Member Profiles
Nora Forsell
First off, Yes, I am a nurse and not only a nurse but a nurse on a cardiac
telemetry unit. There are still days I say to myself, I can't believe this
happened to me. After all people in the medical profession take care of sick
people, we don't get sick. Right? WRONG! So here's my story.
It started back in Sept. of 2001, I started seeing my doctor monthly and
sometimes bi-monthly for a range of different symptoms. Dizziness, heart
palpatations, racing heartbeat,fatigue, sweating, and general feelings of
yuckiness. He told me I had an anxiety disorder and likely a panic disorder and
yes, I am menapausal too. (You should know I am 40 and female) He had me on
Premarin, as well as Paxil. He did do one intelligent thing though, he put me on
ToprolXL for a blood pressure of 210/118. As you probably guessed none of this
treatment worked. I had an appointment to see my doctor at the end of January
2002. I never made that appointment. On January 24 I began to have a strange
pain in the base of my throat, at times it was so intense it was even hurting in
my teeth. At that time I was consumed in taking care of my father in law who had
just been diagnosed with colon cancer and was under going treatment. So I did
like most intelligent people do and yes, ignored it! This pain went on for 2
days. Then came the big day, Saturday, January 26. A day like all people who
have had a heart attack, a day I will never forget. I was sitting on the couch
messing around with my daughters new playstation 2 machine, (Yes I was playing a
video game) I began to feel nauseated, sweaty, and this feeling of incredible
doom. I now know what patients mean when they describe this feeling. My throat
ached as well as my sternum and I had difficulty breathing. My husband was home
with me and once again instead of calling 911 (which I would suggest for anyone)
I told my husband to take me to the hospital I must have been crazy, but in my
defense I was still in denial and thinking they would give me a Valium for
anxiety and send me home. Wrong Again! By the grace of a God I made it to the
hospital and within minutes I was diagnosed with an acute right inferior wall
MI. The cath lab staff had me in the cath lab putting a stent in with in 30
minutes. I was later told my heart stopped on the table while they were putting
my stent in. Wow this stuff does happen to nurses. Being on the other side of
things has been a eye opener for me. It has helped me gain an insight into my
patients and myself, personally and professionally. I am now on better diet, my
cholesterol has gone from 454 to 212 and we're still working on it. I exercise
regularly, and after 25 years I have quit smoking. I have to say that I feel
better after my heart attack. The one major point I wanted to make by this story
is educating women about heart disease and even young ones. Are symptoms are not
typical i.e. the crushing chest pain and left arm pain. They can be very vague i.e.
even just an ache in the shoulder or back. Things women tend to ignore. Talk to
you! r doctor about lowering your risk factors, be aware of your symptoms.
Anytime you have pain from your waste up see your doctor. It can't hurt and if
you don't get the answers you need, and you believe your having a medical
problem open the yellow pages, there are lots of doctors out there. I wish I
would have done that. I have since fired my doctor and have one that is more
willing to listen to me. I hope this has been helpful to someone I know it has
been helpful for me to write it.
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