Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Heart

Hi Maggie

Well fortunatly my heart is find, but everything else is shot!

Well not everything!


Tom

Interesting. I too have Vagus nerve problems, only mine would cause intensive abdominal cramping, then the faint. I had it for years, no one could find anything wrong with me, and then when I was in intensive care from polyradiculitis - - as a result of gettng the flu - - I had an episode when I was hooked up to a heart monitor, so a cardiologist was called in. Vagus nerve problem, had nothing to do with my heart - - breathe loud sign of relief. I have meds for it now, I take something called Bella Alk/PB at the first sign of trouble. Interestingly, Arava seems to have worked to stop these problems too, my last prescription for this was filled in October of 2001 - - which is when I started Arava. I keep it around just in case - - although the prescription is now definitely past its sell date

Cheryl

If you can't be a good example you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning.
Jennifer Cruisie

Dogs don't care how much money you make

The worst part for Steve was that he didn't know that it was only a compressed nerve until after he had gone through this a couple of times. He thought for sure he was having a serious attack.

In writing this, I have to wonder what would happen if the vagus nerve was being compressed in a different area. Since this nerve goes to all the major organs in the body, is it possible that compression on a different spot on the nerve would stop your lungs from breathing or cause your stomach to start continuosly secrete acid regardless of whether you were eating or not.

My own heart problem is just the mitral valves and I already know that they must be changed soon. I just wish they would do it sooner than soon as I don't want to go through this surgery when I get into my 70's and I'm just a bit over two years away from that.


I have no idea as to how fast the Arava kicks in but I do know that the Flexoril will calm down Steves nerve/heart cramps in only a few minutes. You may want to keep some of these around, just in case.

George

Hi maggie

Sorry to hear about your heart. Thankfully I have nothing wrong with mine .

I will keep my fingers crossed and say a prayer that everything goes o.k. and they find a reason for it.

Take care
Valerie

Hi Maggie,

I totally understand where you are coming from and know firsthand how hard it is to find a good dr. Until just recently I traveled to another town for my GP visit. I live in a town with a population of approx 80,000 and we also had a shortage and I was NOT happy with my current dr. So I knew of one in a neighboring town and he took me on as a patient. It was a pain to drive over an hr. each visit but it was worth it because he listened to me and wanted to help. I finally found one in town and am glad not to have to make that drive.
Dr.'s now are overworked and too busy to take the time to give you the attention you need. Our medical system is great if you are well but when something goes wrong you need your wits about you. If they are not willing to help you then you have to be ready to challenge them. Go to each appt. prepared with a list of questions and do not leave until they are answered. When you are not well it is especially difficult if they are not going to bat for you.
And yes it makes sense that you would imagine the worst, it is only human nature. I tend to be that way myself. If you are really not happy with your current dr., call the local hospital for a list of dr.'s who are taking new patients. Good luck Maggie, I truly hope you get the answers and treatment that you deserve. Take care and try not to worry too much!

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.

Hi,

Maggie, you'll be suprised that nsaids were n't causing my problems that time is was efx an anti-d.....................blood pressure was going up and down like a yo-yo as well.........turned me from a young looking innocent baby 40 year old boy into a rather hagard old man very quickly.

I did n't want to put the med on in the Post in-case anyone chucked their meds out. I went cold turkey on the efx and although it was n't too bad stopping smoking and coffee is easier and less stressful. But my little ticker returned to it's normal..............tick......tick......tick.......

Scary stuff this, really makes you re-evalaute your life etc......

Take it easy ....


David

I have irregular pulse rate, apparently nothing wrong with my heart and my blood pressure is normal. I do suffer from panic attacks occasionaly but I am never sure what comes first the racing pulse or the panic. My husband has wolfe parkinson white syndrome, which he takes propanolol for. It is a condition to do with the electrical currents to his heart and just out of the blue it will start racing like crazy, I can feel him vibrating across the room, the pill puts him back to normal. I know its scarey, but when they tell you its nothing to worry about, what can you do but worry.

Laneblue

Hi Laneblue

Mine races and skips right out of the blue too. Never heard that name before. Is your husband ok then ? Are they going to do anything for him or will he just stay on the meds.? What causes this ?

It is amazing to hear how many others have some difficulty or other.

You are right - when they tell you not to worry - you do - LOL

Thanks

Maggie

I'm on Arava continuously, so it's always kicked in, I suppose. The other stuff works really quickly, but I haven't had a problem in so long I have to remember to take it with me when I go traveling, which is quite often these days, spending a lot of time with a special someone down in the Keys. Would be interesting to know what other body parts can be affected by a pinch in the Vagus nerve. It was actually funny when I set off all the alarms in the ICU, I had dealt with this for years, was hospitalized for it twice, was DXed with gastritis because of the symptoms. But I could only describe the symptoms, was very instructive when I could finally demonstrate what happens during an episode. The pain and then loss of consciousness plagued me for years, never knew when it would happen, once passed out in a public restroom and woke up to see a ring of concerned faces of strangers

Cheryl

If you can't be a good example you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning.
Jennifer Cruisie

Dogs don't care how much money you make

Hey Maggie, just wanted to check in with you today.

Hugs,

Kat