Spinal abcess with cardiac ishemia unexplained

[telimaD]

What is the name of your state? PA
I am looking for help understanding what has happened to me, I am not looking to sue anyone so much, but I have nowhere to turn. I have asked for help here before and everyone has always been so helpful and I thank you all in advance for any help you can offer. Its hard to make this breif, but I will do my best.
I have severe phantom pain from a amputation above the knee. I have had to take serious narcotics to lead any meaningful life for a few years now. I took steps to change that by having a spinal stimulator implanted in my back. I had problems from the start, including temporary paralizing of my only foot with severe pain. The stimulator gave me no relief of phantom pain. As part of the therapy they removed the stimulator for a week. I developed an abscess in my spinal cord. I received at home antibiotics for about two weeks, it was nafcillin(sp). Within 36 hours I was very ill with diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, inability to eat and barely drink. I told the Dr., the home nursing company, the company providing the antibiotic and they all said there was a flu going around. At the two week date, I began having trouble breathing, I could not lay down without chest pain. It started about 10pm and at 6am the next morning I was sure I was having a heart attack and went to the ER. My blood pressure( always approximately 120/70) was 232/126, pulse around the 100's, and pain in the middle of my chest and under my left breast as well as radiating around my chest. The Dr. said my EKG was fine, no enzymes or anything on my blood work except low potassium. They worked for 8 hours to get my blood pressure down and it budged to 180/110. A nitro patched did nothing for the pain. I was admitted and every test done, yet over a three day period nothing lowered my blood pressure. I was given the persantine stress test and it was just unbelievable pain, my bp was 198/110 during the test, I was telling the Dr. I was dying and begging them to stop and he said it was doing me no harm. They were about to release me when another Dr came and said reversable ischemia was found. More tests were done to check blood flow into my heart. The Cardiac surgeon said he could not do a cath until the abscess in my spine was gone 6-8 weeks. They sent me home with same medicine they tried in hospital, for close to five days I lay in bed waiting to die. When I was admitted all antibiotics were stopped, when I got home they were started again by using Vancomycin this time. I have had four doses. Today suddenly something changed, I checked my bp and it was 120/66 and no pain. I can not figure this out, when someone has an ischemic event, does it just take time for one to get back to normal, or is there a change that the abscess in my spinal cord was the real problem all the time and with these three doses + one in hospital just before discharge could have made me well again? I asked the Dr, why is this happening and he said it must be stress. I have a hard time accepting this. It felt as if they thought I was faking it all and stress made it worse. I never was stressed about the abcess, as it seemed to be getting better except for the harsh side effects. Do people who get ischemia out of nowhere and recover so suddenly one day? They said they could not diagnose the blockage without the cath. I am sorry this is so long, earlier today I could not even imagine I would be able to use the computer and here I am. I really am begging for anyone to help me understand and again I sincerely thank you in advance from the top and bottom of my heart. I appologize also if this is the wrong place or forum for this, but I really have nowhere to turn.
Best wishes to all and God blessWhat is the name of your state?

 

[lealea1005]

Stress, whether physical or mental, causes the blood vessels to constrict, which causes a decrease of oxygen, which can cause the pain you were feeling. In addition to any existing coronary artery disease, the stress of the pain, as well as the constriction of the your blood vessels, could have raised your blood pressure.

The best way to tell exactly what is really going on is the cardiac cath. Even though you're feeling better, make sure you keep any follow up appointments with the Cardiologist.

Hope this info helps.

 

[ecmst12]

Pain is stressful and raises the blood pressure. The abscess was certainly putting stress on your body as well. Or the blockage could have dislodged itself somehow (not that that's any safer). Are you still going in for the cath?

 

[telimaD]

Cath response

My thanks to you both for your answers. I most definatly am going for the Cardiac Cath, but the Dr. will not perform it on me until there are no signs of the spinal abscess which he estimated at about 6-8 weeks. I will be more than ready. It feels like I won't make it. I wanted to ask further, if I could of Ecmst12. Do you think it possible that the abscess did dislodge during the treatment and caused all this cardiac event, along with stress? I am not able to judge, but it feels like they are related in a sixth sense sort of way. Again my sincerest thanks to you both for responding so quickly, I already feel better about whats going on with me.
Best wishes

 

[lya]

TelimaD,

Assuming you have a nose, the answer is as plain as the nose on your face!

