Short of breath during the day?

kempo wrote:A good friend of mine was having trouble breathing while walking a short distance. Went to see his GP the next day and he had two stents put in with a week.

Davel said " I have waited 2 months for an appointment to be made with a specialist" That''s crazy! Is that normal for Canada?

It depends on where you are and why. And who you go and see. There is a big disparity between the vast rural areas and downtown big cities. When I lived in the country I could see my GP the next day by just giving a call but specialist were few and far between. In Montreal it takes 6 weeks to get to see my GP unless I do the walk in thing in the clinic and spent the morning there but I get referred pretty fast. I can get an appointment with my pulmonologist (sleep doc) in about 2-3 weeks, same with my ENT.

DaveL wrote:I am working weight off and have lost 30 lbs at Weight Watchers.

DaveL, that's excellent, and you should be proud. You're well on your way to a better life.

But right now you're still presenting with the symptoms of cardiovascular heart disease, and you want to do the smart thing, and get it looked at right away.

Btw, CHD is very fashionable these days, and fixable.

So it's better that you play it safe—and find out that our concern for you on this board is misplaced—than you wait two months to see a specialist.

Just do a few simple things, and you should be OK.

____________________________________________________________


First, take an aspirin—I know it's tempting, but skip the vodka chaser.

Taking an aspirin sounds trivial, but this will actually provide you with some real protection. It's like, uh, a condom for your heart.

Yeah, I know you've got stuff to do, and it's a drag, but go to the emergency room today. Have someone else drive you, you can ride shotgun and play with the radio.

I don't like fibbing, but it's important that you jump any bullsh*t bureaucratic tape, so I would tell the admitting nurse/staffer (the one that takes your initial information and is the gatekeeper for who is seen first) that you are suffering chest pains and shortness of breath right now, even if you aren't.

It's a simple process: you'll be admitted, assigned a bed, and hooked up to an EKG.

No need to sweat this, it's all painless, I've been through this routine myself a couple of times, and now I demand a bodacious nurse.

You should do the same, it works wonders.

Unless it's the night-shift, you'll soon be making some new friends: more nurses, a couple of young, inquisitive interns, then finally, a cardiologist.

He'll take it from there, and you'll be right as rain.

If you want to PM or call me, I'd be happy to answer any further questions, and even tell you some seriously bad jokes . . . as I wait for NYC to sink into the ocean from this fakakta hurricane we're waiting for.



Michael

My physical condition is improving through weight loss and regular exercise. I am getting fitter. Getting older isn't easy. I shall be 65 in 2 weeks. I walk up local hills more easily than I did 6 months ago. (I have 2 plates/14 screws in my right tib-fib, and I have used that as anexcuse for some time. No more! )

But flomax isn't working for me and urgent needs made me wonder if there was something hidden due to cpap therapy for so long?

Before cpap I often got up 4 times in the night for washroom breaks. I had severe OSA and did not knowit.

BTW many people in toronto have no family doctor. I am lucky to have one, though he works in a flawed system.

Our medical, health care costs are out of control. There were measures taken a few years ago that affect us today. We have health management, not health care.

just my 2cents worth.

Good to hear you are working on your fitness. I echo what others have said about getting the heart checked out quickly.

I am also concerned that your nocturia is a sign that you are having a significant amount of apneas. Can you read your AHI and mask leak on that machine? Data is a must, IMO.

DaveL wrote:
BTW many people in toronto have no family doctor. I am lucky to have one, though he works in a flawed system.

Our medical, health care costs are out of control. There were measures taken a few years ago that affect us today. We have health management, not health care.

just my 2cents worth.

We in the U.S. will be driven down to your level (or worse) soon, thanks to President Obama and the other socialists in Washington.

On the other hand, Obamacare may be overturned by the Supreme Court and certainly we will have a new administration in 2013 that will flush out some of the socialism and open up the medical, drug, and health insurance markets to consumer choice and competition. These markets are too heavily regulated and there is way too much cronyism going on between the big companies and our elected fiends.

My uncle died at 40. Massive coronary. He had 4 little kids.
My dad died at 50. Same reason. Also 4 kids.
I believe they have emergency rooms in Canada.
If you use up enough resources by becoming a pest, maybe they will take care of you?

So Well wrote: We in the U.S. will be driven down to your level (or worse) soon, thanks to President Obama and the other socialists in Washington.

On the other hand, Obamacare may be overturned by the Supreme Court and certainly we will have a new administration in 2013 that will flush out some of the socialism and open up the medical, drug, and health insurance markets to consumer choice and competition. These markets are too heavily regulated and there is way too much cronyism going on between the big companies and our elected fiends.

