Frankie and Slim

Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year

Thursday, February 05, 2009

THIS FRIDAY GO RED

Heart Disease is the no. 1 cause of death among women according to the latest statistics.

My primary care physician in 2003 was treating me for a long list of complaints. I was taking 400 mg Celebrex for arthritis, I was being referred to a Neurologist for my unexplained blackouts and strange, sudden pain in my left arm, my blood pressure didn't really concern my doctor though it was 162 over 99 quite often and he laughed at my concern over my cholesterol being 252. He had been physician for my mother and my grandmother and neither of them had heart disease so I didn't need to worry. My annual physical yielded nothing to concern him and the very next day, not even 24 hours later, I was being treated for a near fatal MI (Myocardial Infarction aka Heart Attack).

If your physician ignores your symptoms, don't be afraid to insist you be examined for possible heart disease. Because most women are misdiagnosed and left to suffer heart attacks with little chance of getting the necessary help within the first six minutes, we die and no one is left to fight the fight against the number one killer of women.

This Friday, Go Red with your wardrobe! Whether it's a red dress, a red T-shirt, a red dress pin or red lipstick, show the world you support Go Red For Women, the American Heart Association's movement to help save women's lives.

Every minute, some one's mother, daughter, wife or sister dies from heart disease and stroke in the United States. Reducing these diseases in women must become a national priority. Ask your lawmaker to support the HEART for Women Act. Women's lives depend on it.




There is another Granny Annie out there and she is also promoting Go Red Friday so she's on my "I Love Your Blog" link today. Be sure and take a look at her blog.

22 comments:

  1. you got it! i wear a lot of red anyways LOL!

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  2. Thanks for the reminder:)

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  3. No problem!!!!! My winter coats, for some reson are all red!!!! We Aries love red!!!!

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  4. Same thing happenned with my neighbor, Granny.
    It's a disgrace. The doctor who didn't adequately respond to your symptoms should be repsonsible for all the costs you incurred with your heart attack.
    The next time, he wouldn't be so carless !

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  5. I'm glad you were one of the lucky ones. I had no idea it was the #1 killer of women.

    Btw, I'll be sporting my red undies tomorrow...for the cause!

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  6. I don't look good in red, but will get out my red Christmas turtleneck to wear. I doubt that anyone will see me though, unless it's the neighbor who might be looking out her window as I go to get my mail.

    Your doctor should be sued for malpractice. It is unconscionable that he ignored those red flags. It sounds like he should have retired.

    I'm glad you survived.

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  7. I'll have my red on....Great reminder post that we women must take charge of our own health.

    xoxo

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  8. I've been putting off talking to my Doctor about getting a cardio evaluation.Thanks for this reminder, GA.

    Red it is and I'm so glad they saved you!!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. Thank you all for your kind words. I actually have tears in my eyes for your kindnesses. By the way, that doctor fired us as patients two weeks after this. He never visited me in the hospital and when we had a scare about my blood pressure, Ron called the office and was put on hold. He told the operator, "Don't put me onf F---ing hold again!" and they fired us both as patients for Ron using foul language and would not take future calls from us. How afraid was that doctor of a law suit? He was also an attorney. My primary care physician now is a Saint and does everything in her power for both of us as does our Cardiologist.

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  10. Yikes! It makes me to furious to hear about all of the stories about women's health being ignored. Good for you for being active! And so glad you are OK!

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  11. Ill have a red sweater on tomorrow!

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  12. OK, I going to change my shirt....

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  13. Good post. Well said. I'll show my wife.
    Then she'll know why I put on the red lipstick.
    And dress. And underw..never mind.

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  14. btw. I'm sure glad you are still among us.

    2nd btw, I think I was thrown out high school once for infarctioning at the wrong time.

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  15. I agree with you, Granny Annie. I would really insist to be check again if I feel there is something wrong with me. Nobody wants to be misdiagnosed. It happened to my mom, I am just so glad that it did not take longer to find out the true diagnose.
    Thanks for this post. I enjoyed reading this.

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  16. Glad you're still with us! Sorry, I missed reading til Friday is almost over.

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  17. Anonymous1:06 PM

    The only red shirt I have has big ol letters on it that reads 'Santa is watching you...'.

    Guess I'll look like Christmas this Friday...

    Blast it, I missed it. I just checked the date.

    By the way, I like your quote, 'Faith is what holds us together while religion tears us apart'. That's soooo true.

    Cheers Grannie Annie!

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  18. I didn't get here soon enough to wear red on Friday.
    Thanks for sharing your story on the internet, where other women can read it and learn to take heart problems seriously. I'm SO GLAD you lived to tell your story!!!!!

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  19. I hope you gave that Doctor the what for!! They had a big thing about this at our local hospital this past Friday. Unfortunately I did not get to attend, but I wanted to.

    Good post about something we should all take to heart!

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  20. Annie,

    Ten years ago my best friend, Mary, had a heart attack and was hospitalized. When she seemed to be OK the next day, I took it for granted that, just like all the men I knew who had survived heart attacks, she would pull through.

    But,NO, she did not get well. She died in one of the best hospitals in New York City.

    I have always felt that she was not given the same attention and treatment that a man would have gotten.

    I pray that a woman having a heart attack today would be treated to the same concern a male patient would receive.

    Yes, I wore my red sweater yesterday. Even here in Florida it was cold enough for a sweater yesterday. It will be warmer today....

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  21. I'm glad that you're okay and have a new doctor. And I'm glad that we know Cliff. Laughter is the best medicine, right?

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