Finally...

Iris L.

I finally got an answer for what I've been dealing with for the past few months. Actually, it's been longer than that, much longer. I had been complaining of shortness of breath on exertion and extreme fatigue and tired muscles. I've seen two sleep doctors for a diagnosis of sleep apnea as a cause of the extreme fatigue. CPAP has not helped. I cannot do anything in the house, I get exhausted. I've been seeing a pulmonolgist who diagnosed me as having exertional asthma and prescribed two inhalers for the shortness of breath. I saw a rheumatologist who diagnosed me as having fibromyalgia for my extreme fatigue and muscle fatigue. He prescribed physical therapy but I haven't had the energy to go out to PT. Just today I saw my cardiologist, who I have been seeing for over twenty years for treatment of hypertension. He just told me he was changing my medication and walked out the room. I waited and told the nurse I had questions. He returned after a long time and finally stated that I had "diastolic dysfunction ". Basically this is heart failure, although he never said the words "heart failure". I suspected this was the case, but I wanted to hear it from him, because he is the expert. So now I have a new diagnosis. I finally have a diagnosis for why I get short of breath just walking about my home or getting dressed and why I can no longer do anything or take care of myself and my fur-family. Whoop-de-do!

Iris

Jgirl57

Iris , I guess this is good news/bad news. Hopefully the medication change helps . FWIW, I think you are amazing

BassetHoundAnn

I'm so sorry, Iris. I think you are amazing too.

harshedbuzz

@Iris L.

I am sorry for the new diagnoses. I hope the new medication improves your symptoms and quality of life.

HB who concurs with the others on your amazingness.

JeriLynn66

Hoping your new medication helps quickly! I'm also on the Iris is amazing train! Big hugs💓

SusanB-dil

Hi Iris -

It is good to finally have answers. Sorry for the bad part, though.

Agree - amazing - and I know we are so blessed to have you 'here'…

Phoenix1966

Glad you never gave up on advocating for yourself.

Iris L.

I appreciate the kind words. I posted to show how easy it is to fall down medical rabbit-holes in seeking answers to what ails one. And to show that we have to push some doctors to get answers. For some reason, some are resistant to being straight-forward with patients. It wasn't always this way.

Iris

M1

no, it wasn’t always this way. Hope the inhalers help. And diastolic dysfunction may respond to the med changes-here’s hoping!!!

Iris L.

M1, I took my first dose of the new med this morning. So far, so good. After investigation, I have learned that diastolic dysfunction is not the same as congestive heart failure! I also learned that is quite common in my age group, over seventy. This doesn't mean that it is benign, because it can progress to congestive heart failure. Diastolic dysfunction is analogous to MCI, but for the heart. I feel much better about this. I have work to do, I can't rely only on the medication to delay progression.

Iris

michiganpat

Iris, Good to hear you finally got a diagnosis and getting treatment. I'm sorry it was such a long road but it really shows how persistent we have to be.