Having a rough time.......

[EireCara]

Hi All, Well Iv been having a bit of a rough time this last week or so. I have been feeling even more unwell and when I woke up yesterday morning at 5am I thought ''Jee I feel even worse than yesterday'' barely had the energy to get out of bed, but I needed to get my son up and get him to the train to get to school. Anway I did, so, I was watching morning TV at 10am (sorry you harrassed over worked people,Iv been there too,.. but I havent been able to work since Jan.) when suddenly my left arm became numb and sort of heavy, then my right(slightly). I felt very strange, hard to explain. It lasted about 10 minutes, but my arm felt sore and weak for the rest of the day. I went to my gp yesterday afternoon, he wanted me to go to the hospital but I said no because I needed to go home to my kids, so he said come back in the morning. I went back thismorning and gave in and went to the assessment unit at my local hospital.
There they took blood, chest x-ray and ecg. The doc said 'I see you have an irr heartbeat (no surprise to me). He wanted me to stay overnight to have some tests but I couldnt (same reason, kids) I had to sign a waver form on leaving and the doc said ''I thing we will be seeing you again soon''.All your symptoms point to heart failure though your x-ray was clear. They upped my medication (Dilzem and emcor) and thats that.
As for my arms he said it could be Carpel Tunnel Syndrome?? My worry was and is that it could be a TIA because I had something similar about 4 weeks ago, not exactly the same symptoms in my arms but similar, and my thinking was effected, just for mabey 10 or 20 seconds, its hard to say. So Im concerned because from what Iv read about TIA's, usually they are followed by a stroke. Now that scares me big time.
Has anyone an opinion or thoughts to share on this. I know its probably confusing but I would appreciate all and any comments. Thanks.

 

[Christina L]

I have no idea what is going

I have no idea what is going

on with you and I am sorry that you are having problems. I hope that someone else may have the answer for you. Hang in there and don't worry - stress doesn't help matters!

Christina L

 

[Phyllis]

I would be worried about TIA also after reading your symptoms. At the very least, you have to get back to your cardio or another one and see what's going on! Surgery may be in the offing sooner than you think and although I know it is hard when you have the children to worry about, they need you to get healthy! Best wishes and I hope you get some help soon.

 

[Nancy]

In my husband's experience, the TIAs were not necessarily followed by a stroke. He's had 16 of them, possibly more. They COULD be followed by a stroke, but it is far from a foregone conclusion. They are usually bits of matter, small clots, or other deposits that spin off the valve. But they still have to be evaluated.

Since your doctor mentioned heart failure and that usually means lowered oxygen levels in the blood, it can cause all kinds of hypoxia symptoms, including weakness and cognitive changes, and breathing problems.

So you have a few things going on that have to be sorted out.

Try to find some emergency help for your children, just in case, friends, family, etc. They need their mom to be well, and if that means a stay in hospital, then you should be doing that.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[sue943]

I am going to be very harsh here. If your doctors say that you ought to go into hospital for tests then that is what you MUST do. Friends and family will help if you ask them to help with the children - if you do not have the tests they could end up without a mother. I am sorry, but I said I was going to be harsh.

Doctors will not say they want you in hospital for tests unless they really feel they are necessary, and they must consider it imperative that you be admitted to make you sign the waiver.

Get into hospital and have those tests.

 

[Marguerite53]

I agree with Sue. It is time to find a place/schedule/help for your children and have these things attended to. I don't remember their age, but surely they need YOU!

That said, carpal tunnel can feel very intense. After my surgery my cardio rehab therapist suggested a simple stretching exercise (the tiny weight lifting was making my arms numb). Perhaps, if it is carpal tunnel, this will help relieve their recurrence. Hold your hand up as if to wave. Then gently take your other hand and press on the top flats of your other hand's fingers to gently stretch them backwards. Basically, the front of your wrist will feel a little pull and your hand will be backwards approaching a right angle. Do these once or twice a day...hold for 5 to 15 seconds.

Children are very resilient. Schools can be alerted to problems at home and if they have to be shipped off to relatives and miss a few days, so be it. Please take care of yourself.

Marguerite

 

[Farid]

....
Get into hospital and have those tests.

I agree 100% with sue943.
Do it for your kids. The circumstances may be inconvenient for your kids for a short while, but that is far better than the consequences. Make arrangements; call someone, a friend, a relative, a neighbor, someone you trust.
Good luck and best wishes.

 

[pipersmith]

I will echo the opinions of the others. Best to make arrangements, and be proactive - than to wait for an emergency when you have no control over the situation. Last week, my kids were bounced around a bit - and I was very stressed in the hospital - not knowing or having control over the situation. Learning from the experience - I would have a set person/ people that are to act on their behalf, transport them, all (dr., school, meds, etc.) info on the kids, and some clothes packed or kept where they will be. I woke up last Sunday planning on going to church - and 5 minutes changed everything - I was in the hospital for a week. Thankfully I have family here to care for my kids. You should be prepared for that too- considering your condition. You should also maybe pack a bag for yourself for an emergency.

You must take care of your health FIRST. I just lived with my symptoms like you are doing - kids have to have a mom right? Just keep working hard, the feelings will pass, wait for the surgery?! Well, looking back, I am so lucky that I did not pass out at the store, or in the car, or in some situation that would have compromised their safety. You must find your answers sooner than later for your health's sake - which is of course ultimately for your kids sake as well!! It is hard to be sick and to be a mom - so many of us relate to what you are going through - truly. We are here for you - and (I think) telling you what you already know

Please take care! and let us know -

 

[Adrienne]

I also agree with Sue and the others. You absolutely need to go to the hospital or it will be too late and you will have congestive heart failure that cannot be reversed!!!

 

[Mary]

Usually a TIA or stroke affects one side of the body or the other. If you had weakness on the left, and some on the right, then I would suspect some other cause.
I agree with the others that you need to find a back-up source of help to watch your children before you don't have a choice in whether you go to the hospital or not.

Take care . . .

 

[EireCara]

Thank you.....

Thank you.....

* THANK YOU ALL * each and every one of you....it was a happy day I found this site and all of you. Of course I agree with everything you have said. I hope tomorrow to find the courage to do something about it. I will keep you posted.

 

[Farid]

I hope all went well.
Please keep us posted.

 

[gijanet]

PLease do!

PLease do!

* THANK YOU ALL * each and every one of you....it was a happy day I found this site and all of you. Of course I agree with everything you have said. I hope tomorrow to find the courage to do something about it. I will keep you posted.

Please do! Make arrangements now for the kids and take care of this. HOw well can you take care of them from Above - I mean waaaaayyyy above? If you didn't call today, call first thing Monday morning before everyone takes off for Thanksgiving. Keep us posted. Hugs and prayers. J.

 

[Lynlw]

Please do! Make arrangements now for the kids and take care of this. HOw well can you take care of them from Above - I mean waaaaayyyy above? If you didn't call today, call first thing Monday morning before everyone takes off for Thanksgiving. Keep us posted. Hugs and prayers. J.

Hey janet, do alot of people in ireland take off for Tgiving? lol you know i love ya

I agree with everyone else, it is because of your children and how much they need you that you really need to call asap and do what needs done to make sure you kids have a mommy for a very long time, lyn