a great story that I'm sure will help many women out there who may be experiencing the same symptoms. I couldn't agree more about telling women to listen to their bodies and trust your instincts. Thanks for taking time out to come on the site.
Thanks for helping us women EmpowHer women all over the world!
June 11, 2008 - 3:07pmThis Comment