He put me on an ECG monitor, which showed a slight abnormality and it was at that time that he referred me to both a Neurologist (for the other symptoms) and a Cardiologist.
As you may know (if you read my first blog) I paid privately to see the Neuro because I didn't want to wait the three months for an appointment but I waited for the Cardiologist as my gut instinct was that whatever is going on with me was not a heart issue.
I have continued to get the chest pains and shortness of breath but I believe them to be MS Hugs. I asked my Neurologist about this and he seemed reluctant to attribute these symptoms to MS and advised me to keep my Cardio appointment anyway.
I went along to see the Cardiologist yesterday and he did another ECG, which again showed the slight abnormality. I then asked him his opinion about the kind of chest pain I get and he said that his gut instinct was that the issues I am having are NOT cardiac but he wants to be careful anyway.
He has ordered that I wear an ECG monitor for a week (24 hours a day) and also do a stress test, where they stick you on a treadmill and monitor your heart under exertion.
Now, the 24 hour a day monitoring is a bit daunting because ummmm, well, how do I put this? Slightly embarrassing but will I have to explain myself when it shows times that my heart rate increased? If so, Phil is out of luck for a week! Or, do I just take off the monitor and say what? My heart stopped beating for while? I need to think that one through. ;)
Also another concern is how the heck and I going to do the stress test? I have had one of these before and it was a breeze. I was fit back then and had no symptoms so no big deal, jump on the treadmill and keep up while they make it go faster and faster. I have NO energy right now. None, zip, nada.
I am hoping that the NHS is it's usual self and the appointment takes weeks to come through by which time I will hopefully be feeling better and more up for the job.
Wishful thinking?
So enough about me, how are YOU?
Karen - I hate to hear all that you are going through - Also, I want you to know that with all my HEART I hope you get the needed medical help to address your issues and give you quality of life!
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine, I appreciate your support. Big ((hug)). xxx
DeleteKaren, I sure do hope that it is the MS hug and my fingers and toes are crossed. Yes, I did experience what I thought was chest pains when I first started and had an ECG. I now know it is the MS hug. So hope that is all yours is too.
ReplyDeleteYou will get to a better place it just takes time to adjust that's all.
I was on day 13 and heading to break my record of 18 days without leg weakness but alas.... my three kids went off to visit their Grandparents for the whole week and so my wife and I are on a 'second honeymooon' chasing each other round... until last night when the leg weakness came back again and brough with it the return of Sir Limp-Alot for a couple of days to a couple of weeks, who knows.
Anyway, the point of the story is that after some months of experiencing this distressing condition I have learned to accept my weakness. I used to feel teary and sad whenever the leg weakness kicked in but I have learnt to accept whatever happens one day at a time. A great man once said ' My grace is all you need' so I do think 'when I am weak, then I am strong'.
The leg weakness isn't permanent and is a sign to take things a bit easy. Of course I have high hopes that in a few years this will all be but a memory by following the Jelinek program. So today is a good day, I'm just not walking the best.
As for the 24hr monitor I'd keep it on and give the doctors something to really talk about: 'Bloomin heck what WERE you doing between 9.30pm and 10.30pm when you should've been in bed.'
Hahaha that last sentence just cracked me up!!
DeleteI am sorry that your leg weakness kicked in but at least it was all for a good "cause". lol
You are very inspirational to me as I try to adjust to all of this new stuff. I cant wait to "catch up" to where you are in my head. I know this is a journey and I just need to go with it, some days are easier than others.
How do you cope with the MS hugs? I have heard some docs prescribe diazapam and I am wondering if that would help me relax because I start to panic when it happens because I feel like I am going to suffocate. Luckily it doesnt happen often and when it does it doesnt last long but my goodness I hate it when it strikes!
x