I haven’t been feeling great lately, which led to quite a week. I had a sudden feeling like something with talons was trying to tear my chest open. The pain went up to my jaw, over to my left shoulder, and down my left arm, and I was sweaty and vomiting. My blood pressure (BP) was about 200/140. Now, I know what you’re thinking, go to the damn ER! Well, a couple of months ago, I had highly similar heart-related symptoms, and I went to the ER, where I was made to wait over two hours in the lobby only to be told I could go home without the doctor wanting to do as little as recheck my BP or pulse rate…
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I am so sorry that you have been going through this. It sounds scary. The medical profession does not know enough about women’s vascular issues because they mostly only study men. I understand about poor medical care because being prescribed prednisone for several years permanently damaged my eyes and led to an eye stroke. I have also seen dozens of doctors before finding out that all of it was actually chronic Epstein Barr virus (the same as mononucleosis). I am now much more careful about taking any medication and question all medical professionals to the point that some become irritated.
Please rest and take care of yourself and read up on everything, including medical treatments, alternative treatments (holistic, diet, etc.). I no longer trust them without reading up on everything (PubMed is free). Only you should decide how your body should be treated.
Mary Ann
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Omg thats terrible.
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We can not loose her!
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Thank you for your kindness and advice; I’m definitely going to continue to read up on everything available! I’m so sorry you have been through so much (and I’m sure you continue to)–that’s devastating! Our Healthcare system is broken in so many ways, especially when it comes to caring for women. 
Yes, healthcare is broken. Because only recently, they have studied women, doctors do not seem to realize that our symptoms for heart attacks are different from men. Now, they can no longer conduct research on women only because the words, women and gender are prohibited from research proposals.
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Andrea , just so you know , I’ve had my problems with the healthcare system. There is a foundation that has been paying for 1 medication for years because it is so expensive they cover low income people. I inject once every 2 weeks and a single injection is over $1000. They kicked me out because of false information stating I make over 35k a year which is a joke. I had my taxes { federal ] done today and I don’t need to pay since my taxable income is a little over $1000. I’m trying to get back on the foundation and if I can’t pay I won’t use a medication that works and I can walk a mile or mile and a half because of said medication. I’m so pissed but I remember this is nothing to what you are Experiencing. Please get well. Jack
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Oh no, that’s terrible–I’m so sorry! Please don’t say it’s nothing in comparison. They better get you back on that program, or they’ll have to deal with me. 
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I am sorry to hear of your ordeal. Especially when being so young and having dependent children, I cannot even imagine….
My thoughts are with you. Thank you for sharing this with us.
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Harpy , being an asthmatic all my life, I know that prednisone is for short term use only. There have been times [ not recently ] that I had to use it and the side effects were apparent [ weight gain and strange breathing ]. I hope all is better now and am praying that Andrea is recovering from her ordeal. Take care Jack
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It’s hard to imagine being in legitimate fear of losing your life and having the doctor-the person who took an oath to serve/save you-brush it off. It’s as if, not only if your suffering is unimportant, your very life is not worthy of concern. I’m so glad you made it, and I hope you exceed the promise you made to your kids by 20 years!
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This is yet another reason I have so much respect for women. You get ignored, disrespected, and treated like second class citizens on a daily basis. As annoying as it must be to have your mechanic, your boss, etc. treat you this way, having your health professionals do it must be maddening and terrifying at the same time!
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Andrea , I appreciate that but if your doctor and Harpy’s doctors don’t do their damn job professionally , I have no problem interceding and giving them a piece of my mind. Jack
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Thank you, me too!
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Thank you!