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[Zwheels]

Well i have been geting worse the past month fast WT gain ie fluid and geting short of breath. 32 pounds added just by fluid ,my right leg is so large it's geting hard to walk very far. So friday i went to Care Now they sent me to the Emergency room. They found out i had a Heart attack at some point..Well thats news to me i didn't know i had one. And the kicker..i got Pneumonia in my lower lungs....so i'm taking some paid time off from work and i got to say the management is great there. So i'm on lasix and peeing a river and i was going to be on another for my Pneumonia but it cost $200.00. As this already cost me out of pocket over $300.00 with insurance i got them to call the Doc and i got put on a zpack $30.00..I feel better today and i can breath easier. Now i have to do a follow up with a stress test. 

[Ademan]

Wow, you didn't even know about the heart attack? That's scary stuff. I'm wishing you a quick and healthy recovery man.

[LucieLou]

Zwheels, This is Lucie, Im so sorry to hear that you have been sick. When something goes wrong and you dont know whats happening, it can be a scary thing! Im so glad you went for some medical care, although costly, you really needed to get that fluid off of you, and something for the Pneumonia. Had you not, you might of ended up in ICU, or worse! Hope you continue to improve, and you feel like yourself again very soon! Take CARE! LL

[SkedAddled]

Hang in there, Z. We're pulling for you. 

Be glad your out-of-pocket expenses are only in the hundreds,
instead of into the thousands.

You're in my prayers.

[Zwheels]

Thanks folks i'm trying my best to get better. I had no idea that at sometime i had a Heart attack.That Lasix really helps 

[sugar_magnolia]

Hey Z!
 Had been wondering where you were.  I'm glad you sought help and now know what is going on.
 Take care of yourself and know that we're thinking of you.
 Sending you best wishes and hopes for a quick recovery.

[bill door]

Only thinking the other day that we hadn't heard from you lately.

These silent heart attacks can be more serious than the conventional type. Because they are fairly symptomless, treatment is delayed and permanent damage to the heart muscle can take place. The stress test will give an indication of how healthy your heart is. You may also have an echo-cardiogram, which can look for signs of damage.

Here, the follow up medication includes low-dose aspirin (an anti clotting drug), beta-blockers to reduce the work of the heart, blood pressure medication and diuretics.
A statin is also included to reduce cholesterol levels and intervention over triglycerides (another type of blood carried fat) may also be indicated.

Surgical options are angioplasty and a by-pass.

Here's some follow up reading-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_blocker
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Medication-for-High-Blood-Pressure.htm
Note that the above link uses some UK drug names. Here, Ramipril (Tritace/Altace in the US) is prescribed as a first option blood pressure control med, mainly because it's very cheap. I know from personal experience that the side-effects are very common, if you take it, be aware of those.

I was also told to avoid further does of aspirin as it negates the effect of the low dose. I should also avoid Ibrprofen and any other NSAIDs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-steroidal_anti-inflammatory_drugs

And, curiously, grapefruit. It interferes with the statin. I never liked the fruit anyway.

It's almost 5 years since my (non-silent) heart attack and I've made a good recovery. Hope it all goes well for you too, Z.

[Jude]

Best of luck to you Z,   taking good care of yourself now is all important.   Keep us posted will you please?   (((hugs)))

Col,   I take Lipitor and have had to take Advil (ibuprofen) for arthritis pain.  My doc knows about it so I hope it's all right in the end.     As for grapefruit you're right I can't have it with Lipitor either,  but that's okay because I hate it too. 

[bill door]

Ma, NSAIDs (Ibruprofen etc) reacts badly with beta blockers. Not aware of a contradiction with statins / NSAIDs.

[Cyber]

I'll try and remember to look that up at work...it's a Monday so we may be swamped/busy.  I'll do my best for you!

[Cyber]

Colin - Ramipril is the US name also...Altace went generic a year or so ago.

And I LOVE grapefruit...more for me!  LOL! 

[~Me]

Huggs

[Zwheels]

Thank you all for your support..All i can do is just sit here in my room and watch tv or surf the web. As I'm on lasix i spend alot of time in the bath room. I still have alot of fluid to remove off my body, but i noticed my leg is no longer weaping (thats a good thing). Another thing i have noticed is I'm hungry gimmy food!!! lol. Bill I'm going to read all that as i do like to know whats going on.

[bill door]

Good luck man. Anything I can help you with, just ask.

[Zwheels]

Thank you.