I have been mis-diagnosed as having a serious heart problem:

I initially thought I had had a heart attack before I rang 999 re my lung problem. " I woke up early one morning with my heart beating so fast that it felt that it was trying to get out of my chest and sweat pouring out of me, (I thought I was having a heart attack). So I rang 999.......

 BUT NOW I have been mis-diagnosed as having a serious heart problem: Due to the stress I have been going through trying to get answers my left arm went numb and one doctor insisted that it was "due to the way I sat" So I transferred surgeries where it was discovered I had no BP or pulse in my left arm and was referred to the general surgeon and thus the cardiologist.  

     I had an echo-scan where the diagnosis was I had a serious heart condition and was put on Warfarin in a regime of 8, 8, 9 mgs on a three day rota. The surgeon discovered that I had a blockage in my left subclavian artery and I was sent for an angiogram. Another doctor in my current surgery said that I could not have a blockage 'cos if I did then my arm would go blue and fall off. The 1st appt was cancelled 2 hours after the appt time, Eventually the 1st was performed via the femoral artery. I had 2 more in one appointment from the femoral artery again and the left radial artery when they tried, but failed, to put a stent in the left subclavian artery.  

     I had a 4th angiogram performed via the right wrist to ascertain the condition of the arteries around my heart. I was on the table for 90 minutes, my arm was bouncing of the table and I described the feeling, at the end, to the cardiologist that it felt like I was being reamed. I also saw my blood splattered on the floor. The computer showing "relaxing pictures" also "crashed 3/4 the way through and showed the windows "blue screen of death".  I had immediate severe pain in my right thumb and noticed I had NO PULSE now in my right radial artery. After various investigations I am stuck with now NO pulses in BOTH arms.    

        Prior to the operation for my left arm (a subclavian carotid bypass) it was noticed that the original echo-scan was missing so I had another one. The anaesthetic team turned up later that day and told me my heart was anatomically sound and to stop the Warfarin IMMEDIATELY.

It was described as a mis diagnosis, an over zealous mis-interpretation or worse, because the 1st scan was missing, I was diagnosed from the wrong echo-scan.

    I recently went to see yet another doctor in my current surgery in order to get reassurance re my heart. The Doctor, Dr K, went ballistic and called me an ungrateful patient as her surgery had discovered my heart disease and promptly sent me to Tonna Mental Health Unit for what is now the 4th time. Yet the Mental Health Access Team said, in 2006, that I have no discernible mental health component and I need answers to the odd and unprofessional way I was retired.

I have since been reassured, by word with no examination, by another doctor that my heart is OK but still have NO pulse in either arm and the exact same symptoms as before all this.

I have also recently had, what I thought, was a heart attack but following an ECG my heart apparently is OK.

BUT do I believe them this time as I believed them last time and it was a misdiagnosis. I am reluctant to ask the Doctor what is going on as I may be sent to the Mental Team AGAIN..

 Was this a heart attack? or The story of my right thumb.  or   home