Short Of Breath

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EireCara

EireCara

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 22, 2006
Messages
1,307
Location
Kilkenny, Ireland.
Hi Everyone, I just wanted to ask your opinions of this.....Iv been feeling short of breath for a few months. Today while sitting in the car it started up again and I had a thought:...why does it come and go, and is this typical symptom of MVR or could there be a more 'simple'' explaination for it, such as anxiety (though the only time I feel anxious is when I am SOB). I guess my question is does shortness of breath ''come and go'' with MVR, or is it there 24/7. When I was in my local hospital (just for a day, they wanted to admit me but I signed myself out) a couple of weeks ago, my stats were 93%...is that good or bad??

Also, I got an appointment to see my OLD cardio on Tuesday 12th DEC. I swore I would NEVER go to see him again as he is arrogant and impossible to relate to, but Im thinking, because he works at my local hospital, this appointment may be connected to my day visit and may be important, so I should probably grin and bear it and just go!!

My problem is ....how to get what I need from the visit....I know all the practical stuff like writing a list but Im very quiet and not good at speaking up
for myself and with this cardio I ALWAYS come out feeling emotionally deflated. On my last visit to him, which was back in June, he told me to go home and SOLDIER ON. This kind of treatment and disregard for how Im feeling, instead of making me angry, makes me feel worthless.

Sorry for rambling on....any opinions would be ''GREATLY APPRECIATED''
 
Others will come along with better answers to the SOB than I could offer, but I am just wondering: Isn't it possible to find a cardio who will patiently discuss things with you instead of going to one who is apparently so hard to carry on a civil conversation with?
 
Your doctor sounds like one of the first doctors I had. He just could not wrap his mind around the fact that someone young could have serious heart issues. He literally told me my symptoms were all in my head.

In answer to your SOB question - yes. SOB can come and go. But it also may be anxiety/mild panic attack too. People with mitral valve issues are prone to panic attacks, and no one really knows why. This doesn't mean it's "all in your head", it just means you are experiencing classic symptoms.

It's hard to be assertive with doctors if that's not your personality. It wasn't mine for a long time and I finally just "sucked it up" and started expressing myself from the point of view that it is my body and my symptoms and I'm an intelligent, sane adult that knows what's healthy and what's not.

You may want to practice saying what you're going to say before going in. Tell him that you are an intelligent woman that knows when things are not right. Tell him that you know it is possible for someone your age to have significant problems with MVR and that you aren't going to take "soldier on" for an answer. You know there is treatment and you would prefer he start addressing your symptoms rather than dismissing them.

The main point is this guy puts on his pants one leg at at time just like everyone else, and I'm also willing to bet that he even has a daily bowel movement like everyone else too. If he knew everything there was to know about medicine - you'd probably be feeling better right now. :mad: :p

Best wishes!
 
You're not rambling on. This is an issue a lot of us have been frustrated with at one time or another. I had several cardios who were either dismissive or downright rude to one degree or another. Is there a supportive friend or family member you can take with you to your appointment? I finally started taking my husband. Another pair of eyes and ears and another good brain should help, both for your confidence in explaining your situation and for detecting the intent of the cardio and for absorbing all the information from the visit. I finally had to change cardios. But if you change to another cardio in the same group, my experience was that I just got more of the same.

Also, remember to dress well, professionally. That can make a difference in their respect level too. Also, be sure and get hard copies of all of your tests and such, to keep in your personal medical file at home.

Regarding SOB, some days I had a lot of trouble getting a deep breath and some days I had strange coughs and some days I had various other problems along that line; I think it can come and go but it will probably continue to get worse overall, maybe slowly or maybe quickly.

Cardios often want to wait and see a problem develop and treat it with this or that to try to avoid surgery. Surgeons tend to want to operate at the right time and before a bad valve does other damage to an already compromised heart.

My last lousy cardio, pre-op, told me to come back in a year. He had asked me if I was able to walk in unassisted from the parking lot, since I had, he said I was fine. Meanwhile, I did more research and continued to feel worse overall. About 7 - 9 months later, after I found more specialized medical professionals, I was told I "needed surgery in weeks not months." So, I very well may not have had one more year.
 
Forget the arrogance--that is a BIG time defense mechanism for him. He doesn't want his patients to mess around with his findings. To my mind, it means he's unsure of himself.

