HEALTH I may be getting close to “semi-invalid” status

Thunderbird

Thunderbird

Veteran Member
"I’m also weak and shaky, almost jittery feeling. And yes, all this predated my taking the vax."

This perfectly describes my symptoms if I take too much Insulin and my blood sugar goes down to the 50 to 60 range.
As this is happening after stressful activity this tends to reinforce the possibility. Prednisone completely screws my blood sugar in unpredictable ways. I could go from blood sugars in the 400 range to the "normal" range with application of my normal dosage of insulin. In the same situation I have seen the normal dosage of insulin take blood sugars from the 400 area to 200s.
The point of this is even if you are not on insulin your body may not be able to control the naturally supplied insulin due to the effects of prednisone.
Eat some candy or sugared drink see if that helps.
A doctor visit needs to be in your future.
 
T

Thinwater

Firearms Manufacturer
It sounds like you may need a stent in a narrowed blood vessel in your heart. I have three friends who had this done after the same symptoms.

Prayers for you.
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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I don’t think it’s a narrowed cardiac artery. Over the past 30+ years, my cholesterol level has been about 160. There are essentially no plaque deposits in my arteries. It’s the only thing that works right for me (sigh)
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Dennis, you need to go see a doctor and probably a cardiac specialist sooner rather than later. Talk to the clinic about options for paying for it. Your body is giving you some clear signs: take care of this!

If you still had a wife, she would bully you into doing it.
 
anney

anney

Veteran Member
Dennis please go to your DR as soon as possible. AFib is hard to find sometimes, it will take more indepth testing, longer periods of wearing heart monitor, etc.... I had to wear one for a month to finally figure out mine.

AFib can make you out of breath, extremely tired even tho your oxygen levels can be good.

As far as VA, yes they will treat you....AND remember that the VA will pay for Drs of your choice outside of the VA facilities.

Please don't put this off!
 
Tweakette

Tweakette

Irrelevant
You def need bloodwork and a full workup. I felt very much like you when I was badly anemic from a bleeding problem in my stomach. It had been a long slow bleed so my body mostly adapted to it, until it couldn't . When I got tested after having to sit down a few times in an airport getting from the gate to baggage claim my hemoglobin was *7*. Normal is 13-14.

I have asthma too, but I've never had the increased heart rate from that , its more like a wheezing that feels like an elephant sitting on my chest.

With anemia (or any oxygen-restricted condition) your heart will compensate by pumping faster to keep the tissues oxygenated. Under load it has trouble keeping up, sending your pulse through the roof.
Anemia is also a huge strain on your heart and you can get edema in your legs because your heart has trouble keeping up.

Are the rims of your eyes or your gums pale ? For me thats a sign that my stomach trouble is acting up again and the bleeding has restarted. I'm on iron supps and omeprazole for life.

With money being an issue, Texas might allow you to pay out of pocket for bloodwork at labs like Quest etc. I how I found my anemia problem, the docs never picked up on it. A full CMP and CBC shouldnt be much more than 100 bucks at one of those places and is a huge amount of info.

I can't remember the name of the place I went but a little Googling should turn one up for you.
 
B

BuffaloJo

Contributing Member
I had to have a stent several years ago. My first symptoms were that I could only make one or two rounds with the mower before I had to stop for a rest, kind a short of breath and real tired. Thought it just the heat and being out of shape. That went on each time I mowed for a couple of weeks. Then one evening I started having irregular heart beat and shortness of breath but no chest pain. That progressed to chest pain about midnight and a trip to the ER. While I was there the chest pains went away and EKG didn't really show anything. Anyway they finally did a coronary angiogram and had an artery 95% blockage. Does this sound familiar?
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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Tweakette said:
I have asthma too, but I've never had the increased heart rate from that , its more like a wheezing that feels like an elephant sitting on my chest
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That’s how I felt earlier. It was worse laying down. The CPAP helped a lot. I used the inhaler and it SEEMS to have help. But then, I’m sitting up. (If I have asthma I’m going to be pissed.)

