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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Worried about wife
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Re: Worried about wife
by CCF Cardio MD - MTR, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on December 03, 1998 at 08:16:24:
In Reply to: Worried about wife posted by Rusty on December 01, 1998 at 01:21:12:
My wife had a test that showed she had blockage, she had a second test that showed she didn't. The DR is going with the second test. She is tired ALL the time, she has trouble breathing doing the slightest thing, she also has asthma. I've been in the DR office with her, she will tell them about her legs being swollen but they just glance and nod. She says because she is so heavy they just think its fat, but when you press on her leg it dents and stays a long time, is that water or fat? Her dad died young from a heart attack, I don't want to lose my wife. The moons of her nails turn a grey-blue sometimes, with all this she still smokes. The DR just doesn't seem to care about her at all, he said he thought she had sleep apnea but doesn't seem to want to test her for it. What could be wrong with her, could it be her heart even though the last test said it was ok, and do you have any suggestions on how to talk to a dr and make him realize SOMETHING IS WRONG. She's kind of quite and shy, he'll say how are you today and she says just fine thankyou.... go figure
Rusty
PS. SHES 41
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Dear Rusty, thank you for your question. I understand your frustration with your wife's situation. However, I think I need more information regarding the type of tests she has had done to look for coronary artery blockages. If you could write back with more specific information, then I might be able to give you a more complete answer. The swollen legs that you describe are probably caused by a process known as edema. With edema, fluid accumulates in the soft tissue spaces of the legs. There are many causes of edema: insufficient drainage of the leg veins, congestive heart failure, liver dysfunction, malnutrition, etc. The fatigue and shortness of breath could be caused by a cardiac condition or a primary lung disorder such as asthma or sleep apnea. However, it is imperative that your wife stop smoking because that is only making her problems worse. I think the best approach would be for your wife to get a second opinion from a good internist or a cardiologist. By doing this, you may be able to find a physician who can comprehensively evaluate all of her problems.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
In Reply to: Worried about wife posted by Rusty on December 01, 1998 at 01:21:12:
My wife had a test that showed she had blockage, she had a second test that showed she didn't. The DR is going with the second test. She is tired ALL the time, she has trouble breathing doing the slightest thing, she also has asthma. I've been in the DR office with her, she will tell them about her legs being swollen but they just glance and nod. She says because she is so heavy they just think its fat, but when you press on her leg it dents and stays a long time, is that water or fat? Her dad died young from a heart attack, I don't want to lose my wife. The moons of her nails turn a grey-blue sometimes, with all this she still smokes. The DR just doesn't seem to care about her at all, he said he thought she had sleep apnea but doesn't seem to want to test her for it. What could be wrong with her, could it be her heart even though the last test said it was ok, and do you have any suggestions on how to talk to a dr and make him realize SOMETHING IS WRONG. She's kind of quite and shy, he'll say how are you today and she says just fine thankyou.... go figure
Rusty
PS. SHES 41
_
Dear Rusty, thank you for your question. I understand your frustration with your wife's situation. However, I think I need more information regarding the type of tests she has had done to look for coronary artery blockages. If you could write back with more specific information, then I might be able to give you a more complete answer. The swollen legs that you describe are probably caused by a process known as edema. With edema, fluid accumulates in the soft tissue spaces of the legs. There are many causes of edema: insufficient drainage of the leg veins, congestive heart failure, liver dysfunction, malnutrition, etc. The fatigue and shortness of breath could be caused by a cardiac condition or a primary lung disorder such as asthma or sleep apnea. However, it is imperative that your wife stop smoking because that is only making her problems worse. I think the best approach would be for your wife to get a second opinion from a good internist or a cardiologist. By doing this, you may be able to find a physician who can comprehensively evaluate all of her problems.
I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