Our care is quite good thank you. Statistically, Canadians are healthier then Americans, we have a much, much lower infant mortality rate and we service everyone, not just 50% of the population. I also don't need permission from an insurance company to get a procedure my doctor thinks I need. People here may not always get the service as fast as some rich american but we don't lose our houses in order to get it. Plus our health care doesn't cost nearly as much as yours per patient.

The only thing that will happen in 2013 is that those companies will make more profit at your expense.

BlackSpinner wrote: Statistically, Canadians are healthier then Americans, we have a much, much lower infant mortality rate

I give Canada credit for a great many things including the two you mention above. By many definitions Canadians are healthier than our citizens. You have greater longevity and a lower infant mortality rate.

You also eat healthier, have less obesity, watch less TV, are less violent, have fewer divorces, have less drug abuse, and have many less infants born to single moms. These are the drivers of your longer longevity and lower infant mortality. Your medical care system is not a factor.

BlackSpinner wrote: we service everyone, not just 50% of the population.

That statement is blatantly untrue but I give you credit for consistently repeating it here.

You do not service everyone - many of them die searching or waiting for medical care. Many of them die due to poor medical care. Many of them don't even try to find help.

We clearly have better medical care for the poor in the U.S. and far superior medical care overall. Your medical system is a sinking ship. The per capita number of doctors in Canada is declining and the quality of the ones remaining is inferior.

You have no great teaching hospitals or medical universities.

There is almost zero innovation in the medical field coming out of Canada. You depend on the U.S. for new medical procedures and new drugs. You once were an innovator but your socialist system has killed innovation and killed the spirit of the medical profession.

You do not need to defend Canada. We know it is a great 21st century country. But it has a few warts and the medical care system is one of the warts.

Now why don't you brag about your economic freedom which is superior to the U.S., or your clean air and water, or your low crime rate, or your banking industry or your lack of corruption in government??? That would give me something on which to agree with you, my dear BlackSpinner.

DaveL wrote:My physical condition is improving through weight loss and regular exercise.

Physical condition is important, but doesn't stop CHD. A rail-thin marathoner can have a heart attack.

Dealing with subconscious denial is tough; you don't want to have this disease, so, like I did, you figure if you lose weight and exercise, it'll go away.

It won't.

Your body is sending you an emergency message right now, and you need to pay a quick visit to the ER.

Today or tomorrow.

DaveL wrote:My physical condition is improving through weight loss and regular exercise. I am getting fitter.

But flomax isn't working for me and urgent needs made me wonder if there was something hidden due to cpap therapy for so long?

In one post you say you have shortness of breath and in another you say your condition is improving and you are fitter. Your own statements are at odds with each other. It sounds like you want to blame CPAP for your shortness of breath.

Mike6977 wrote:Your body is sending you an emergency message right now, and you need to pay a quick visit to the ER.
Today or tomorrow.

I'm with Mike6977 on this: you need to get checked out right away, because shortness of breath is most likely a symptom of something serious. Get in to a doctor or emergency room and eliminate the other more serious issues like heart attack, and once you know you are not in dire need of medical care, then you can talk to your sleep doc as to whether or not it's CPAP related. Or at the very least, call a nurse hotline or something like that to talk about your symptoms.

chunkyfrog wrote:I believe they have emergency rooms in Canada.
If you use up enough resources by becoming a pest, maybe they will take care of you?

I agree completely. I was on vacation in Victoria, B.C. in 2009 with my then partner, who had just recovered from major surgery; we ended up in the hospital - I honestly can't remember why now; I think he was having pains or something, anyways - while we were in the e.r. waiting room I noticed a big ole banner advertising for the hospital's upcoming community fundraiser to build a new wing. I looked at my (rather conservative) boyfriend and said, "they have socialized medicine and they need a fundraiser for a new medical wing?" Right then and there I quit wishing our medical system was government run. I get bent out of shape when I have to wait a week to see a Dr. I couldn't imagine waiting a month.... here's hoping obamacare gets overturned. I agree with everyone who says "get to a hospital, asap" even if you have to feign chest pain; a diagnosis is imperative.

So Well wrote: We in the U.S. will be driven down to your level (or worse) soon, thanks to President Obama and the other socialists in Washington.

On the other hand, Obamacare may be overturned by the Supreme Court and certainly we will have a new administration in 2013 that will flush out some of the socialism and open up the medical, drug, and health insurance markets to consumer choice and competition.

