Heart problems and TX------GI.PA.-----everyone

[sugie]

I know you can have heart problems on TX but wondering how do you tell the difference between heart stuff going on and the drug fatigue?????I have felt very weak but then it gets better. Also, have digestive stuff going on plus, plus,,But concerned about the heart stuff cuz of major heart disease in family. Anyone had problems, what were the symptoms? I can hear my heart especially when I lay down. And sometimes tightness, pain in chest??hard to say cuz I have neck problems too. What tests could tell anything? EKG? Don't want to do a stress test cuz of the nuclear dye. Any info appreciated.

[GI.PA]

The drop in hemoglobin that most experience on treatment can unmask heart disease.  If you were over the age of 50 to start, then a baseline EKG should have been preformed.  If you are less than 50, then EKG, and perhaps even a stress test, could be obtained if you or your doctor are concerned.

GI.PA

[Jim55]

I had the same kind of sides. Quite a few people have had the heartbeat in the neck and ears thing. I also had tightness in my chest. At times I thought that I was having a heart attack too. My doctor gave me an EKG on several occasions. He even had me go take a stress test. It turned out to be acid reflux and my GI put me on Nexxium. Since Tx ended I no longer need the gut meds.

I am NOT a doctor and I STRONGLY suggest that you get to one right away! Just to make SURE that all is well with you. Hopefully it will be just your stomach acid and you can take something to get to felling better.

Get Well

[tigerdream]

Had a stress test, instead of dye, after I got off the treadmill, they immediatly did an ultrasound of my heart (it was also being monitored with EKG the whole time). I think that would be better. I think EKG only detects things that are going on right at the moment I believe. If you have any symptoms that you think are heart related, go in right away, its not worth waiting to find out in a bad way or worse. I wish you the best. TIGERDREAM

[sugie]

What were your symptoms before the heart attack, or any warning signs?????What can I do to help my heart on TX??Are there things  to watch for? I have read the signs of heart attach can vary greatly,,so how do you know? Most Dr. don't seem to act on much till you fall over. My Mom just literally went "oooo, pain in chest" and then fell over. I am about an hour from any hospital, so I am concerned. But don't want to give up on TX either! Almost half way, shot 20 this week.

[oldhippiechick67]

usually signs of heart attack are nausea, sweating, pain &/or pressure in chest, pain in the neck, jaw, down an arm....feeling of impending doom.  Check out some of these sites about heart and like Jim and all say, get checked by a doc just to be sure, young women are more likely to be misdiagnosed when it comes to the heart as Drs have been programed to think it only happens to older women. (I read that somewhere)http://www.heartcenteronline.com/The_Heart_Attack_Center
http://www.americanheart.org

http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/atpiii/calculator.asp

Best to ya, hope these sites help you!   OHC

[Eyedeas]

Hey sugie, I had a heart attack 2 months after stopping tx.  Docs are undecided....  tx doc says no, cardioligist says maybe...  about whether or not the tx played a role.  They can do the stress - treadmill without the dye I think.  Even if the dye is needed it's the lesser of 2 evils.  Check it out and keep checking.  

Kim