Heart issues, Behcets, MRSA

I apologize for being MIA. I thought I was still trying to recover from the MRSA last month. Thankfully my diabetes doctor noticed what 6 other doctors missed including all 5 of the doctors that I had in the hospital with MRSA. I had complained constantly about the swelling in my ankles and pain in my right shoulder that rated down my right arm. Despite being a heart patient (I had a heart attack 10 years ago that lead to my diagnosis of Behcets and Lupus) nobody bothered to investigate. They told me it was a reaction to the antibiotics for the MRSA. My rheumatolgist told me I had "tennis elbow of the chest wall."

Well last week my diabetes doctor had a fit that everyone was ignoring the fact that I had this pain. (The diabetes is due to being on Prednisone for the Behcets.) I had noticed that when my pain increased my sugar levels did also. Little did I know that sugar levels increase with heart issues. I knew they increased with antibiotics and with prednisone use. He ran an EKG which was normal but still called my cardiologist. My cardiologist got me in the next day, but the diabetes doctor wanted me hospitalized immediately. Again the EKG and the blood work were normal, but the cardiologist felt that I was having a false negative. So I was scheduled to have a heart catherization at the end of this week.

I didn't last that long. Last Thursday I went by ambulance to the hospital. When they went in I had to have 3 stents for a 99% blockage, but I was still having a normal EKG and blood work.

I went home Saturday feeling terrible. By Sunday night I had chest pain again. Again I went in by ambulance. Again the blood work and the EKG were normal. And the Stress test was normal. So we did another catherization. And I have another stent for a total of 5 stents. And now I feel wonderful and like my old self before the MRSA.

What I have learned from all of this is to be more pro-active and keep pushing for answers. I have spent a life time of being treated like I was a hypochondriac when in reality I had Behcets and Lupus and all of the other problems that go with it.As a result I am reluctant to go to the doctor for anything.

Women do not always follow the typical symptoms of heart disease. When I had my heart attack I had a 95% blockage. It hurt far worse than my 99% blockage. And the 80% blockage hurt worse than the 99% blockage. Because I have neuropathy the pain was probably less. But according to my cardiologist 10% of all EKGs are false negatives. So if you are still in pain don't assume that a negative EKG is a sign that all is well. I could have died at any given point with a 99% blockage. It's a miracle I didn't considering I was preparing for a graduation party and cleaning house. And I willed myself through the graduation party. I actually bargained with God to get me through the day because I didn't want to ruin James party. And the thought did cross my mind that I had asked God to save me after my heart attack to raise my kids. But Scott still needs me and is not ready to be on his own. I can't leave yet.

So if you are having any kind of chest pain and it does not matter which arm it is going down, please get it checked out asap. I had my heart attack at the age of 40. I am now 50 with 5 stents. They told me at the hospital they now have patients in their 20's. It is no longer an old person's problem. Please get it checked ASAP.

Be well:)