You had an abscess on or near your spinal cord, which increases pressure in the spinal cord canal, which increases intercranial pressure, which increases BP, all of which affect cardiac function.

Reversible ischemia is really no big deal. Probably some oxygen supplementation helped; and, I'm betting the U wave (which is part of the T wave) on the EKG returned to normal once your potassium level corrected and your potassium level corrected once the antibiotics that affect potassium levels were discontinued.

You're a lucky person that the abscess did no harm to your neurological function.

Glad your feeling better!

 

[lealea1005]

TelimaD,

Assuming you have a nose, the answer is as plain as the nose on your face!

You had an abscess on or near your spinal cord, which increases pressure in the spinal cord canal, which increases intercranial pressure, which increases BP, all of which affect cardiac function.

Reversible ischemia is really no big deal. Probably some oxygen supplementation helped; and, I'm betting the U wave (which is part of the T wave) on the EKG returned to normal once your potassium level corrected and your potassium level corrected once the antibiotics that affect potassium levels were discontinued.

You're a lucky person that the abscess did no harm to your neurological function.

Glad your feeling better!

I'm embarrassed to say that it was as plain as the nose on my face too!
I got hung up on OP's stress issues.

 

[telimaD]

Lya wrote " Assuming you have a nose, the answer is as plain as the nose on your face!"
I am surprised by your response, maybe you are sarcastic by nature or hurtful. I was not aware that a spinal abscess would increase b/p, cardiac function or intercranial pressure, thats sort of why I asked that question of others who may have the knowledge that I do not have. I did say it felt as if the two events were related. While in the hospital oxygen supplement had no effect on the crisis I was in, and I had to take potassium supplements in large doses to get back to a normal level. The Dr's. did say there was reversable ischemia but to what extent they would not know without a cardiac cath. Also I asked the Dr's. if the spinal abscess could be responsible for all of this and the answer was always " It is most likely stress related". I wish I could agree with you that the ischemia wasn't a big deal because I felt and thought I was dying, also I do not feel lucky at all that the abscess has done no neurological damage because I still have it, it could still happen. I wrote the post here because in the past I have always received excellent advice and understanding when I needed it. And many have come through for me. In a way I do feel better having the knowledge that what happened to me might not have been heart related afterall, although I am saddened that three specialists didn't even consider it. I truely thank God this site exsists where I can ask questions and get honest answers that make me think perhaps I'm not as crazy as they made me feel. I thank you for your response and wish you well.

 

[lya]

Lya wrote " Assuming you have a nose, the answer is as plain as the nose on your face!"
I am surprised by your response, maybe you are sarcastic by nature or hurtful. I was not aware that a spinal abscess would increase b/p, cardiac function or intercranial pressure, thats sort of why I asked that question of others who may have the knowledge that I do not have. I did say it felt as if the two events were related. While in the hospital oxygen supplement had no effect on the crisis I was in, and I had to take potassium supplements in large doses to get back to a normal level. The Dr's. did say there was reversable ischemia but to what extent they would not know without a cardiac cath. Also I asked the Dr's. if the spinal abscess could be responsible for all of this and the answer was always " It is most likely stress related". I wish I could agree with you that the ischemia wasn't a big deal because I felt and thought I was dying, also I do not feel lucky at all that the abscess has done no neurological damage because I still have it, it could still happen. I wrote the post here because in the past I have always received excellent advice and understanding when I needed it. And many have come through for me. In a way I do feel better having the knowledge that what happened to me might not have been heart related afterall, although I am saddened that three specialists didn't even consider it. I truely thank God this site exsists where I can ask questions and get honest answers that make me think perhaps I'm not as crazy as they made me feel. I thank you for your response and wish you well.

Well, eeexxxxccuuussseee me. I didn't realize a house fell on your sister.

 

[telimaD]

oh come on. a house fell on my sister? why is it that you don't just say it outright instead of hiding behind metaphors. I am in crisis and I am in pain, of which you made light of, how did you think I would take it. I made it clear that I am not a doctor and that I feared the doctors treating me might be missing what was going on here, and I did ask Ecmst if based on his theory of the abscess dislodging...if that could cause all of this. You replied making it sound like everyone was off the mark and most hurtful to me, as I explained. How is it that someone who has so much intellegence and understanding of the physical body can not comprehend that their words come across so harshly? you said it could be much worse for me and I reminded you that all that could still happen. As much pain as I am in right now, I feel more badly for you because with your misunderstanding you clearly need more help than I. I do hope you do not make a living in the medical field where that sharp tounge could be hurting others on a daily basis. To those of you sincerely trying to help me, I am on my knees in awe of your selflessness and I thank you.

