Coronary Heart Disease and Me

[MomToTwoBoys]

I've experienced cold hands and feet for a good chunk of my life. It happens when I get into extreme cold, but I can get it even if it dips below 70F.

I have pain in my legs that happens even if I don't do anything.

I get some chest pains at times that feel pretty horrible.

I have some trouble breathing. It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest. It worsens when I lay down but can be bad regardless.

I'm exhausted all of the time. If I get less than 9 hours of sleep and a nap during the day, I'm unable to function.

So I decided to take some action. I googled 'poor circulation in hands and feet' and found a lot of causes. The top of the list stated 'due to coronary heart disease'. I remember my grandmother passed because of congestive heart failure, so I called my mother. I asked her and she told me my grandmother suffered from the same things I suffer from.

As a precautionary measure, I'm going to the doctor to have it checked out.

I'm 33 years old.

This scares me to death. It's not a good thing. I know I can't believe that this could be it, but the signs are there.

[Russ]

So I decided to take some action. I googled 'poor circulation in hands and feet' and found a lot of causes. The top of the list stated 'due to coronary heart disease'.

And this is what is wrong with the internet. Too much information CAN cause you too worry too much over something that MAY not be true. Go to your doctor, get your testing done and then take action.

And I'm not picking on you, I tell my wife the exact same thing when she "self diagnoses" herself.

And I'm just talking about medical diagnosis here. You can google all sorts of things that can/will get you worried. Hyper inflation, double dip recession, Depression terrorism..etc etc etc.

[Russ]

Note that I am not saying not to be proactive with your health and family history.

[Trishagirl]

Do you take vitamins & suppliments? If it was me I would take suppliments like a multivitamin & CoQ10 it help your heart work better. B-12 also for energy. The pain in your legs souds like PAD check it out on the internet. Try to walk your heart is a muscle and it needs exercise. I have cold hands & feet but don't have heart problems just cirulation problems.

[MomToTwoBoys]

Well I did just look up 'poor circulation in hands and feet' and since my grandmother died of congestive heart failure at 76, I put that at the top of my list. She had the same problems that I did. I get chest pains from time to time that makes me think I'm having a heart attack. I'm not under any sort of stress right now (I decided the house isn't selling, so there's nothing to stress about) and I'm baffled as to why I'm having trouble breathing (I quit smoking eight years ago this February).

What's PAD?

[Russ]

What is your BMI?
You're tall and skinny, so I bet it's low. No wonder you're cold!

Start eating more biscuits and gravy.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I'm already heavier than I want to be.

I'm 5'11.5" and 145lbs. I haven't had my BMI tested since I was in the Marine Corps. Unless I get my hands and feet to be fatter, I'm a lost cause.

[frugalwarrior2]

women 5'=100# and 5# for every inch. Adjusted up for med. frame and large frame. (155# plus)
Your BMI is 20. Normal is 19-25. And thats on 5'11. However,you should weigh 136#-172# according to the chart so you are good weight wise.

You should by all means get tested. And I hate to say it but it could be anxiety,heart trouble or nothing so just go in now,save panicking for later.

[craftypam]

And this is what is wrong with the internet. Too much information CAN cause you too worry too much over something that MAY not be true. Go to your doctor, get your testing done and then take action.

And I'm not picking on you, I tell my wife the exact same thing when she "self diagnoses" herself.

And I'm just talking about medical diagnosis here. You can google all sorts of things that can/will get you worried. Hyper inflation, double dip recession, Depression terrorism..etc etc etc.

Totally agree with you!!!

[Darlene]

women 5'=100# and 5# for every inch. Adjusted up for med. frame and large frame.

I'm in big trouble.
~~
Glad you are finally going to the doctor. You worrying & wondering so much is added stress and that can be a major contributer to some of your problems too. Heart disease claimed my dad at 42 so I go to the docs yearly and if I have any problems I'll call too. He didn't go.
Half the battle is realizing you don't feel "right" and making that call to go to someone who can help you feel your best. Everyone puts things off and then kicks themselves afterwards, myself included. Can't go back so just carry on with making you the best you can be. I wish you well.
You are on your way. WTG!

[Momto5RN]

family history can play a big part in ones history and is often ignored
- better safe then sorry
many woman have heart issues they dont take care of until too late .

as much as i hate when people read the net and self dx i dont see that as what you are doing -
you are being pro- active about your health and want to make sure there is nothing you need to do -
even if its preventative medicine at this point it cant hurt at all.

you may well just be anemic ( which will also have all the same symptoms )
get your check up and let us know how it goes !!

[druthb00]

Oh I am SO guilty of letting things I find on the internet scare me. BF had a lot of the symptoms you are describing, along with a family history of congestive heart failure....we had him in the ER twice because his hands would go numb and he couldn't breathe. Panic attacks and anxiety is what he was diagnosed with after two ER visits, one colonoscopy/edoscopy (he had stomach problems, too) and finally a GP visit.

Me? I had high BP recently and my left arm and right leg would go "numb" like it had just woken up from being "asleep," I had severe pain in my upper back and stabbing pain in my chest. My BP was 155/98 and the clinic I went in to told me I should just go to the ER (this was 7PM on a Friday) because all they would do is an EKG and regardless of what it came back as, that's all they would be able to do. So, into the ER I went. EKG, CT Head, CT Chest, XRay Chest, bloodwork and urinalisis later (not to mention $3,700...and only because I paid in full and negotiated each bill)....they couldn't find a thing wrong with me. I stopped taking my birth control pills and over the last 4 weeks, the symptoms have pretty much gone away. OR, it could all be in my head, between the stress from 3 moves in the last 9 months and thousands of dollars worth of car repairs....I wouldn't be surprised. Just don't let WebMD or the like get you worked up for no reason, no use stressing over it. I hope you feel better and your doctor finds or can tell you something

[MomToTwoBoys]

I went after DS7 left for lunch and saw the doctor. He asked me if I'm getting any exercise and a bunch of other questions. It's been asked if there's any diabetes in the family and any history of heart problems. I gave him my information and he checked me out. He wrote up a requisition form for some blood work, which I'll take over in the next day or two and have done. There's a really great lab at the mall in which I can have my blood work done, so I can take the train and do that or have DH take me over if necessary.

Once that's done, it'll be a few days afterwards and he'll get the results.

We can go from there.

[Libby]

I'd opt to go get that blood work done ASAP so you can put your mind at ease sooner rather then later.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I wish he'd have taken the blood while I was there, but meh. I'll go tomorrow morning after Dakota goes to school.