angall
10-18-2005, 09:32 PM
As I had previously posted, I went to PA to visit my daughter. I ended up staying longer than expected due to A-fib and congested heart failure. I flew back to MN on Thursday, Oct 13th.
I made an appointment with my Cardiologist at Mayo for Monday, Oct. 17th. Again, a heart transplant was mentioned.
On Monday night, I went to bed at 9:00 p.m., woke up at 10:20 p.m., got something to drink, came online for about 10 minutes, went to the bathroom, then went back to bed. Immediately I began having shortness of breath, tingling in my hands and feet and sweating big time.
I woke my husband and he took me to our local hospital. After a few "not knowing" experiences by the staff, I finally told then that I wanted to see my family doctor or be transported to St. Mary's hospital in Rochester.
Finally, they decided to transport me. I was taken to the ICU at St. Mary's where they ran various tests. At 4:00 a.m. (Tuesday) I was taken to the 4th floor.
I was seen by many doctors and by my cardiologist. When they compared tests done in the past to the tests they did today, they came back with an option for me especially after reading the results of a treadmill test I had done earlier this year. They told me to they are surprised I can do as much as I can and they advised me to go on disability and go on the transplant list. I could hardly believe that the treadmill test I had done earlier this year was so bad. I have been working 40 hrs. a week, but I have been missing more time because of shortness of breath and fatique. My house work has been suffering, too.
They told me my heart will only get worse because it is so stiff.
I talked to my cardiologist about working and she will allow me to work 4 hrs a day for three months unless I can't handle that amount of time. In the meantime I am going to file for disability. I must stop smoking or they will not even think about putting me on the list and then I must talk to the heart transplant team.
I can only say that I didn't think my condition was so bad. It's like I told the doctors today, "I have seen so many people that have a worse health problem than I do, especially children, that I don't think of myself as being serious ill".
The doctors told me that I shouldn't have a difficult time getting disability with the numbers they have on file. Of course I would rather work, but it is coming to the point where I have a problem getting dressed for work in the morning.
Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to put into words how I feel.
Thank you for reading.
I made an appointment with my Cardiologist at Mayo for Monday, Oct. 17th. Again, a heart transplant was mentioned.
On Monday night, I went to bed at 9:00 p.m., woke up at 10:20 p.m., got something to drink, came online for about 10 minutes, went to the bathroom, then went back to bed. Immediately I began having shortness of breath, tingling in my hands and feet and sweating big time.
I woke my husband and he took me to our local hospital. After a few "not knowing" experiences by the staff, I finally told then that I wanted to see my family doctor or be transported to St. Mary's hospital in Rochester.
Finally, they decided to transport me. I was taken to the ICU at St. Mary's where they ran various tests. At 4:00 a.m. (Tuesday) I was taken to the 4th floor.
I was seen by many doctors and by my cardiologist. When they compared tests done in the past to the tests they did today, they came back with an option for me especially after reading the results of a treadmill test I had done earlier this year. They told me to they are surprised I can do as much as I can and they advised me to go on disability and go on the transplant list. I could hardly believe that the treadmill test I had done earlier this year was so bad. I have been working 40 hrs. a week, but I have been missing more time because of shortness of breath and fatique. My house work has been suffering, too.
They told me my heart will only get worse because it is so stiff.
I talked to my cardiologist about working and she will allow me to work 4 hrs a day for three months unless I can't handle that amount of time. In the meantime I am going to file for disability. I must stop smoking or they will not even think about putting me on the list and then I must talk to the heart transplant team.
I can only say that I didn't think my condition was so bad. It's like I told the doctors today, "I have seen so many people that have a worse health problem than I do, especially children, that I don't think of myself as being serious ill".
The doctors told me that I shouldn't have a difficult time getting disability with the numbers they have on file. Of course I would rather work, but it is coming to the point where I have a problem getting dressed for work in the morning.
Sorry for the long post. I just wanted to put into words how I feel.
Thank you for reading.