Re: health issues

September 1, 2006

You are welcome Elaine.

I know there is a lot of difficulty for low income people to find decent

health care. I have found a few good Dr's that do low income but they are few

and far between. My aunt in WA had some of the same problem as you...she also

ended up with a stint after nearly 1 year and a half of fighting with them. Her

stress tests were all fine but she knew something was wrong. It is

ridiculous that good health care is so hard to get. It is one thing that has

always

and continues to make me angry.

At the moment I have no health care so I hope I do not have any serious

health issues. I am able to pay for my yearly stuff, and the Dr here has a

sliding scale program so that helps. My business has reached the point in the

last

couple years I am not covered. And yet I cannot afford to buy it. Dead end

any way I go! lol!

Hope your finger gets well!

Jane

September 1, 2006

Oh Elaine, I feel so frustrated for you. You deserve to be well and cared for.

Having lost 100 pounds in the last year, you have certainly been doing your

part. Having been a part of the healthcare system for many years, I can say

that women are not, for the most part, listened to when they describe problems.

As an intensive care nurse I participated in many administrations of cardiac

declotting medications for men with fresh heart attacks and only one time did I

see the medicine given to a woman. Were the women not having heart attacks? Of

course they were. Same with cardiac catheterizations. Men get them

overwhelmingly more often than women. Men get cardiac workups, women get valium

or xanax and their chest pain is called anxiety.

Off my soapbox, and I wont even get into care for the financially disadvantaged,

since you have expressed it so well. You are so literate and express yourself

so well, you could only be an advantage to an employer who needs those skills

plus your innate kindness and tact. All I can think of is to persist and

continue to bug them until they get it right and find out what is wrong. I feel

that it is real and also, that it is fixable. I will be thinking good thoughts

and praying for you.

health issues

& Jane, thanks for your messages. I've been unable to get a

job so I have to rely on the county health system. It's been very

hard to deal with them and to get decent service from them. All

spring I worked on convincing my doctor that something was wrong with

my heart but he didn't believe me. I was persistent and it was found

that I had a 99% blockage. I was given two stents.

Afterwards the same symptoms persisted. They did another stress test

that showed a problem. However when they looked at my veins, they

said nothing was wrong. That may be true but something is wrong and

they won't look further into it.

I have received a thyroid test that was negative. I worry that I may

have a tumor or something enlarged that is pressing against my heart

and maybe other organs. Something is wrong and I know of so many

cases of people who have medical problems that are missed.

I can't move much better than I could 1 1/2 yrs ago when I was almost

100 pounds more than I am now. I get tired and out of breath. I have

chest pains. No strength in my legs. So my weight loss doesn't seem

real and I can't be as active as I would like to be. When I can no

longer walk in the pool due to cold wx, I won't be able to exercise

and I find that so important.

It's been terrible and I've suffered a great deal; I feel needlessly

because they aren't even looking for what is wrong. I'm at their

mercy. I've explored other avenues at the medical center and spoke to

people trying to get help but to no avail. It's like they only hire

the worst of the worst. I pray I can find a decent job that has good

health insurance soon, very soon.

Right now I have a fractured finger (tripped and fell) so typing is hard.

Thanks for caring.

Elaine

> Elaine I am sorry you do not feel well. You know they say depression is a

> physical issue. Have you talked to a Dr about it? Also thyroid problems can

> result in those type of symptoms. I would have the Dr. check that as well.

> Jane

>

September 1, 2006

Oh Elaine! I am so sorry this is all happening to you. I want to say that i

really admire you for sticking to your guns and that your attitude is

amazing. You are so filled with warmth, love and acceptance and I really

appreciate that you are here. You are such a trooper, keeping going when

others would have just given up. I am so glad you have kept moving forward

despite all the hard thigns you deal with because I feel blessed to have you

in my life and if you were not in it I would feel the loss!!!!

hugs

Lindy

--

" Adventures free your spirit, let off steam and break up the monotony that

is the trap of life. May they be simple and ordinary or extraordinary and

grand, one should have adventures and have them often. " ~Lindy

September 1, 2006

Hi Elaine, as I read your message I was thinking about my own

experience when you described the things, low energy, weak legs, out

of breath, chest pain.

