“I had noticed for almost a year now that I had shortness of breath. I thought it was because I had gained some weight.”
“I am a 62-year-old woman. I had noticed for almost a year now that I had shortness of breath. I thought it was because I had gained some weight. In January, I started having problems at work. I was having pains in my back and chest and shortness of breath. I made it through my shift, but the next day I woke up very dizzy. In fact, it was so bad I had to hold on to the walls just to go to the bathroom. I went to my doctor. She ran an EKG, and it came back abnormal. It was showing a heart attack. She referred me to a cardiologist who ran an echocardiogram. I was diagnosed with mild pulmonary hypertension, as well as heart valves with problems. The doctor said it was nothing to worry about; my heart was good.
“I went to another cardiologist who ran a stress test that proved my heart is not getting the blood supply it should. I asked if I could have a right heart catheterization, but he said he would do it later. This cardiologist is not very knowledgeable about pulmonary hypertension, so I must keep searching for someone to help me. I don’t have insurance, so it makes it very difficult.”