With someone like that, you have to be as bold as can be, take no prisoners attitude. Speak your mind, do not smile. TELL your symptoms, do not be meek. Say no more than you have to, but say it all. Then be silent and wait for him to answer. Don't chatter on and on. That means you are nervous and vulnerable.

If you do not understand what he is saying, ask him to explain, and do not smile when you do it. Then write down what he has said, right in front of him.

And by the way, have a list of your symptoms, printed up, looking professional. Bring two copies, give one to him and keep one for yourself. And check off your questions one by one, slowly. And do not smile.

If he gets you off track, bring him right back on track. And do not leave the office until you have the answers you want.

And do not smile. You can thank him, if he did the right things.
 
Jacqui,

Sorry to hear about the SOB and the arrogant cardio. As Susan said, is there someone you could take with you to the visit? My cardio is very good but I have found that if I take my husband with me I feel much stronger and am more assertive - just for having a back up in the room. Good luck on the 12th - Let us know how it all goes. Jeanne
 
I agree with what everyone has said - the thing about not smiling, giving him a copy of your symptoms, writing down the answers, etc., etc.

When I read that line from Susan BAV about "Can you walk in from the parking lot alone?", I wished for that cardiologist to go through what we have all gone through!!!!
 
*Catwoman: Yes Im having trouble at night...iv been sleeping with extra pillows for about 2 months. Also waking up with a 'gasp' several times.

*Susan BAV: Thank you for your advice, which I will definitely follow.

*Nancy: Your advice made me 'smile' (something I wont be doing to this cardio)
I am going to write it out to read before I go to see him. Thank You.

*Rob, Karlylnn, Aussiemember, and Adrienne...THANK YOU ALL.

I know I have been asking similar stuff over and over, and you guys still take time to answer. Your the best and I am truly grateful. Bless you all. 8)
 
Pardon the smile Nancy... and Bravo...

Pardon the smile Nancy... and Bravo...

Nancy said:
Forget the arrogance--that is a BIG time defense mechanism for him. He doesn't want his patients to mess around with his findings. To my mind, it means he's unsure of himself.

With someone like that, you have to be as bold as can be, take no prisoners attitude. Speak your mind, do not smile. TELL your symptoms, do not be meek. Say no more than you have to, but say it all. Then be silent and wait for him to answer. Don't chatter on and on. That means you are nervous and vulnerable.

If you do not understand what he is saying, ask him to explain, and do not smile when you do it. Then write down what he has said, right in front of him.

And by the way, have a list of your symptoms, printed up, looking professional. Bring two copies, give one to him and keep one for yourself. And check off your questions one by one, slowly. And do not smile.

If he gets you off track, bring him right back on track. And do not leave the office until you have the answers you want.

And do not smile. You can thank him, if he did the right things.
Click to expand...

:D Bravo, Nancy :D

And will you come with me to my next appointment?!?
 
find a new cardiologist. plain and simple. don't wait. shortness of breath is a symptom. at least get a second opinion.
 
EireCara said:
a couple of weeks ago, my stats were 93%...is that good or bad??
Click to expand...
I'm in no way a doc or even a well informed amature but if the figure above relates to your oxygen saturation levels i think its borderline....i'm only 2 1/2 weeks post op but i recall having to stay on oxygen up the nose until my stats were constantly above 94% but that was post surgery with a slightly colapsed lung.

No idea how this relates to your MVR, sorry
 
If you're sleeping on 2 pillows at night and waking up with gasps, it sure sounds to me like you need to consult a surgeon. I don't know how your health care works. Can you contact a surgeon on your own? Tell your doctor you want a referal to a surgeon and you want him/her to evaluate you. If he doesn't want to give you a referal, ask him for a referal to a good veterinarian and tell him that you'll have a better chance of getting proper treatment with the vet.
 
*Thank you Temp69 and Magic8ball.

*Karlynn....your comment about the 'vet' made me giggle (always good)...Mabey I should recommend to the cardio that ''he should transfer to vetenarian medicine'' as animals dont speak which should suit him as he doesnt seem to want to ''listen''....though I dont think I would want him treating my llittle Yorkie (Suzie). THANKS EVERYONE
 
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