Yes, I just counted off the weeks since I was released from the hospital. Yesterday marked the seventh week, and today I finally got in to see a cardiologist! Because of my insurance, he couldn't run any of the tests today; those will have to wait. One is scheduled for next Monday and the other next Thursday. The following week I will return to find out my results. Apparently the thing the first doctor thought was a problem (LVH) isn't as much a concern as my irregular cardiogram and my out-of-control blood pressure. I'm currently taking four times the dose of my blood pressure medication as I was two months ago, and it is still above normal. According to today's cardiologist (as opposed to the one I saw at the hospital) there can be many causes for high blood pressure, which in turn causes the LVH. One of the problems has something to do with blood flow from to (or from?) the kidneys, so that's what I'm getting checked out next week.
In the meantime, while I wait for the test results to come in, the doctor put me on yet another medication. He said the one I was already taking tends to -- at that dosage -- cause swelling of the face and extremities. Well, yes, I'd noticed those things were going on, but thought they were a symptom rather than a side effect. Still, he kept me on that one for now and added a new medication. He said it will take several days to kick in but after that I should be feeling much better. I hate to be skeptical, but I don't have a lot of faith these days in doctors. Each one tells me that the last one told me something wrong. How do I know which is giving me good advice/diagnosis. I guess, because I've at least gotten in to see this one, I'll trust that he is, in fact, the One Who Knows. I'm ready to feel better!
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