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I've Been Out of Work Because Of Cardiac Problems

Mya Symons

Mya Symons
Messages
1,029
Location
Washington
I recently moved from Wyoming back to Seattle. I went for my DOT physical and my pulse was sky high while my blood pressure dropped. Thus, I failed the physical. I have an appointment with a Cardiologist in March. The good news is I might finally get a diagnosis of POTS. The bad news is I will have to find another field to work in. I have a Paralegal degree, but can't do that anymore because of pretty severe memory problems. My new doctor has prescribed Namenda to me which seems to be helping a bit. The nice thing about Seattle is that they have Fibromyalgia specialists.

I've been very depressed thinking about it all and haven't been on here for awhile. I have been sleeping a lot. I'm trying to get myself together. I don't do well without a job. Hopefully, I will figure out soon what I'm going to do with myself.
 

barbc56

Senior Member
Messages
3,657
I found it quite depressing when I had to stop work so know how you feel. I still miss it 12 years later and unfortunately am not able to do what I planned when I retired. I had a wonderful career for 26 years, except for that last year when I was deteriorating, didn't have a diagnosis. It was the first time I ever got a negative evaluation. The higher ups were not supporrtive at all but some of my coworkers were. I miss the comradery as much as the work.

I had to go on what I thought was going to be short term disability which did not happen.

I don't have any answers but maybe others have some suggestions. In fact I could use some suggestions and would think others here as well. I had planned on doing some volunteer work at home recording for the blind but couldn't do that.I might try that later.

So sorry you are going through this. It's hard. Do you think that now you've been diagnosed you will get to feeling relatively better? Certainly hope so.

Wishing you the best and if able keep us informed.:hug:
 
Last edited:
Messages
15,786
@Mya Symons - I had a good Naturpathic Doctor (ND) in Seattle who was able to help me quite a bit with my OI. Though my problem was narrow pulse pressure, with elevated heart rate just being a reaction to that.

He was willing to prescribe Strattera, an NRI, which worked quite well. Eventually I switched to Yohimbe, which also has an impact on norepinephrine, since he couldn't send me prescriptions while I'm living in Europe.

Anyhow, those treatments also helped me a lot with cognitive issues, since a lot of them were due to OI acting up. So it might be a little soon to give up on being a paralegal ... OI treatment can make a big difference.
 

Mya Symons

Mya Symons
Messages
1,029
Location
Washington
@Mya Symons - I had a good Naturpathic Doctor (ND) in Seattle who was able to help me quite a bit with my OI. Though my problem was narrow pulse pressure, with elevated heart rate just being a reaction to that.

He was willing to prescribe Strattera, an NRI, which worked quite well. Eventually I switched to Yohimbe, which also has an impact on norepinephrine, since he couldn't send me prescriptions while I'm living in Europe.

Anyhow, those treatments also helped me a lot with cognitive issues, since a lot of them were due to OI acting up. So it might be a little soon to give up on being a paralegal ... OI treatment can make a big difference.

Thanks for the information on the medicine. I stopped working as a Paralegal more than 15 years ago because of the memory problems. I am taking namenda now and it helps a bit; but, unfortunately, not enough to go back to a Paralegal job. It wasn't hard to give up being a Paralegal because you actually don't get paid very much for the amount of work you do.

The job I was doing more recently was driving. I would do the same route every day so the memory issues were not a problem. Seattle pays better than Wyoming. I could be making $22 dollars an hour right now if it weren't for the heart problems. It would have been so nice to finally have some money.

I'm planning on doing some thinking to figure out what it is I can do now. The good news is my husband is making good money since we moved back to Seattle so I don't have to get a high paying job.
 

Mya Symons

Mya Symons
Messages
1,029
Location
Washington
Thanks guys for the well wishes. I think I'm going to hold off on thinking I'm doomed until the cardiologist appointment and try to get up and do something constructive. My new doctor wants me to try to go for short walks three times a week. I think I'll start there and try to think more positive thoughts. :)