Tweakette said:
Are the rims of your eyes or your gums pale ?
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No.
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
pymaf said:
This is not good, now you are at the point where you can no longer bury the millions in the back yard.
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At least Hairy can still dig the hole. Maybe you can get him to drag the sacks out there and push them in with his nose?

Sorry to hear you're down, Boss. I react to heat differently now than when I was younger. There is a doctor in your future, one way or another. Praying.
 
medic38572

medic38572

TB Fanatic
Dennis Olson said:
I only had to move each stone about 15’. I took it real easy, and stopped twice for a few minutes each.
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I know where you are coming from. Dennis exercise walk a little farther build up gradually. Walking and swimming is the best exercises. That is the problem we have when we sit behind a desk for 20 years in your case you drove a truck before that which is even worse. You have to do something NOW alittle more everyday.
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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Addendum: I’ve cut all sugar out of my diet. For months I’ve been using monk fruit sweetener for all my needs. No soda except plain sparkling water. Occasionally I’ll have some fruit juice or a half pb&j sandwich.
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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True enough Barb, but I never really do anything except mow the grass. I had to get rid of a tattered deck umbrella that was weighted down by the flagstones. Then I had to get the flagstones out of the middle of the yard and into a stack. It was a one-time deal. I’d needed to get it done for a couple years now, but knew it’d be a real hassle. Well, it’s done. Finally.
 
Bps1691

Bps1691

Veteran Member
Hate to bring it up but from personal experience, excess weight as you get older really screws with not only your stamina and strength, but it also screws with your ability to breathe. As the Doctor who finally got through to me said "you’re too fat and you're eating yourself into an early grave". That was now 90 pounds ago and I'm close to my target weight. I'm able to do things much easier than for years, even with all my other issues.

The closer to morbid obesity you get, the worse everything gets. It also will make you stop getting exercise, which in turn makes you feel worse, which in turn makes you get less exercise. A real lose, lose all the way.

Obesity is frequently subdivided into categories:
  • Class 1: BMI of 30 to < 35
  • Class 2: BMI of 35 to < 40
  • Class 3: BMI of 40 or higher. Class 3 obesity is sometimes categorized as “extreme” or “severe” obesity.
If you were ever a smoker or worked in really bad environments, COPD can sneak up on you and cause breathing issues, but with the O2 measurements you showed that is less probable.

Congestive Heart Failure can manifest itself with many of the symptoms you've reported here. Fatigue, swelling of the legs, and shortness of breath (especially with exercise). Did they run blood tests and cardiac ultrasound when you went in earlier this year?

You can have all kinds of symptoms with clogged arteries that don't have chest pains and if you haven't had any stress tests in years, that is also something to think about. If your not capable of a walking stress test, they do a chemical induced test which sucks, but stills gives the Doctors what they need.

The thing is if you don't get this problem identified and a treatment plan that you follow, it won't just go away it will just keep getting worse.

And of course the timing of this sucks with the no insurance thing.

If you worked long enough at your last employer and they had at least 20 employees, you should be eligible for COBRA. It is expensive, but you can use it long enough to get all of the health issues addressed by your Doctor at less cost than paying it out of pocket. If you qualify, you can use your VA services if you can't afford COBRA. Does your Church have any giving programs to help its members with health issues?
 
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Lurker

Lurker

14
Also, a nasty stupid side affect of glip, that seems to go against the point of the drug, is that it can make you gain weight.

Fun.
 
AlfaMan

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Dennis Olson said:
Not since my blood panel in January. Everything was normal then, except my A1C was 6.1. I’m on meds for that.
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Dennis, I take 2500mg of metformin, 100mg of Januvia AND 5mg of glipizide daily-and I'm pretty good with the diet. Yet last Monday my fasting A1C was 8.6. Blood sugar is a funny thing-sometimes you feel like death warmed over and your sugar is sky high; or you feel quite good and your sugar is 45 or so. If you have sugar issues, get a glucose meter and use it during times when you feel great or feel like doodoo. It can help you and the doc figure out a better course of medical action.
Of course, I've got to go see an endricrinologist in a few weeks about this; can't wait! to see what is going to happen :(
 
bw

bw

Fringe Ranger
Cutting out sugar probably has little to do with it. Your body converts starches to sugar at an astonishing rate.