I've hijacked more than my share of posts—and don't want come off as the teapot calling the kettle black.

But considering that this poor man may have already had a heart attack (there are "silent" heart attacks), and badly needs to get to a hospital, your hijack is f***in' unconscionable.

So Well, congratulations. You've just achieved a new low

Please don't reply . . you've done enough.

...

DaveL: Enough denial.
Shortness of breath is a common symptom of a first heart attack--one you may have already had!
The next one may not be survivable.
The absence of pain is NOT uncommon.
Emergency Room--NOW!
If not, those who love you will be devastated; and now you have involved us.
Please tell us you have gone to a doctor; so we can stop worrying.

Mike6977 wrote:
I've hijacked more than my share of posts—and don't want come off as the teapot calling the kettle black.

But considering that this poor man may have already had a heart attack (there are "silent" heart attacks), and badly needs to get to a hospital, your hijack is f***in' unconscionable.

So Well, congratulations. You've just achieved a new low

Please don't reply . . you've done enough.

...

Mike, Was your ADD running at very high levels yesterday? You failed to notice that the OP introduced the subject of poor medical care and a poor Canadian medical system four times before I chose to commiserate with him:

DaveL wrote:My sleep doc is a danger.

DaveL wrote: I have waited 2 months for an appointment to be made with the specialist. Weicome to Canadian medicine, at least the way my gp sees it.

DL

DaveL wrote: If I presented recorded information about my treatment, I expect my sleep doc would refuse to review it. I need a referral to a new sleep doc.
DL

DaveL wrote:
BTW many people in toronto have no family doctor. I am lucky to have one, though he works in a flawed system.

Our medical, health care costs are out of control. There were measures taken a few years ago that affect us today. We have health management, not health care.

just my 2cents worth.

So you see Mike, it was DaveL that introduced the subject in his thread. It is hardly a hijacking to commiserate with him.

In any case, I have seen enough of DaveL’s posts to know he is quite capable of defending his own threads.

Mike, Are you aware that many people after developing a health problem begin to become concerned that everyone around them has the same health problem? I believe you have fallen into this trap and have become an alarmist crying to DaveL.

Your ADD kicked in again because you failed to read DaveL’s followup posts carefully. It is true that DaveL titled the thread “Short of breath during the day?”

However if you pay a little attention you will see he immediately backed off this description of the symptom he is experiencing:

DaveL wrote: I feel as if I forget to breath. Lung capacity is ok.
DL

Mike, You will also notice that DaveL says:

DaveL wrote:My physical condition is improving through weight loss and regular exercise. I walk up local hills more easily than I did 6 months ago. I have lost 30 pounds.

Mike, I accuse you of being an alarmist claiming DaveL has had a heart attack. To the contrary, after correcting what he meant by the title, there are indications that DaveL has not had a heart attack. Of course, as I said in the post you crudely objected to:

So Well wrote: I echo what others have said about getting the heart checked out quickly.
I am also concerned that your nocturia is a sign that you are having a significant amount of apneas. Can you read your AHI and mask leak on that machine? Data is a must, IMO.

Everyone should have an annual exam and discussion about their heart health with a doctor. However, :

DaveL wrote: I feel as if I forget to breath. DL

is reported often in this forum and there is no evidence that it is a symptom of heart disease or heart attack.

Maybe you are the pot calling the “high grade brushed 18/8 stainless steel” teapot black? Bwaaahaaaahaaaa

So Well wrote:

BlackSpinner wrote: Statistically, Canadians are healthier then Americans, we have a much, much lower infant mortality rate

I give Canada credit for a great many things including the two you mention above. By many definitions Canadians are healthier than our citizens. You have greater longevity and a lower infant mortality rate.

Don't be so quick to give credit here. The definition of "infant mortality" can make things seem better elsewhere. The truth is that in many countries, a birth is not considered a "live birth" unless the infant survives some minimal amount of time. Otherwise, the child is called stillborn and is not a part of the infant mortality rate. In America, all infants still alive when born are considered a live birth. So in America, a child that dies within 5 minutes of birth is contributing to the infant mortality rate there. Many other countries would not count that child in their infant mortality rates.

It is also the case that high risk pregnancies are much more likely to be terminated in other countries, which results in fewer births of children likely to die in infancy.

And please note that once you find a way to reduce infant mortality by twiddling with the numbers, obviously the expected length of life values are going up.


There are lies, damn lies, and statistics. Always look behind the numbers. It is hardly likely that Canadians are healthier due to their health care system.