That is terrible! Here, 60 is enough for them to be tempted to hospitalize until you show stabilization over a period of time. I do realize that health care is different in Canada though - WE here in the good ole U. S of A are about to get our own system and I pray that my doctors will be able to practice medicine the way they see fit. My docs are caring - they have shown that, but also it really shocked them and showed them what was necessary regarding meds for me after they witnessed incidents and also saw hospital records of other incidents.
It is worth the wait for the better doctor Sheila! I think so - just personally! Perhaps that doctor who is semi-retired can get you on to another doctor with a like mind in the future!
Roni - I hope the Echo comes out well!!!
Hugs to both you and Sheila!!! Draginfli/Ang
Sheila W. said:
Yes Ang,
I sure struggle with prescriptions due to the lowe Bp thing and other reactions.
Wow, it wouled be nice to have a Dr. care that much! I'm in Canada where the care is dangerously negligent, especiallly for those on disability or over 75 with a lot of health problems. They just hope you die so it will save the gov't some money. I have really bad reactions to meds, but i have to try them and deal with the side effects on my own. Doctors can only do one thing, and that's give you a pill, so I have not gone to the Dr. for years except to get my natural tyrptophan and pain meds refilled. Every time I do mention anything, it's ignored. I passed out in the Dr. office. A nurse took my BP, it was 60 over something. An ambulance should have been called, but they just let me sit there until I felt better and then I drove home. I was so mad, that my B.P. did go up I'm sure. So now those are my 2 remedies. Think of something that makes me mad and shake a bit of salt into my mouth.
Draginfli said:
Hi Sheila -
I'm guessing that you've experienced this as well? I have to be especially careful of any medications that have "could lower bp" as a side effect Anywhere on the list.
It is terrible that you have the heart murmur, but good that they know that part! Glad they are taking care of you and testing and keeping you informed at this point!
HUGS for RONI! Draginfli/Ang
Roni said:
I am currently having a cardiac work up done due to the heart murmur. I have an ECG tomorrow. Luckily our hospital is a cardiac center for the Atlantic provinces and I'm going to the head guy so I'm sure if there is something to be found he will find it. I'll discuss the blood pressure issues with him when I see him.
I think if I lived in a big city, the health care would not bed this way. In my city, newe doctors come in, then they either adapt to the old doctors nrgligent way of doing things, or get so upset with it tthat they move to another city. I've been passed around to almost every doctor here, each one saying I'm "too complicated" as if they have meetings to decide how to word things, and how to practice on the same low energy level. One Dr. got ostracized for "showing the other doctors up" (doing more than the rest so it made them look bad), and if a Dr. is not able to work with the other doctors in this town, his career is dead. So he's now in Vancouver.
I have been told straight out that those on disability and those over 75 wil get fewer services, because we don't contribute to society. (We don't pay taxes). I've mentioned that with treatment, I would LOVE to get back to work and not be on disability, but it seems like a spiral downward now, that we get inferior testing and treatment, so we get worse.
I'm too sick to go to the closest big city 4 hours away, too broke, and have not been able to make a friend locally to help me get there, because I've been too sick to go out to social events. So I just do the best I can with what I have.
Roni said:
I'm also in Canada and really surprised by your assessment of the medical care here. That hasn't been my experience at all and I'm really sorry that your doctor treated you that way. Perhaps you need to find a new family doctor? A good doctor would never ignore symptoms and make you feel rushed through. There are bad apples in every profession though.
I also have very low blood pressure. Based on everyone's responses it seems like it might be common among lupus patients! It seems like most health professionals don't see this as anything serious so I just chalk it up to one of those annoying lupus symptoms. I'm so sad to read that so many of you have serious problems with getting medical care. I'm fortunate at the moment (I'm still working) but I could be in your shoes if I get laid off. My heart goes out to you all.
I guess I’m lucky I’m in a bigger city. I’m shocked that a doctor would actually say something like that to you! I’m really disappointed that small towns don’t have the same medical standards as the larger cities, although I do understand the money is distributed based on population so there is less to spend in rural areas. All of the rural hospitals near here send their patients to our hospital for various tests and surgery. Does your hospital not offer transport to testing at another facility? I have had no problem having my doctor order tons of tests (can be a big pain in the rump at times). On the flip side of the inconvenience of it, I’m confident that any major problems are detected early and addressed by whatever specialist I need. It saddens me to hear other Canadians don’t have the same care.
The docs will only find it unusual if they see it in the low 90's or in the 80's at times. If they ever have to get the "child's cuff" out to be able to read your pressure, it sets off some bells too.