Test kits are cheap and they tell you a lot. When I was getting a handle on blood sugar, I'd test eight times or so a day. Lots of data for not much money.
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
Dennis, I had a similar incident recently that ended up being an ER trip due to EMT son. All was good. They summed it up that I was dehydrated, sugar got low (I'm on same stuff as you) and was basically out of shape.
You really need a sugar meter, those 2 meds have to be watched because the glyberide (spelling) is pretty efficient and works for 24 hours.
Meter usually cheap at store, starts with 10 strips, you will have to purchase more ($$).
I am wondering when the last time you had a 12 lead?
It could be cardiac, it could be a lot of things. Best to get it checked. I personally was much relieved to find out it was something I could treat myself.
 
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TKO

TKO

Veteran Member
Dennis Olson said:
Not sure how to put this. After my second steroid shot a month or so ago, as some of you know, two days later I had to cut the grass. And though I went slow, I had to stop multiple times for an extended break. At one point, my heart rate was 144! However, my pulse-ox showed (and still shows) 96% or so. My BP cuff shows about 130/75-ish. However, since that day, I’ve had little energy and tire easily. Yesterday I had to cut the grass again. Had to lay down for an hour after. Today I had to move 14 50# flagstones. Had to lay down all afternoon. I’m also weak and shaky, almost jittery feeling. And yes, all this predated my taking the vax.

While laying down, I was gasping for air. Yet pulse-ox was still 96. I used my CPAP and was able to breathe more easily.

I have to say I’m getting pretty anxious.

ETA: Walking the dogs any distance is out of the question. Hell, just walking any distance is out of the question.
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Docs will want to do a stress test on you. That may be good to get at this point. It might be good to get a panel of tests done...and focus on a few things like minerals. How is your iron?
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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Bps1691 said:
Did they run blood tests and cardiac ultrasound when you went in earlier this year?
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Yes. All normal.

Bps1691 said:
The thing is if you don't get this problem identified and a treatment plan that you follow, it won't just go away it will just keep getting worse.
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I know (sigh)

Bps1691 said:
If you worked long enough at your last employer and they had at least 20 employees, you should be eligible for COBRA. It is expensive, but you can use it long enough to get all of the health issues addressed by your Doctor at less cost than paying it out of pocket.
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Here’s the deal on that: I had a high-deductible plan. The annual amount was $6350. However, the employer reimbursed dollar-for-dollar over $3500. Fine. I’ve paid $4100 in deductible this year already, so they’re sending me a check for the difference. However, to be free of additional charges, I’d have to satisfy the last $2200 of deductible. That’s 100% out-of-pocket before the coverage would kick in. And now, the employer will not be reimbursing me for that. My COBRA is “only” $375 a month, but that $2200 is insurmountable
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
My grandpa had a stroke at a young age and after that he SAT in that chair for 50 years. Died of blood clot coming up his leg to heart and "hardening of the arteries".
 
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AlfaMan

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Dennis Olson said:
Addendum: I’ve cut all sugar out of my diet. For months I’ve been using monk fruit sweetener for all my needs. No soda except plain sparkling water. Occasionally I’ll have some fruit juice or a half pb&j sandwich.
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Ocean Spray does a series of fruit juices with little to no sugar in them-they call it "take 5" or something like that. 5 grams of sugar or less in them. Been drinking their red grapefruit juice mixed with diet tonic water-very tasty and refreshing. And very low sugar too.
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
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AlfaMan said:
Ocean Spray does a series of fruit juices with little to no sugar in them-they call it "take 5" or something like that. 5 grams of sugar or less in them. Been drinking their red grapefruit juice mixed with diet tonic water-very tasty and refreshing. And very low sugar too.
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If you’ve never tried it, get some of the monk fruit sweetener. It’s AMAZING.
 
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