Sound familiar???

[Tomsgal]

Hi, All..

Anyone out there have extreme fatigue after a bout of chest pain? (is this the 'norm' pattern for this puzzling disease?)

Tom looked terrible when he came home from work yesterday - just looked ill. He told me he had had a bad bout of chest pain which started in the afternoon. The pain went away, and then his chief complaint was that he was tired. (and believe me, he looked it!) He took a long nap when he came home, went to bed early and woke up too exhausted to go to work today.

He is scheduled for a nuclear 'scan' on the 15th of this month. The Dr. wants to check his heart for oxygen deprivation. I did some research, and the 'die' will show 'hot spots' on the scan of areas of the heart that may not be getting oxygen.

Appreciate your thoughts and input.....

[Pam Alexson]

Re: Sound familiar???

It can be tricky and varies from person to person . The anxiety level or emotional strain alone when one experiences chest pain of lasting strong intensity is very exhausting physically as well as mentally. I do find when the bouts are that bad perhaps I was not feeling truly up to speed on that particular day . I have found that if I respond to my signals that I might be able to back off and avoid additional strain or demand on already oxygen deprived areas of my heart. This is not easy when one works . For me 3 years before my myectomy it was determined that I was too ill to work any job. The exhaustion persists and on some days is almost unbearable like cement legs and arms. I have a lot of respect and admiration for all you people out there working in spite of the variable all to often severe limitations of this disease. I am also a little jealous as medicare is a very tight squeeze for a single youngish 50 year old parent with 2 of 3 kids still home. I know 5 months post surgery now I could not keep up at a job. Yes his scan should help determine those poorly perfused areas of the heart , mine was followed by a cath to rule out coronary blockages. So often these tests provide that some of us will be plagued with the small vessel disease or also called chest pain syndrome . I wish you and Tom luck and know that we are here and others will respond to you. Best Wishes . Pam

[Lisa Salberg]

Re: Sound familiar???

Yes, this is rather common. I can see where the doc is going with the test, however with his history I would strongly suggest you have him evaluated by a good HCM specialist - there is one now in Westen Fla -at the Cleveland Clinic - Dr. Craig Asher.

Best wishes,
Lisa

[Toogoofy317]

Re: Sound familiar???

Wow! There is one in Jacksonville! That is awesome. Good to know. It would be a lot closer to me but I've grown too attached to Dr. M. Maron. He is such a great doctor!

Mary S.

[Tomsgal]

Re: Sound familiar???

Hi, All -

Pam, your reference to 'cement legs and arms' sounds oh-too-familiar! THAT'S exactly how Tom describes it!!

I can certainly understand how having pain would be exhausting - both mentally and physically. Rest, rest and more rest is the only thing that seems to help. He took it easy yesterday and went to bed early again last night.

It just frightens me sometimes to see him look so 'ill' when he has a 'bad' day....

His symptoms have certainly seemed to have gotten worse over the past year. Perhaps this test he is having this month will show something.

Lisa, thanks for the 'tip' about the HCM specialist in Jacksonville. Do you have a phone number or address that you could forward me?

Thanks!

Karla

[Lisa Salberg]

Re: Sound familiar???

Please call the office and I will get you the information you need.

Lisa