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A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two. (Read 1761 times)
Carl D
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A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Sep 21st, 2010 at 10:18pm
 
I'll try to be brief, but you know me...

Back in cycle again. It's been creeping up on me the past few weeks, but is here & wreaking some havoc. However, I do have an alternative backup so, not too worried in that regard at the moment.

However, I do have something a bit concerning going on. Been having chest pains, irregular heartbeat... been pushing myself really hard the last few months with the move and everything, but the last few weeks been really lethargic & weak, running out of breath easily. Some scarey stuff. Had an incident 3 weeks ago I'll go into in a minute.

To break it down, I go in the morning for a heart cath, stress test (since I can't do treadmill with my back & hip, it is the 'chemically induced' which scares me), and then will be wired to a Halter Heart monitor for 48 hours afterward. With everything that has gone on, I'm really worried about tomorrow. So if I could get  some vibes or prayers or whatever, I'd greatly appreciate it.
One thing I am very curious about is the Halter Heart Monitor (maybe should do a 2nd post for the question...) especially since I am getting hit daily now. Wondering if anything will pick up on the monitor during an attack.

The major thing that led up to this was, 3 weeks ago I was experiencing dizziness, fatigue & lethargy to the point it took every ounce of energy I had to just move my body. Got to the top of the 3rd floor steps, and felt a sharp stab in my chest, heart racing.
Wound up at St Mary's ER in St Louis for a truly classic horror-fest. It was the most incompetent place I have seen since Gateway in Granite City! They took blood, urine & other tests, and then came in 3 different times for the SAME TESTS! Meanwhile, I have all of my meds typed out, how long I've been on each one, etc. Tried handing it to them 7 times (not kidding) and it wasn't til after I was given a shot of something they took my med list & all.
Was on the heart monitor, bp 104/54 and heart rate fluctuating between 41-49. The one nurse paying attention pointed out the irregular rhythm pattern on the monitor.
Meanwhile, Nurse RUDE who won't answer any questions, just asks them, had given me a shot of something. I asked what it was. "Axert, for your headache." Wasn't til later I put two and two together that it was a TRIPTAN and at that time was taking Cymbalta - as I had Serotonin Syndrome in 2007!!! They had just tried me on Cymbalta for dealing with pain since I am no longer on triptans, and it had a major reverse effect on me. Was in a major major depression. Needless to say, I'm off that now, but they didn't even pay attention to the meds list that I was on Cymbalta before giving me a TRIPTAN!

So, after a catscan came back normal, I waited for hours before they finally was ready to give me food (which I had been starving by then & found out they could have given me food hours before as the test results had come back.) It was a mess! It was like no one was communicating with anyone. Then Jeff, who was with me at the ER went to use the bathroom in my ER room and after one look, decided against it. He said it was insanely gross.
Finally, the Cryptkeeper comes in as a Dr, and is babbling confusedly like he just woke up. They wanted to admit me and I told Jeff, my fear was they would give me meds, forget to mark it off, give them to me an hour later... then again, until I'm all Michael Jackson'ed out! To hell with all that. I took my chances, and came home. Followed up with my Dr's  the next day & was told to NEVER let any dr or nurse give me anything without asking what it is first, provided I am able to do so.
So, my pain management skipped my spinal injections for 2 weeks, had to stop physical therapy til I get the all clear, and had to stop some other R.A. meds as well.

So you can understand why I'm a bit concerned at the moment. Dealing with major amounts of physical pain, now the CH's are returning daily (and keep wondering if all it took was one shot of a triptan to trigger a cycle or if I'm just due), found out last week L-5 is buldging out my back now, and was diagnosed 2 1/2 months ago with Rheumatoid Arthritis and onset Spinal Stinosis.

To top it all off, I have pinched the Ulnar nerve in my left elbow, and now my left pinky all the way down my hand is numb, tingly & half alseep! This might not seem too tragic to the average person, but I am a guitar player of 30 years. I just spent 3 years busting ass to get my speed back, and now when I try to play, can't hardly control my pinky at all. Not for chording, and trying to bend a string is a joke. It's like walking on your foot when it's asleep; you have no stability or control and it's a bitch! So, with everything else going on, this will either A) get better over time. B) not heal and ruin my guitar abilities  or C), there is a surgical procedure to free the Ulnar nerve from wherever it is pinched & the hand will return to normal.

