I am a 51 yo woman w/dxd periph vasc disease, a hx of strokes, difficult-to-control high isolated SBP, and a mitral valve prolapse with severe regurgitation. I had a complete hysterectomy 22 years ago and was on a mild estrogen supplement (premarin .3 mg) until a year ago. The hot flashes were horrendous and were increasingly accompanied by feelings of blackoutishness, headache, SOB, and chest pain that started including the arms. Plus, my BP went up (systolic habitually between 180 and 250, diastolic around 40)and the BP meds started giving me serious problems of other kinds. About 3 weeks ago, I went back on the premarin. SBP now back down to about 160, none of the other symptoms that came with the hot flashes-just milder hot flashes. Monday, I started having severe lower back pain that started at the hip and crept up toward the ribs making it hard to move. The pain seemed to pulse. The abdomen was tender too. Sleep and lying down relieved it. I thought I overdid the garden work. Tues. aft. it started up again but was gone by Wed. Wed. aft. it started in earnest when I drank some pop. Again, rest and lying flat was the only alleviating factor. Today, my "heart" hurts. Pulse is steady and hard. Questions: 1.Could the SOB/chest pain that came with the hot flashes be associated with heart damage? 2.Could resuming premarin be causing my current problems? 3.Should I be contacting my cardiologist? 4.Are back pain, pain on inspiration, or chest pain in the area of the heart assoc. with heart damage in a person with MVPR? 5.What should I be doing, if anything?
Thanks