Melissa H & Sherri

Melissa & Sherri
I am having pain on the upper left side of my heart.  that also is where i had my blockage.  the pain is sooooooo much worse than pre surgery...heck i didnt even know there was a problem presurgery
dr bates just said that it still wasnt functioning properly.  i know now i should have asked him, but at that point i was a little irritated by the fact that he that i was nuts!!!  i can only assume that it is something related to that.  presurgery they originally thought i was only functioning on a 50-60% basis, but after tests they said it was more like 70-75% and that i had some "muscle thinning" at the bottom of my heart that they basically wrote off as a lost cause.
so yesterday he put me on a beta blocker and i am spose to take that, cut my lasix back from 40mg twice daily to 20 mg twice a day and the potassium from two doses (cant remember the exact dosage right now) back to one a day.  i go see him again sept 22 and he will re evaulate me then.  i do however go back to see the cardiac surgeon (whom i just LOVE...i think he's really good!...dr. solarno) on 07/07 to have him re evaluate me in regards of going back to work...at this point my heart hurts ALL the time..nitro is a joke and i really don't think i can handle the stress of my job...so i will see what he decides for me on 07/07. 
on top of my "heart pain" i still feel like something is sitting on my chest making it difficult to breath.  i am wondering if i need to make an appt with a specialist in regards to that...i went to the dollar store today and just that much exertion just wiped me out...im almost 6 wks..that should be better than that by now...
soooooooo ladies...
we will wait and see what happens.  i have completed an application for social security disability (im sure i will get every roadblock there is on that too).  i am keeping my fingers crossed b/c at this point i don't think i can work a 40 hr job unless they get these health problems fixed im having...
well
im gonna get off here and get ready for my slumber bday party
hugs
p

Pam, I'm sorry to hear that you are still struggling with chest pain. You'd think open heart surgery would have taken care of that! I hope you get answers from the surgeon when you see him.

Pam I know I am not Sherri or Melissa but both of my parents had heart problems so I know a little about it and what you are experiencing is not right! Is your heart doc with St. Vincents THE CARE GROUP? I know that some people on here are nurses and know what they are talking about but The Care Group doctors are awesome! Especially Dr. Smith. So if you can go to them please do it never hurts to get a second opinion! If you aren't going to the care group get with them because they are the best! Good Luck to you on this matter!
Michelle

Pam,

Before you go to your appointment with Dr. Solarno, made a list of all these questions so you can ask him. I know that my lists have helped me immensly. If I don't make one, I make sure I tell Bill all the stuff I want to know so he can help me be sure I find out.

It's good that you like Dr. Salarno so much. What's the difference between him and Dr. Bates? At least Dr. Bates did some med changes. Hopefully, you will be able to tell prior to July 7th if they have done any good or not.

Sherri