All I know is I just turned 40. Geez! Still doing everything I can to keep it together and meanwhile I'm falling part. Not letting it stop me unless my heart stops. Then that kinda takes the fun out of trying so hard.  Wink

But that's it. Going to bed soon so I can prepare for my 4-6am interruption, then get ready to go to the hospital.

To make matters worse....




... I just started getting orgasm headaches!  Shocked
Not fun at all.


Peace,
Carl
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #1 - Sep 21st, 2010 at 10:35pm
 
Geez, sounds like you've been to hell and not quite back yet.  You have your hands full just dealing with CH let alone all the other issues.  Don't know how you can address each health problem without meds overlapping and/or interacting with each other.  Maybe O2 can help with CH without any interaction, but since you're a Hall of Famer I'm probably preaching to the choir on that one.

I don't blame you for being concerned and your hospital experience certainly left MUCH to be desired!  Stay strong and know many are thinking about you and praying for your wellness.   You're only 40 and have a lot of Rockin to do!!  (Please tell me you play classic rock!)  Wink   Take care and positive vibes being sent your way.
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Carl D
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #2 - Sep 21st, 2010 at 10:49pm
 
Yup, I play classic rock, hard rock, alternative rock, and really really aggressive stuff too. Play many styles of music.

The meds thing has been tricky, as I am trying to go more herbal & vitamin than pharmaceutical, but some are necessary evils, and some are just evil. There's only two things that work on my CH's. One is o2, and the other is the 'alternative cycle breaking' technique.
Thanks for the vibes.  Wink
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #3 - Sep 22nd, 2010 at 11:27am
 
Sorry you are going through such a rough time and far too much for someone only 40.
Hang in there buddy you will get through all this, sending my best prayers and vibes for you.
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #4 - Sep 22nd, 2010 at 1:14pm
 
Damn Carl.  Prayers on the way my friend.

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Carl D
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #5 - Sep 22nd, 2010 at 3:59pm
 
Appreciate the vibes & prayers.
Everything went okay today. They didn't do a heart cath, but I believe that is next. Instead they did an EKG with ultrasound. Heart rate was 50, and the guy doing the ultrasound said that, with an irregular heartbeat and low HR, I may need a pacemaker. THAT tripped me out, but won't panic until they tell me I indeed need one and then, will try not to panic but will anyway, lol.

Hooked to the heart monitor now. They had to shave my chest! Man, that is gonna itch growing back. I wear this for 48 hours so they can record my heart rhythms & take it off at 11am Friday. The thing I don't like is, gotta be careful with it. Ya break it, ya buy it and it's a $1'600 box!
No getting it wet, and no feeding it after midnight.  Cheesy

I was hoping at MOST I may have to get a stint or something easily fixed, but a pacemaker? WTF?
What a drag it is getting old.   Tongue

Peace,
Carl
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #6 - Sep 22nd, 2010 at 4:10pm
 
Have faith
They are getting control early and you will be better off for it.
I will vibe the heck out of it if that is what you need.

Goat cares
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #7 - Sep 22nd, 2010 at 4:17pm
 
Keeping ya in our prayers Carl.

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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #8 - Sep 22nd, 2010 at 8:32pm
 
Be thankful.  The chemical stress test and heart caths really suck.
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #9 - Sep 23rd, 2010 at 2:48am
 
