Libby

Oh Colleen! I love you for posting this. I am experiencing this right now. Migrains, light headedness and low oxygen have been my recent companion so my cardiologist did an echo to see how things looked. My echo was normal which I suspected, because I think the issue is more in my lungs which an echo can’t really give great info on. Plus I was…[Read more]

Wow, thank you for all the responses. Joyce, I most definitely have PH, I just don’t know if the low oxygen is PH related or heart related as I have bad CHD or if its both! I have not had the 6 minute walk, but have had stress test done. I wi ask about it during my visit. I guess I just feel crazy because often even when my oxygen drops I feel…[Read more]

Thanks for the info ladies! I am glad I am not nuts. My ox reader was voted one of the most accurate so I’d like to think it is. Just recently I went to the doctors and just from standing up in the waiting room and walking into the actual office, my levels dropped to 88 but then I sat back down and it was at 93. Just as you described, the doctor…[Read more]

I think because my spouse has known about my health issues from the beginning, it hasn’t caused me to put walls up. He knew, full disclosure from the start and that was helpful. I had some insecurities the first few years about my body because I have a giant open heart surgery scar, gallbladder surgery scars, and so many others. But he says he…[Read more]

I, too, experience the right sides sharp pain, especially after sex! It’s so strange. It goes into my upper arm. Mentioned it to my doctor few years back and he thought it sounded more like back pain? I don’t buy it. Horseback riding us my source of exercise, which i do many times per week. I like the idea of yoga but never stuck with it.

Hi Kathleen, I honestly don’t know what drew me to substance abuse counseling other than my love for psychology. However I got my degree very young and began counseling at 19. Truth be told, i was too immature and made many mistakes. My age amogst street savvy drug addicta made me a little fish in a tank of sharks and after three years of…[Read more]

Oh I am most definitely completely put under! Yes, they go through my femoral artery.

Well, I’ve always had heart and lung problems and even keenly aware of how short life is. To me “life is short” isn’t just a cliche, its my life. I have always been motivated to help people and at 25 years old I’ve done 3 years of counseling drug addicts and now 1.5 years parenting foster kids. I honestly do not think I would be motivated to do…[Read more]

They balloon all the narrow arteries in my lungs. My PH is weird because it is popcorned narrowing throughout, versus narrowing everywhere. My doc is very conservative, hence the long wait. He says as long as I am able to do my day to day stuff, he doesn’t want to rush. As I’ve said before, this is number 5 for me and I have a history of being…[Read more]

I have always had issues with bloating, often been asked if I am pregnant despite being a very petite, slim person. Just in the last year, being constipated. I don’t know if it’s related or not, but I take stool softener. I eat quite healthy and drink tons of coffee (which used to work as a laxative for me, but not anymore!) So noT sure what the deal is.

I had to wait 3 to 6 months after the valve replacement to get my teeth cleaned!

Both. As if right now, I have yearly echos, stress tests, pulmonary lung function test and MRI. I don’t think the echo and stress test are really used to measure the pressure per se, more like the amount of oxygen? Does that make sense? I am scheduled to have a cath though in about nine months anyways to do some ballooning so then they can get an…[Read more]

Brittany, yes when I say advance I do mean higher pressure or even narrower arteries. It makes sense that you could adjust to a point with lower oxygen levels.

I haven’t noticed any changes in my dental health, however I too have ALWAYS taken antiobiotics before any dental stuff is done. Also, now that I have a Melody valve in, my surgeon told me it is absolutely crucial that I get my teeth cleaned regularly as my new valve is a magnet for bacteria where there is scar tissue. I have to say I am terrible…[Read more]