Guest guest Posted March 15, 2006 Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Miriam writes: The horror story part of all of this is that I spent years and years with AF without ever being diagnosed with it.........I was told it was a " panic attack, " it was related to " stress, " , you're a " hypochondriac, " " go see a shrink, " etc. The Holter monitor did not show any abnormality. Finally, one day in April of 2005, I was in the parking lot of the HMO I am associated with when I started to feel sick..........by the time I got to the pharmacy I could do nothing but call for help. Long story short - I was rushed to ER and diagnosed with AF. I guess it could be worse...........I just hope I don't lose my sight - I'm a photographer >> Hi Miriam, Your post really rang a bell with me. I too have noticed a worsening of vision but wrote it off to just getting older. I worry about this because of my mom's history of macular degeneration, detached retina, cataracts. Her eye problems began in her 60s. She was not on blood thinners then, but I am now. I am sure blood thinners have to make macular degeneration more likely. It only makes sense and it is *very* worrisome as I have seen first-hand how devastating m.degeneration is. As for your panic...WOW. Could we ever have a discussion here about women, particularly, being ignored or worse yet *insulted* by their doctors for their anxiety, called neurotic, nervous, take a valium, get over it, you're just stressed. For years in my thirties my male doctor(s) - 3 partners - told me I was a nervous Nellie type (meanwhile I had MVP, tons of adrenaline, PVCs, and probably runs of afib for all I know) and pretty much ignored me. People do not CHOOSE to be anxious. They can certainly learn to cope with it but it does not make the anxiety go away; physiological anxiety is a curse and has ruined many lives. Lil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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