Waiting for Answers
I’m a 63 year old female with CHF symptoms who is awaiting the results of a nuclear stress test yesterday which will hopefully provide an answer to the cause of my health issues.
Quick summary: Type 1 diabetes (adult onset), both knees replaced in the past two years (slow rehabilitation led to weight gain of 20 pounds), blood pressure began rising in August along with edema in legs and feet. Saw PCP in October who started me on hydrochlorothiazide and referred to cardiologist. Normal echocardiogram in early November, nuclear stress scheduled for January. Cardiologist started me on lisinopril and several days later, developed hard, dry cough. She switched me to Losartan but coughing continued. In mid December, saw PCP for cough, normal chest X-ray, sent for pulmonary function test which I was not able to complete because of cough. Ended up in ER (via ambulance) last week because cough was so bad I couldn’t breathe. Normal EKG and chest X-ray, one lab result indicated possible clot in lung so lung CT with contrast was performed and it was normal. Now trying to patiently wait for results and hopefully an answer.
Happy I found this forum, have been lurking for a few weeks and it’s good to find others who understand.
HI.
Welcome to our online community! I see you have joined with us a bit earlier this year and, we're glad to see you already engaging in conversation here in the forums. Thank you for sharing your own personal experiences with us. By what you have explained here it sounds like you have been through quite a bit. I see it has been several days since you posted. I am wondering if you received the results of this test yet? Are you able to give us an update? Wishing you all the best. John. heart-failure.net community moderator. Nuclear stress test was normal. I am being referred to pulmonologist (with rise in Covid cases, new patient appointments are a long wait) for further lung studies. I have a follow up with cardiology in early February. PCP and I have concluded that the cough onset is likely coincidental to all the other symptoms.
Hi. Thank you for the update. Glad to hear that your stress test (along with the EKG and x-ray) were normal. That is good news. Glad to hear that your doctors are following up with you to make sure you are okay, and that you are able to get an appointment with a pulmonologist. In the meantime, I think it is a great idea that your cardiologist is following up with you in February. Do you feel now that the symptoms you described above (blood pressure rising, edema, and cough) have subsided since you have begun treatment? That said, we are glad you found our growing and FREE community here. As you can see, we are all about everything heart and heart failure here. If you have any questions at any time -- or even if you just need support -- please feel free to ask here at any time. Either myself or one of my colleagues are more than happy to help out as best we can. Wishing you all the best. John. heart-failure.net community moderator. 
I hope everything is going well for you and that you are maintaining your cardiology appointment as well as are in good health mentally, emotionally, and physically. I can emphasize with you as far as long waits to see a pulmonologist and cardiologist. Feel free to reach out anytime. Leslie (Community Moderator).
