So sorry! Yes, I have read that RA increases our risk of heart disease. How is you BP and cholesterol?

RA can definitely damage the heart. Aside from any other risk factors. So sorry you have had to go through this at such a young age. But where there is life, there is hope, or some other platitude. Glad you came back to try the new DS.

Wow! My biggest fear. I have had pleurisy in the pass and thought it was a heart attack, but it was just inflammation around the heart.

So, so sorry to read your news.

On one level you are incredibly lucky: they figured out what was wrong before they found it on autopsy. In a 40-year-old woman, a major coronary is just not on the short list of possibilities. I'm sure there are plenty of doctors who would have refused to entertain the idea that you could be having a heart attack.

I hope you have the support you need with daily tasks, and that you have excellent medical care. We can hold your hand virtually, but can't drive over with a casserole and do your vacuuming for you. Is someone walking you through an application for disability? I hope your insurance isn't/wasn't through your now-nonexistent job. Here's wishing you the best possible recovery and rehab. How long ago did this happen?

Hi you guys. Glad to see you. And thank you for your words of support and humor. I love it.

Good questions too. No, I had no risk factors. I'm relatively tall and thin. People ask me all the time if I'm a vegetarian. The response varies with my mood, but the short answer is no.

My BP is low, and cholesterol was/is fine. My BP is actually low enough to be a problem. Most of the meds they want you to take lower your blood pressure any way. So my treatment options are limited.

Hiya Alto. You're right, in some ways I'm lucky. The eyebrows of the ER tech who did my EKG shot into his hairline. I grabbed it out of his hands and began to cry. I looked at my husband, and after some colorful words, I said I'm having a heart attack. Yes, my husband and friends are great. My medical friends are good for making fun of me.

Okay serious stuff. Disability. I have applied on my own through SS website a couple months ago. Haven't heard a word yet, but my required six months of disability is in September. My heart attack happened in late February. Yes, my medical insurance is through my soon to be erstwhile employer. I'm technically out on ADA leave, and I'm still getting about $1000 a month from short term disability. The thing that REALLY sucks is it is such good medical insurance, some of the best I've had. Any words of advice about SS disability? I'm prepared to hire an attorney when they reject me.

I am so sorry to hear about this.......and just flabbergasted that this happens in one so young. But I'm glad you're reaching out for support and information. I sense that you have a really, really positive attitude and I think that's the best thing in your favor. You'll get through this.

Lynn

Thank you Lynn. I'm generally a positive person. Cynical, but positive about it.

I,too, am so sad you went through "The Widow Maker." Scary because you don't have the typical risks factors. Makes me wonder if it was the RA. How scary. Did you have chest
pains, etc and go to ER? Sad you have daily chest pains and can't work. I'm praying you have peace, rest, and you get SSI, and that you get the SSI quickly.

So sorry about your heart. It is scary and hard to live with a damaged heart but like someone else said you are a positive person. Hope things get better each day. I have seen where there are some clinic trials being done on Heart disease and RA. So maybe in the near future there will be some answers coming to that question that folks are asking. I do think that RA can do a lot of damage to the heart - all that inflammation in the body. I am on SSDI and if I can help you let me know. I will be glad to answer your questions if I can. Here are a few things that might answer a question or two that you have. 1st if you are under 50 years old it is harder to get but not impossible. If your doctors are behind you then it will go a bit easier. Remember that you can file up to 3 times. It is hard to tell how it will go for you but if you do get turned down after the first try file again. First time you file it is like it is just you, your doctor and SSDI. 2nd time it will be you, SSDI and their doctors. And if you are turned down the 2nd time - for the third time you will go before a judge. To let you know I would say most folks do have to go all three times so don't get too discourage if you get turned down once or twice. I hear now it can take from 6 months up to 3 years or so to get on it. Also if you are getting a lawyer I would get one if you get turned down the first time because they get the same amount of money if they help from the very start or if you get one when you are filing the third time at least that is what my lawyer told me. Sure hope you get it the first time you file. Please keep us posted.

Hi Journey. Thank you for your support. I think it's RA too, the whole situation is just such a rare occurrence. While in the ICU I had a whole team of smart people telling me that I am medically very unusual. Just what I love to hear. OMG yes I had chest pain. I was clutching my chest, and sweating my guts out. It hurt so bad I was stomping my feet on the foot rests of the wheelchair. I told the ER nurses/docs the pain level was a 9 out of 10 and they laughed. I knew they would. I told them I was leaving room for it to get worse. It referred more up the left side of my neck than my arm, but it did go to my left arm. Thanks again for your kind words.

Hi Tilly. Thanks for the insight and advice into SSDI! I appreciate it so much. Good information, and I'll bet others will find it, and think it's helpful too.

how are you feeling and what is the cardiology plan for you going forward? rooting for you to get your affirmative on the first go.
depot