Medical care is an issue in many places. Mine changed because I became disabled by the Lupus and had to leave my work. I worked for an excellent company who paid my insurance for a full year afterward, but it ended and I still was not well. I had never been without insurance until now. It is a whole new ballgame, takes much creativity, planning and energy. You are indeed fortunate and we thank you for your camaraderie!
Hugs to you! Draginfli/Ang
PNW said:
I also have very low blood pressure. Based on everyone's responses it seems like it might be common among lupus patients! It seems like most health professionals don't see this as anything serious so I just chalk it up to one of those annoying lupus symptoms. I'm so sad to read that so many of you have serious problems with getting medical care. I'm fortunate at the moment (I'm still working) but I could be in your shoes if I get laid off. My heart goes out to you all.
Thanks for your comments. I lived in the USA for 20 years ad\nd I do miss the quality of care, even if it often bankrupts people. Even getting a new Dr. is an ordeal in Canada. Less than half of Canadians have their own Dr. and each one will choose which cases he will not take, and at least one of my lupus symptoms is one each one of those doctors lists. Again, i'm almost done with doctors, since all they can do is give prescriptions, and I react so badly to them. I'll have to find a good naturopath or just keep researching for my own natural treatments. I hope Obamacare or Romneycare will take many many years before the doctors get frustrated like here, being told from above that they can't do the things the patient needs, and getting anger from patients for not doing enough. Romney and Mrs. Clinton (brain cramp, forgot her name for the moment), developed Obamacare! So when Romney says he will change Obamacare, maybe he will change a few minor points and name it Romneycare, but that's about all. I do feel badly for all americans who need care. At first it looked good, that all would have health insurance, but no one expected it to become mandatory, with a fine if you don't buy it. Scary stuff. I'm sure some good things will come of it too. Already there are many preventstive tests that are completely free there. I have heard of at least 4 doctors that quit their practice the day after the supreme court forced Obamacare onto the nation (who voted it down, and so did the senate.)
Draginfli said:
Oh Sheila!
That is terrible! Here, 60 is enough for them to be tempted to hospitalize until you show stabilization over a period of time. I do realize that health care is different in Canada though -
I really believe you are the “exception” to most rules (or West coast Canada is having some kind of major issue!). We had a waiting list for people with no family doctors, but now the list is empty here. I’m in the maritimes where doctors pay are lower than out west so we did have some difficulty recruiting new doctors. They just built a branch of Dalhousie Med School here which I think will help with future recruiting. Our doctors don’t get to pick and chose patients, they were handed out in order that they were on the waiting list. Some (as is my case) took over already established practices (and all patients) when the previous doctor passes away or retires. I’m not sure what it’s like where you are at though, but it sounds like they are making a real effort to give Medicare a bad name there… Shame on them for being so awful! I’m really shocked by the differences.
Well i hope the Echo as done all the shot the specialist needs to know about what kind of action you'll need and i really hope the results come back in your favour Roni.
((Hugs Terri)) xxx
Roni said:
As it turns out it wasn't an ECG they had me booked for, it was an Echo. So probably an hour of them taking pictures from every angle. She said the doctor will have the report within two weeks. Hopefully it's all good! =)
Roni, you might get a kick out of this. A friend sent me a copy of her lab test order form so I could help her know what they were testing for. That sheet had 4 times as many tests than our local lab has, and so people who never leave this city will never get tested for all the things that they would be tested for at a University hospital, and most people die here, with the Dr. saying "All your blood tests came back negative, so there's nothing wrong with you!" And the doctors don't seem to have a clue that there are more tests in this world than those that are on the local lab test order form!
Sheila, I really am appalled by the state of things where you are. I naIvely believed that everyone in Canada had access to the same quality of care. I know that some doctors are just bad at what they do, and we have a few of those here too. We don’t have a standardized form for lab work, each doctor creates their own based on what they request most frequently. If they want anything else run they just use their prescription pad to order it. My family doctors form has about 20 or so lab tests on it (all the common annual tests). So our forms can look like they are lacking, but that doesn’t mean that our labs cannot do the other tests. Wouldn’t your lab just forward the tests to a bigger lab if it wasn’t something they are equipped to handle?
The first time I had an ANA test run was about 22 years ago and the nurse had to call the lab to see how to take it (which vial and if it needed any additives) because it was so uncommon for them (at the smaller hospital, we have 2). I’m not sure if it was processed locally or sent to a bigger lab. Chances are if it required equipment they didn’t have they sent it away. Good friends of our own a taxi / delivery company and they have the hospital contract so run bloodwork, patients, nurses, etc. around. That’s why I assumed your hospital would have some form of transport for tests. However, to be fair, I’m not sure if the hospital or social services pay for the patients.
