Cocktails... a fun drink to now a life saving medicine

Cocktails, they were fun drinks now they are a delicate balance of medications to treat my pain while keeping me healthy. Last year at this time, I would have enjoyed a glass of wine on date night.. now  the thought doesn't even enter my mind.  They say a glass of red wine is good for the heart but to me all I can think about is the effects it can have on my blood thinners. Will the alcohol cause my blood to get too thin or too thick? It's truly amazing how those tiny little pills can have such a life saving effect on keeping my two stents open.

 Its hard to believe its been almost 8 months since my heart attack. I have struggled with chest pain off and on since that crazy night. As many of  you know, those painful events have caused 4 additional nights in two different hospitals. And the crazy, frustrating thing is when we get discharged we have  more questions than answers.

Today as I write my blog I look at my pill box that has now been turned upside down and inside out. What you ask is she talking about? My doctors have decided to go back to the night I had my heart attack and start from the beginning. It began with a call to my doctor 2 weeks ago saying I needed to be seen for chest pain. They were able to get me in right away and as I sat in the office waiting for the doctor I could see the nurses had a funny look on their faces. Hmmmm. I wondered what do they know?  They began to ask me questions about why brought me in. I stated I was having chest pressure and pain. Right away they did an EKG which was normal.. Of course it is silly.. this is just me! Chest pain, pressure and no EKG changes Thank God!!

The doctor came in put her papers on the desk and said Melissa, Melissa, Melissa what are we going to do with you? I said I know right? I was a normal, healthy lady until I went and had a heart attack and now I can't stop getting chest pain. She said that they went back to the cath lab that morning before I came in and reviewed my films of the actual heart attack on 2-11-16 and the films from my cath procedure in Iowa City in July.. and all LOOKED GOOD!! She said we are starting from the beginning with you. We think you are having continued vasospasms in your artery from where the stents are. She stated there can be many reasons, first I'm young and my arteries aren't rigid which normally is the case in older people. Also, some of the medicine can be causing this. So... leading to the pill box discussion, throw this away, start taking this and you no longer need this.

 After two weeks of medicine changes I am feeling great! The chest pain is minimal and I feel like a whole new women.. I know the song " I feel like a women" just popped up in my head too. Hind sight is 20/20 and I wish we would have figured this out say.. 7 months ago but at least we have it figured out now. One of the side effects of my new meds is a slow heart rate and low blood pressure.. But as I tell Brenna as long as I'm talking I'm okay.

I am going to post a link to the American Heart Associations support network for you out there that might need a little support along this crazy journey we call recovery supportnetwork.heart.org
I find it an amazing resource to reach out to people who have either been in my shoes or are trying to prevent a heart attack or stroke.

 In the end:

FRUSTRATION.. what came first the chicken or the egg?

Frustration has become an all too normal part of dealing with the medical specialties for me lately. Ever since my heart attack was linked to a dissection of my right coronary artery due to the use of birth control I have been battling between Cardiology and Gynecology. Never did I think,  2016 would be the year of my heart and uterus..(say that five times fast)  two organs that I've never given a good deal of thought to until now.

 Many women these days take birth control to not just prevent babies but to help with cramps, bleeding and for many other reasons.  I myself had to be on birth control due to bleeding issues. Was it my first choice... no! But what else do you do when you're using feminine pads as big as the Titanic, and it's still not enough?? (Too much information I know.. but we've all been there)

In nursing school, I was taught about the effects and adverse events of birth control and personally made the decision to become a long time birth control user. Looking back would I have done things differently?  I'm not sure. Hindsight is 20/20 and at the time that's what worked for me. Remember, what is right for one person may not be right for others. Thank God we live in a country where you have personal freedom over your health care decisions. This blog is my personal view and may not be right for everyone.. Have this discussion with your doctor and decide what's right for you.

That brings me to today and the reason I'm writing my blog.
On 2-11-16 the day of my heart attack my Cardiologist told me in a very stern voice to never take any hormones again. I listened and then again had to deal with the bleeding issues. Leading now to a heated debate between me, and my gynecologist. Gynecologists don't want to believe that birth control caused my dissection. They chalk it up to something else. Although I have told them time and again that I have NO CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS. Here is where the FRUSTRATION comes in. Yesterday, I had to have an outpatient surgery and as I'm telling the Anesthesiologist my history my Gynecologist is looking at me like I have three eyeballs. Ugh!! I again tell my gynecologist after the procedure I don't want to use any hormones to control the bleeding even if it's just progesterone or an IUD. I can see by the look on his face he is like " would this chick stop already."  Nope!! Buddy, I am a nurse, women and I've done my research, and I won't take any more chances with my life. I only get one, and I will be the strongest patient advocate... so watch out!

In the end, there will always be two sides to every issue... What came first the chicken or the egg? What caused my heart attack? It depends on who you ask. For me, my faith lies in the hands of my
Cardiologist. He was able to see my heart in the Cath lab while doing my angiogram and placing my two stents. At this point, it doesn't matter.. I just want to make sure that it NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

If you take one thing away from my blog today, is to be an ADVOCATE! Don't let frustration make you silent. Ask questions, do your research and if you feel uncomfortable with what you hear .. Don't give up. Stand up!
Get a second opinion if necessary. You are in charge! Just like people, doctors can also have high variability in how they treat you not just medically but also compassionately.. Although I've only mentioned Cardiology and Gynecology today remember this can happen in any medical area. I continue to ask you to be an advocate no matter what type of doctor or health concern you are dealing with.