I am a victim of phenfen having taken the drugs from 11/96 to 06/97 or thereabouts. I have on different occasion have the valve leakage, for which they removed the drug from the market, in three different valves. The worst being my aortic valve where I have moderate leakage. This all seemed to be improving this past year, however my heart has continued to enlarge.....possibly do to the inability to control my blood pressure. I have always suspected that I could have pulmonary hypertension (ph) since I have so many of the same symptoms as do those already diagnosed with ph. I have been to see a pulmonary specialist and been told without the benefit of the only conclusive test (the right heart cath - with exercise preferably). I have never seen a pulmonary hypertension specialist.....there are very few in this country.
I hope this explains what I was trying to say. This heart catherization will give me a lot of answers all of the way around. It will give me some final answers to my phenfen problems and it will bring my getting the surgery I need that much closer. Dr. Zachary told me to call the moment I have the results of my heart cath. I really pray that there is nothing wrong so that we can move ahead with my surgery.
I would like to say one thing. I have been very desperate to have this surgery. So desperate that it could have cost me my life. When I went to see Dr. Zachary I did not mention having had the stress test....or having the chest pains and shortness of breath that led up to it. I didn't even tell them about taking phenfen, etc. I didn't want to have them tell me that they would not touch me because I might have heart problems. While this probably had absolutely nothing to do with what happened.....it could have cost me my life. So, when you go see a new doctor......tell them absolutely everything!!! You never know what might happen.
God Bless!
-- Karla
>----- Original Message ----- From: Helen Dynda <olddad66@runestone.net> To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS <adhesions@mail.medispecialty.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 9:39 PM Subject: Re: Today........Karla's post
> At Wed, 26 Jul 2000, Karla wrote: >
>> ----- Original Message ----- > From: Karla <ifirgit@webcntrl.com> > To: phenfensupport <phenfensupport@onelist.com> > Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 7:41 PM > Subject: Today > > I thought I had sent a message earlier, but I can't find it in my sent > file nor did I receive it myself. > > I went to visit two people today....first the cardiologist. He examined > me and has scheduled me for a catherization next Wednesday. He also > indicated he wanted to do a right heart cath (without my saying a word) > and I told him I would like it to be an exercise cath...he said they > don't have the setup for anything but doing the weights. It kind of > concerns me that he said he wanted to do the right heart cath after he > examined me. I hadn't even > discussed phenfen at that point. I don't know if he detected a problem > or not. I guess I worry too much, but it should be a relief because I > will finally have a definite answer to the ph question. > > My second visit was to my pcp. If you all remember he had ordered the > stress test a few weeks prior to my scheduled surgery. During the test > he had told me everything looked good. And then I never heard anything > and went for the surgery. Of course you know the rest, I had cardiac > and > respiratory arrest. When I returned home I saw him that same day and > learned that there had been problems on the stress test, but no one had > bothered to tell anyone. After being encouraged to look further into > this by a number of people I contacted the clinic business manager > asking him > what procedures were regarding test results when they came in. He told > me he would get back to me. When I went to see my pcp today he totally > admitted messing up...or letting the ball drop. He really made me feel > bad....because I feel that I need to take action on this. Even his > nurse had encouraged my doing something so that he would learn a lesson > from this. > > I feel that he has really let me down and that my life was in great > danger......what do I do? I know......I guess I have my own > answers...its just doing it. > > Karla >