Hello Everyone,

I'll try to make this short. I wasn't feeling too good the past few weeks. Just weaker and more tired than usual. Last Wednesday after dinner I started to have a pain in my back and a heaviness in my chest making it difficult to breathe. My husband took me to the ER and they started working on me right away. One of the blood tests called a dime/dyme? was elevated which can indicate a possible blockage or blood clot in the lung. I had a special ct scan, but it was inconclusive. My cardiologist felt there was a blockage and my pcp and radiologist were not sure. At any rate I was adimtted to the progressive care unit and put on enough meds for two people and given tests over the next 3 days. The only new med I was sent home with is Lopressor a beta blocker. My pulse and blood pressure were high. Probably because I was in the hospital! The cardio wanted me to stay on the ace inhibitor, but my ef is 55-60% and that's usually started when it's 40%. He wanted it as a preventitive, but my pcp didn't agree. Stopped the Plava=something, because I already take Lipitor. I still have to go as an out patient for a stress test in a month. I had so many tests that required nuclear injections that I'm maxed out so I'll have it done later. Thankfully my MG faired pretty well. They allowed me to take Mestinon when I felt I needed it and how much. I don't know how much of the weakness was do to the MG, the new meds, tests etc. My eyes started crossing the day before I was discharged and went away one day after being home. I still feel a little tired, but I think I just need to get my strenghth back. Should know more on my follow up visits.

I sure missed all of you. I hope you are doing well and feeling strong. I have a lot of posts to get caught up on. Welcome to any newbies! Take care and thanks for listening!

Big Hugs,
Pat

Glad you are out of the hospital. I hope that you are starting to feel better and that the MG gives you a bit of time off (for good behaviour LOL)

Love
Rach

Thanks Rach and for the laugh too! I sure don't miss having the shots of blood thinners injected in my stomach and abdomen. I have 4 bruises the size of grapefruits. I hope you are feeling better. I still have so many posts to read yet, but I'm getting there. Take care.

Hugs,
Pat

Wow Pat, you sure have been through it. I am glad you are home and it wasn't a heart attack or colapsed lung. {thats what I was thinking as I started reading your post} Now that you are home I am sure your strength will start returning.

Big

Thanks Joanmarie, It sure feels good to be home. I have to admit I was scared when it happened. First time in my life I actually asked to be taken to the ER! With all the tests I had, you would think they would know for certain if I had a heart attack or 'threw a clot' as they call it. But, the cardiologist is just not convienced. Maybe after I have the nuclear stress test in a month, he'll be convienced. I'm glad he's covering all the bases. I'm 57 with a strong family history of heart disease. My Dad had heart surgery in his 40's and died at 59 and my Mom had TIA's in her early 50's and a heart attach & stroke at 59, but lived to be 77. Well, didn't mean to ramble. See what happens when I'm not on the forum for a while. lol Take care.

Hugs,
Pat

Hey Pat,

I'm so sorry for your ordeal- that must have been very scary! I know exactly what you mean about the blood thinners...I had to take those too and it took forever for the hideous bruises to go away!

I'm glad that you're feeling a bit better now that you're out of the hospital- the hospital sucks!

By the way, how long have you been taking lipitor? Statins can be bad for people with neuromuscular diseases...They deplete the body of co Q10...Co Q10 normalizes BP and promotes healthy heart function...Maybe you can ask your doc. if you can take this as a supplement...A supplement that's good for cholesterol is indole 3-carbinol...It's made from cruciferous veggies (brocolli, cabbage, etc.). It has anti-cancer properties (by ridding the body of excess 'bad' estrogen), is good for the immune system and it lowers cholesterol. They've done studies on it and it really works.

Anyway, sorry for all the info.. I just hope that you feel better very soon!

Nicky

Thanks Nicky! I've been taking 10mg of Lipitor for about 7 years now. I didn't know it depletes the body of co Q10. I'll have to talk with my Dr. about that. Thanks for all the good info. Weren't the bruises from those shots huge & ugly! lol Take care.

Hugs,
Pat

So glad that you are home Pat. Scary stuff!! Hope that you are getting stonger and no more overnight visits to the hospital. Nobody likes being in the hospital right? Take care ~ Melanie

Hey Pat,

7-years is a very long time! Oh boy!

Enough people have developed Lou Gehrig's disease, MG and Parkingson's disease after taking statins that those medications are contraindicated for people with these problems. I'm not sure if they cause these problems because they prevent the body from making coq10 (which is important for proper muscle function, so that would make sense) or if it's related to the rapid decrease in cholesterol (which is important for proper nerve function).

If a person is low on coq10, there is an increased risk of heart attack. So the very thing that the statins are supposed to prevent would end up increasing the risk for.

I'd definately ask the doc. if you can add coq10 as a supplement for now, then maybe see if you can stop taking the lipitor. Plant fats are very good for balancing out cholesterol. They also have plenty of other good side-effects like good immune function and a decreased risk of hormonal cancers.

Nicky

Hey Pat!

Sorry to hear about your troubles - but glad the ER took it so seriously! Must have been scary. Even tho it's another test, try not to put off the stress test longer than they want. Your cardio can get a lot of info from it.

Take care - - happy you are feeling better and your MG has calmed down a bit at home.
Sue