I hope you can get your heart problems taken care of, that is serious business. I recently had surgery on disc L4-5, then within 6 months, neck surgery fusion at C5-6. Within 6 weeks of that- CH started in worse than had ever been. Then hands going numb, feet burning, hurting, calves had tingling, crawling sensation. Electric shock feelings of arms, legs, lower back. Emg's of arms and legs show peripheral neuropathy. Diagnosed with stenosis, scoliosis, and spondylosis. I wondered if the 6 nerve root blocks caused nerve damage but no Dr. will actually answer me. They try to blame it on the Grave's disease I have, which is from thyroid. But what I want to tell you is Pain Management prescribed Lyrica which helped some with the neuropathy of numbness and electric shocks of arms and hands. They had to up the dose but it helped with the numbness, so don't give up your guitar. Also, I can relate with you that when I had neck surgery, the nurses were so rude and almost mean to me. They forgot to hook a machine back up to me for couple hours and acted like it was my fault. I never want to go back to that hospital again, I couldn't even reach that machine. The CH is calming down now after around 4 months from Verapamil and Lyrica. Things will be different for you with heart problems but I do understand the back problems, CH, and horrible nurses and hospitals, and the numbness of hands and fingers.
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #10 - Sep 23rd, 2010 at 11:55am
 
Carl D... Smiley.. I will say a special Prayer regarding you and your health...

Luv & Prayers
Peace & Blessings

Lady Luv
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Carl D
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #11 - Sep 23rd, 2010 at 3:03pm
 
Thanks to everyone who has prayed, sent vibes - whatever you do. I do know that when people here pull together in a crisis situation, some great things have happened.

Well, I got some good news today.
The stress test came back fine. They said my heart is beating strong, there are no blockages & everything looks good. So, to me that is most excellent news.

There's one more hurdle to cross...
I have the heart monitor on for another 21 hours (yes, I am counting down to when I can rip this sucker off!!!) This will have recorded my heart rhythm & rate for the last 48 hours. I already know I've had a few palpitations and irregular heartbeats, so it will depend on the results from this to see if they want to go ahead with a heart cath. If my heart rate is staying too low or erractic, then the pacemaker may be considered.  Undecided

So, just dealing with one thing at a time and right now I could use more good news, since the weather is about to change starting tomorrow, and my body has been feeling it already for 3 days now.
When I was little my mom had a saying about the weather changing cause she was always right. "The bones knows." Never knew what she meant by that for a long time, but man, do I ever know now.
You can ask Jeff. I am BETTER than any meteorologist in STL.  Wink

Will keep y'all posted.
Carl
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #12 - Sep 23rd, 2010 at 3:57pm
 
Quote:
since the weather is about to change starting tomorrow, and my body has been feeling it already for 3 days now.
When I was little my mom had a saying about the weather changing cause she was always right. "The bones knows." Never knew what she meant by that for a long time, but man, do I ever know now.
You can ask Jeff. I am BETTER than any meteorologist in STL.

40 going on 83. Wink
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #13 - Sep 23rd, 2010 at 9:25pm
 
I can certainly can relate Carl, my body is so effected by the weather, and my head is the main sign of a weather change, like tonight, I know I will need o2 later...
PF wishes to you buddy...  Cry
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #14 - Sep 24th, 2010 at 1:16am
 
One thing you mention in your post, that is something *extremely* important for clusterheads to be aware of is: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register

To many of us use triptans, and often more than one, and then have SSRI's or SNRI's added on top, and there have been several near fatalities from seratonin syndrome, and I would recommend everyone read up on it and pay very close attention to the medications they are taking.  Even supplements, as St. John's Wort can also increase seratonin, and many others.

Just my cautionary word for the day.

Cat
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Carl D
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Re: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Reply #15 - Sep 25th, 2010 at 9:52pm
 
catlind wrote on Sep 24th, 2010 at 1:16am:
One thing you mention in your post, that is something *extremely* important for clusterheads to be aware of is: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register

To many of us use triptans, and often more than one, and then have SSRI's or SNRI's added on top, and there have been several near fatalities from seratonin syndrome, and I would recommend everyone read up on it and pay very close attention to the medications they are taking.  Even supplements, as St. John's Wort can also increase seratonin, and many others.

Just my cautionary word for the day.

Cat


THANK YOU CAT!!!
I found out the hard way. I had all but 3 symptoms: Rapidly increasing heart rate, coma and death. Had I stayed on Cymbalta - I'd be dead.

Interestingly enough, They just tried the Cymbalta on me again and went into a MAJOR depression. Been off of it nearly 3 1/2 weeks, and just started getting back to 'normal' this week. Last thing I need is a fricken anti-depressant. I'm not depressed, I'm repressed!  Cheesy

Carl

PS - guess what beast got busted today?
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