That's what worries me - if I get laid off or my company goes bankrupt then I'm out of luck. My systolic is usually in the high 80's/low 90's and diastolic in the 50's/60's.
Draginfli said:
Hi PNW,
The docs will only find it unusual if they see it in the low 90's or in the 80's at times. If they ever have to get the "child's cuff" out to be able to read your pressure, it sets off some bells too.
Medical care is an issue in many places. Mine changed because I became disabled by the Lupus and had to leave my work. I worked for an excellent company who paid my insurance for a full year afterward, but it ended and I still was not well. I had never been without insurance until now. It is a whole new ballgame, takes much creativity, planning and energy. You are indeed fortunate and we thank you for your camaraderie!
Hugs to you! Draginfli/Ang
PNW said:
I also have very low blood pressure. Based on everyone's responses it seems like it might be common among lupus patients! It seems like most health professionals don't see this as anything serious so I just chalk it up to one of those annoying lupus symptoms. I'm so sad to read that so many of you have serious problems with getting medical care. I'm fortunate at the moment (I'm still working) but I could be in your shoes if I get laid off. My heart goes out to you all.
I will have faith, pray, hope and cross my fingers that your company will stay strong in this economy! If not, I will do the same in hopes that you will find a new job right away! What I find the MOST encouraging is that you are able to work and keep your insurance - THAT is what I will pray the hardest for and even cross my toes for! :)
When I had my little "remission" a few years back and could work for a while, I was unfortunately laid off from a wonderful job that I loved - I was caught up in the third round of lay offs, but thanks to God I was hired fairly quickly by another great company at the same pay, in my career field at another truly wonderful company! :)
Of course, since then I've had to leave for health reasons - but this new company, they STILL want me back as soon as I'm able to sustain and work - even if it is only from home on a consistent basis - so it was sort of a blessing in disguise! :)
So let's start crossing our fingers and toes and praying! :)
Hugs - Draginfli/Ang
PNW said:
That's what worries me - if I get laid off or my company goes bankrupt then I'm out of luck. My systolic is usually in the high 80's/low 90's and diastolic in the 50's/60's.
Draginfli said:
Hi PNW,
The docs will only find it unusual if they see it in the low 90's or in the 80's at times. If they ever have to get the "child's cuff" out to be able to read your pressure, it sets off some bells too.
Medical care is an issue in many places. Mine changed because I became disabled by the Lupus and had to leave my work. I worked for an excellent company who paid my insurance for a full year afterward, but it ended and I still was not well. I had never been without insurance until now. It is a whole new ballgame, takes much creativity, planning and energy. You are indeed fortunate and we thank you for your camaraderie!
Hugs to you! Draginfli/Ang
PNW said:
I also have very low blood pressure. Based on everyone's responses it seems like it might be common among lupus patients! It seems like most health professionals don't see this as anything serious so I just chalk it up to one of those annoying lupus symptoms. I'm so sad to read that so many of you have serious problems with getting medical care. I'm fortunate at the moment (I'm still working) but I could be in your shoes if I get laid off. My heart goes out to you all.
Just another little addition to confuse the issue even more....but I have Addison's and when my b/p drops this is part of a flare....I also get very dizzy(from the sudden drop in b/p).
Also, I didn't believe my home health nurse, but increasing my water intake does make a difference in balancing these issues a lot of times. This water stuff really does more than I had ever realized!
Still having the dizzy spells but they seem less frequent with the increase in sodium. I’m waiting to hear back on the echo results. The tech said the doctor should have them within two weeks, then I expect they’ll call with an appointment to go over them.
Your not adding confusion to the subject...more issues brought out on subjects all the better plus it gives a widder view on things member's have which cause the same...or what they could have and don't know about.
Tell me about the water lark...i've had to start on it properly through dehydration alot and also to help my IBS and SLE.
Love Terri xxx
Angel312 said:
Just another little addition to confuse the issue even more....but I have Addison's and when my b/p drops this is part of a flare....I also get very dizzy(from the sudden drop in b/p).
Also, I didn't believe my home health nurse, but increasing my water intake does make a difference in balancing these issues a lot of times. This water stuff really does more than I had ever realized!
Well i am pleased the increase with the sodium as eased it abit for you because i have dizzyness on occassions and it can become a nightmare.
Well really it's the waiting game again Roni but i hope your results are'nt to serious...i'm phoning the hospital tomorrow "Where my appointment for the rheumo"
Roni said:
Still having the dizzy spells but they seem less frequent with the increase in sodium. I'm waiting to hear back on the echo results. The tech said the doctor should have them within two weeks, then I expect they'll call with an appointment to go over them.
