Thanks for the advice and support folks. In December 2007 I felt like I was going to pass out about 45 minutes after I had drank a high sugar content drink. When I got to the ED my BP was 70/39 and it stayed low for at least three hours. The ED doc told me he was going to do a CAT scan of my heart because he thought I might have clots in my heart; I don't know if he meant clots inside the chambers or clots in the coronary arteries - I was too sick to even ask. Anyway they admitted me and did a couple of 12 lead EKGs, put me on a telemetry unit, did MB isoenzymes, an ultrasound, a thallium stress test and a treadmill stress test and sent me home with a Holter monitor. Everything on my heart tested out normal except for the initial hypotension. My ejection fraction was 55% so I'm good there. I seldom now get palpitations or mild chest pressure and I always check my BP and pulse. Trazadone always gave me mild chest pressure so we stopped that. Unless I have more typical s/s of heart ischemia I won't go to the ED which may/may not be in my best interest. A few months ago I had really terrible indigestion and nausea. Being a cardiac nurse I knew that those symptoms alone could mean I was having an inferior wall MI but I kept checking my pulse and decided to stay home and treat it with antacids unless my heart rate dropped which it didn't.

I have had an anxiety disorder for many years but never to my knowledge have had a panic attack. In 1990 I was divorcing my abusive husband and developed paresthesia on my left side face and my left arm/hand. I talked to a neurologist friend and mentioned I thought it might be stress related and he said we would look for other causes and stress would be the last thing we consider. I liked his attitude. My tests were okay so it might have been stress.

When I called the medics recently I certainly was not having a panic attack when it started. The dispatch operator said they would be there in about five minutes which is what I expected from where they are stationed so my son helped me to the porch because I am so embarrassed about the clutter in my house I don't like people in. But they didn't show. So I told my son to call again and ask where they were. As in literally where they were because I thought they surely must be lost. Then I learned they were responding from another area which partly explained the delay. But coming from the city they still should have been there in fifteen minutes but dispatch did not relay my directions so the medics took the scenic route. That was when my anxiety started climbing. I was sitting on the porch with my dog in my face and cats climbing all over me wanting attention and I was thinking well it is a d*** good thing I am not critical for I would surely be dead before they get here. I was more pissed than I was scared. When they finally arrived my BP was 100/65 and my 12 lead EKG looked fine. No dysrhymias or anything. My O2 sat was 93% with me on nasal cannula. Could have been better but still nothing to get upset over. As I said my neuro status got better instead or progressing to aphasia as I thought it might so they disregarded my neuro history and said I was having a panic attack.

I have seen my family doc and my psychiatrist this year about the aphasia and lower body weakness. My MRI was normal and my shrink said my EEG was pretty much normal, whatever that means. At my last appt with my shrink I asked if there was a fMRI in town and he said yes. I asked if maybe we should do that or a doppler study of my carotid arteries of MRA of carotids or something else. He said we could spend all day chasing our tail and never know what caused it. Hmmmmph. Maybe so but if he were the one that couldn't speak I think he would be more interested in knowing why. I really really would like a neuro consult but I have to have a doc to give me a referral. And of course they think it's just ole crazy Yoda back again so I am disregarded.

In June when I saw my family doc I asked if I could have a glucose monitor. He thought I already had one I guess since my shrink had prescribed my metformin. Seven weeks later and still no monitor and I got a message from his office that my glucoses were normal so I was not a diabetic and didn't qualify for a monitor. ummmm well do you think that maybe the reason my glucoses are now normal is because I have been taking metformin for over two years and avoiding carbs? So I guess I should ditch the meds and have six candy bars for dinner?!??

Where have all the smart people gone?

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