Best thing is don't over do any exercise untill the problem is

solved. Could be your food intake.

If it is nutritional deficiency, due to forgetting to eat the

correct foods, then try this.

I found myself searching for answers more than once in my time

(now55), and I resort to high mineral foods when I get that way.

I start eating a significant surplus tomatoes, romaine lettuce,

broccoli, cucumbers and mixed vegetables. I usually purchase the

frozen bag of mixed vegetables since I am a single and I get the

variety without buying too much or ending up having it go rotten.

You could start eating fresh limes and lemons as you would eat an

orange. Peel and separate into segments, if it is too sour try

adding something sweet to it for taste only. The minerals and

vitamins in the limes and lemons are more important than worrying

about sweet to taste.

And eat a balanced protien like beans(kidney beans are best) and

rice or beans and pasta. The Italians call it Primavera. It is very

tastey.

The highest protien beans are soya beans, but the next best beans

are red kidney beans. Personally I can't stand the tase of plain

soya beans.

Basically you have to feed the muscles, and muscles run best on

vegetables and good protien.

I can give this advice since without being an expert since I doubt

the medical profession will say no to more vegetables and beans and

grain(rice or pasta).

Last but not least don't eat before you exercise, only water.

Eat after you exercise, no matter how hard the urge is.

hope you are feeling better from Bill

September 3, 2006

Thanks so much to all of you who have responded. You are balm for my

soul and have made me feel so much better.

I appreciate your suggestions and will try them out.

I will write more later.

Elaine

September 3, 2006

Big Hug Elaine!

keep up the good work. You are a blessing

Lindy

September 4, 2006

>

> & Jane, thanks for your messages. I've been unable to get a

> job so I have to rely on the county health system. It's been very

> hard to deal with them and to get decent service from them. All

> spring I worked on convincing my doctor that something was wrong with

> my heart but he didn't believe me.

Elaine...be persistent. My Mom went through the same thing last Dec.

My dad passed away in June of 2005. She thought her shortness of

breath was related to the stress of dealing with my Dad's illness. He

had Parkinson's Disease. The last month was very difficult on all of

us. Then after Dad died it was the stress of dealing with everything

after he died. Plus she had eye surgery the day before and 2 weeks

after. Her dr was the one who had to press the insurance company. Her

dr had wanted her to have a stress test because she was having

shortness of breath when she exercised. The test came back fine.

Matter of fact the nurse said she would probably be going home as soon

as the dr looked at it. When he came in to talk with Mom I just so

happend to be there. I told him that this had been going on since

August. He wanted to do a heart cath. The insurance company balked and

said because whatever test didn't show anything they saw no need. He

told them that this woman isn't complaining but something is not

right. They did the heart cath and came out and said she needed a

quadruple bypass. Her heart is good. It's the veins leading to the

heart that aren't. The are thin and small. She still has a small

blockage at the back of the heart. In March she had two of the

original grafts collapsed and again the test didn't show that. Only

the heart cath did. Don't give up. See if you can find a woman dr who

will listen to you. I'll be praying that God opens the doors necessary

for you. I do believe in the power of prayer.

I admire all of you on this group. You have made great strides in

becoming healthier. Take control of the things you can and let go of

the things you can't.

I use to be one of those who thought that " fat people " were just lazy.

Folks...I'm so sorry I ever thought that about anyone. Be careful what

you think or make fun of. It will happen to you. I now know what it's

like to be overweight. I can say that because that is what I am. I'm

5'2 " and weigh 212lbs. Don't go wiggin out. Some people seem to get

bent out of shape and defensive. I'm speaking about me. I can't change

anyone else. I can only encourge you and give you hope and that is all

you can do for me. I ultimately have to put into practice the steps

necessary to get my weight under control and live a healthier life.

Dawn

Southern Indiana

September 5, 2006

Hey Dawn :)It is good to hear from you. Yes, you are right it is all up to the individual to make the steps forward. I'm glad to have you here and if you need support we are here for you too.take careLindy