I just got back from the emergency room. As some of you know, I had been having shortness of breath and tightness for the last 5 days. well yesterday it got better but today it was a little worse so hubby made me go to the emergency room.

They did an EKG and chest X-rays. The first thing the doctor said when he came in the room was "You're heart is huge!"
So now i have to go to a cardiologist on monday (at the latest) and I dont know how we are going to pay for it or the emergency room visit tonight for that matter. I am terrified! I dont know if there is anything they can do to make me better at this point. Maybe it is too late to help me, i just dont know,.. right now I am a mess. I mean, I have been trying to eat better and exercise but it didnt do any good. I just dont know what to say right now, I am so scared.

ok. first thing. stressing out is only going to make matters worse. i know that this could be serious but try to calm down. get your 2nd opinion from the cardiologist to be sure and just go from there. that's all you can really do. just take it easy and relax. i'm sure they will be able to help. my son was born with all kinds of things wrong with his heart and now you can't even tell there is anything wrong. you have a lot of people here supporting you. think positive and have an easy weekend. get to the cardi as soon as you can and then post an update as soon as you can.

Thanks for the advice,..

Ill try, but like I said, I am a mess right now:-( im too young to be having to do this sort of thing. I dont even know what can be done, im not familiar with this sort of thing,..

*sigh*
I just dont know

i completely understand. its really hard not to be stressed when its something like this.

i'm not really sure what all they will do either. i'm thinking probably put you on a very strict diet, stress and non stress heart tests etc. Jen might know... i think she's a nurse.

Heather,

Lots of {{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}} to you. I know it is hard not to be scared. I'm glad your husband made you go to the ER. I am thinking positive things here ~ they let you go home, so you've gotta be ok until you can go the cardiologist. Maybe you should not do to much exercising until you see that dr ~ then they will help you know how to take care of yourself. The bills will work out somehow. Right now you need to do what ever you need to to take care of you!!

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I know you must be scared but if they let you go home without seeing a cardiologist on call they must have figured you were ok for now. Just try to take it easy and relax as much as you can until you see the dr.

*hugs* Heather.. I'll keep you in my prayers. Have faith, it will all be ok.

Heather

Its so easy to say "try not to worry" but almost impossible to do, isn't it? It must be very scary for you right now, but as you said, you have only a tiny bit of information, and even though the mind tends to think the worse, all that stress and worry could be just wasted energy when the specialist tells you a prescribed pill is all you need to right the problem.

I googled "enlarged heart" and came up with this - as you can see, it could be something easily dealt with and hopefully that'll ease your mind a bit until you get an appointment with the cardiologist.

"Although enlarged heart does not always cause symptoms, it can be detected through a chest x-ray or an echocardiogram (ultrasound examination of the heart). Some x-ray views of the heart can distort its size and falsely suggest enlargement, but other tests such as echocardiograms will help to confirm the diagnosis.

Many patients with small degrees of heart enlargement should lead a normal life with normal activities. Severe degrees of heart enlargement may impose limitations on exercise. The family doctor is in the best position to give individual advice about heart enlargement and its treatment. They will also advise on how much exercise can be undertaken.

Whether or not you receive treatment will depend on the underlying causes of the enlarged heart. It will also depend on any symptoms. If the heart has become enlarged due to high blood pressure, specific medications may be prescribed. Lifestyle issues may also be looked into. Reducing your alcohol and salt intake, eating a balanced diet and taking regular physical exercise within your limits can all be of benefit."

You know you're in our thoughts and we're sending good vibes out to you - tell your husband to give you an extra big hug for us.

{{hugs}}

Heather,

I am sending you lots of ((((hugs)))). Honey, I know it is hard to relax, and I am mad that they were so insensitive and didn't reassure you at the emergency room. I am sure you are o.k. or they wouldn't have sent you home. And I am sure you will be o.k......it is not too late for you to be healthy. No way! I hope you get an appointment really soon so you can get some reassurance. And I agree, try not to worry about the bills, you need to take care of you. Let us know how you are doing, o.k.? (Stress can definitely make you feel they way you are feeling, and who wouldn't feel stressed. I will be glad when you can get more information.) Take care.

I'm so glad your DH made you go to the hospital!

You will get through this, Heather. Many {{{hugs}}} to you.

Heather, first of all, {{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}} I agree with the other wise responses, try -- hard as it might be -- to keep a level head. I know all kinds of scary things must be running through your head right now, but truly, if you were in imminent danger, they wouldn't have released you, much less let you go home without a cardiologist consult.

The brief information Jill provided indicates that having an enlarged heart doesn't equal a death sentence, so follow her lead and research your situation. Getting more information on it should really help you to feel like you have a little more control over the situation.

As for the financial piece, what about looking into governmental support? There's a system in place for you to have access to the care that you need -- whatever it is. Don't assume that because you don't have medical insurance you have no options. That's not the case. Here's a link to the Bureau of Primary Health Care at the Department of Health and Human Services. By going there and filling out the form, you're not signing up for anything -- you're just getting information. I strongly urge you to be proactive in managing your health. This is probably just a wake-up call -- not an indicator of impending doom.

Get lots of hugs from your wise and loving husband, and then take control of the situation. Respond with action, and I think your head will be in a much better place about it.

You're in my prayers and thoughts, Heather.

Big bigs hugs Heather!
I know I've already sent you a message but I've just thought of something...
When you go on Monday take a list of questions you want answers to. They shouldn't have let you go home with all this anxiety and fear! Get your Husband to insist that they answer them if you are not feeling well enough.
Hang in there friend!
Lots and lots of love and I'm praying for you!

(((((((((hugs Heather))))))))) - I can only imagine how scared you feel right now - my thoughts and prayers are with you.

I agree that they would NOT have sent you home if your condition was life threatening. Many people with heart problems can rectify them through diet and exercise - so you are never too late to try to improve your health.

Take care and good luck for Monday.

Love Amanda x

Thanks for all the hugs and good thoughts guys! I am less of a mess right now. Last night I refused to go to sleep. I was dog tired but I kept saying I wasnt tired. At after 330 am, i eventually conked out! I was afraid if I went to sleep, I wouldnt wake up again. Tonight hubby has to go to work so I will be here alone and I am really scared about that.

I cant do anything. Every time i move, i get worsening shortness of breath and chest tightness. I even have it when i am just sitting here doing nothing!! I talked to an online pal who freaked me out. She said that her aunt had enlarged heart and it was because of weight, so they put her on a strict diet (NO sodium NO fat and NO something else i cant remember) to prepare her for gastric bypass. I DO NOT want to do gastric bypass, it scares the crap out of me. Cant they just restrict my diet more and give me meds???? I think my enlarged heart id caused by high BP but im not a doctor....

We are going to try to get Medicaid or something, or at least try to work out payment arrangement. We couldnt call the cardiologist today because his office was closed. I am even scared of going to the doctor,.. what kinds of weird and scary tests might they run? Will the doc be mean and condescending? Will I even make it to Monday!

Im sure you can tell my state of mind,.. very scary, but at least im not crying anymore,.. well not as much anyway;-P I dunno, maybe this is a good thing that they found it and I can live the rest of my life better and healthier. *shrug* I am trying really hard to stay positive and not freak out but it is really difficult.

Thanks everyone for all your support!