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Natural progression but slow process?
Hi, I have been reading this forum nightly aand I am so grateful to find input from all of you. I called to get an appointment with a pulmonary htn Dr in Denver and was told that i need to first see a Cardiologist. There was no appt until 19 Sep, so I am hanging in there. I asked if I could get an echo prior and they said no. In the meantime i had a hypoxic episode at work. So, I am taking leave without pay until I can figure out what is happening. Is there anything I can do to move this process along? Is this the progression, cardiology to pulmonology? Thanks, Joni
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6 Replies
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my journey started with my pulmonary doctor – he sent me for tests – showed on echo – i went to a cardiologist who sent me to a specialists who deals with PH.
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Hi Joni,
Because everyone is different in their PH and their underlying cause (or lack of) it is probably different for everyone. I was diagnosed after realizing how low my oxygen dropped with exertion in an emergency room. I was admitted, put on oxygen right from the hospital, was already seeing a cardiologist, got testing. Then set up with PH doctor and still continue to see the other doctors. I guess it depends on what is noticed first. Are you on oxygen? Do you have a pulse ox? Is that how you know you are having hypoxic episodes? If your oxygen is too low and that’s unusual for you, I would call your primary doctor or be seen at an ER if you’re not getting proper oxygen to your body and maybe they can at least get you oxygen in the meantime until they figure out what’s going on for you! I’d hate to have you suffer with low o2. It seems like you are making the right call by taking a leave from work right now while this gets figured out. Hang in there best you can! Keep us updated. -
Thanks, Brittany! I wear oxygen at night after a sleep study showed me in the 80’s during the test. I bought a pulse ox, but i was lucky to be working at the hospital when this happened. Our vital signs machine has a pulse ox and I was 88 percent. The prior day time hypoxic episode was in the ER on Thursday. When i am walking too long I feel that vagal response like I need to sit quickly. I just called a cardiologist in my city that is well known and they will see me next week. My 2700 ddimer result with no visible clot was concerning, too. After I am through with the cardiologist testing, i guess I will see the PH doctor. I need to utilize my primary care doctor, I agree. I guess every case is different :).
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Thanks, Rosemary! I think being diagnosed in the ER was probably the hiccup in my case.
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Good luck at the appointment Joni! It seems like you are going into the appointment with some information about how your body is feeling and you are well aware of your symptoms! Definitely write down everything so you don’t forget to address something with the doctors. Keep us updated on how everything goes!
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I think I had 6 stress tests and an angiogram before they ruled out my heart. I understand the frustration and wanting to get answers but the 19th isn’t that far away so hang in there.
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