 

[telimaD]

one more thing

One thing I didn't mention lya, my only sister passed away a few months ago.

 

[lealea1005]

thelima,
I honestly have to say that I think you're being overly sensitive. I'm sure Lya will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the "plain as the nose on your face" comment was made to illustrate how simple/logical the answer was to the people who were anwering your post. She was right, the answer was as plain as the noses on our faces, and it was missed. She was also illustrating to you how your spinal abcess could have caused your symptoms in, IMHO, what was a clear, concise way.

 

[ecmst12]

I am not a medical professional and have been deferring to those who are, since this is clearly beyond my area of expertise. I've never heard of an abscess "dislodging", my understanding it that it's like a cyst full of infected stuff, not a solid mass. As the medicine kills the infection, it slowly shrinks and goes away. On the other hand, chest pain caused by electrolyte imbalance makes perfect sense to me as well, though (not being a medical professional) I would not have thought of it on my own.

 

[telimaD]

Ecmst

This was your first post in response to me. " Pain is stressful and raises the blood pressure. The abscess was certainly putting stress on your body as well. Or the blockage could have dislodged itself somehow (not that that's any safer)."
You were the first person to present this as a possibility, and so thats why I went on to ask you if the spinal problem could have done this to me. You first said dislodge. Now you say this "I've never heard of an abscess "dislodging", my understanding it that it's like a cyst full of infected stuff, not a solid mass. As the medicine kills the infection, it slowly shrinks and goes away. On the other hand, chest pain caused by electrolyte imbalance makes perfect sense to me as well, though (not being a medical professional) I would not have thought of it on my own."
From the beginning you were on to something and like I said back to you, I felt in a sixth sense sort of way that the two events were related.
Bottom line, I understand you are not a medical proffesional, but I think your idea led to something. Also there was no electrolyte imbalance ever, that was a misunderstanding by a later post. I sincerely thank you for offering your opinion and proffesional or not, it helped. Also both you and Lea helped me understand how stress works on the body.
I do thank you both and appreciate your willingness to offer words of explanation and understanding.
Best wishes, telima

 

[telimaD]

LeaLea

Thank you for writing me about this. Yes I agree that I may be oversensitive right now. And admitting that I can't just ignore the way she has written to me and slammed me, during a time when I am very ill. I also don't quite understand why you and others seem to let her walk all over you, perhaps she has more training or something, but your advice was right on as well, and it was helpful. The comment about the nose thing, really is kind of odd when Emst had already suggested that could be a player here. I do really appreciate your words of advice to me, I was so struggling with the whole idea of stress having a role here and you helped me understand it and made me feel better almost immediately and I am very ill right now.
Again I sincerely thank you.
Best wishes, telima

 

[telimaD]

Lya

Perhaps I am oversensitve right now.

"Assuming you have a nose, the answer is as plain as the nose on your face!
You had an abscess on or near your spinal cord, which increases pressure in the spinal cord canal, which increases intercranial pressure, which increases BP, all of which affect cardiac function.
Reversible ischemia is really no big deal. Probably some oxygen supplementation helped; and, I'm betting the U wave (which is part of the T wave) on the EKG returned to normal once your potassium level corrected and your potassium level corrected once the antibiotics that affect potassium levels were discontinued.
You're a lucky person that the abscess did no harm to your neurological function."

Maybe reversible ischemia is really no big deal, but I have to live with it for at least 8 weeks and on the end of the person feeling it, it seems like a big deal. As I already stated it wasn't oxygen supplementation and it wasn't anything to do with blood getting to the heart. There was no change in the U wave ever. And as I said the potassium was cleared up with tablets. I also do not feel so lucky about the abscess problem doing neurological damage, because there is no proof that it hasn't yet or won't in the future. Ecmst brought up the idea that the abscess may have been the problem. You went on the explain exactly why that made sense. Without the both of you I would have never have known and I do thank you for offering your help and understanding. I know I am overly sensitve, I am a mess and with the possibility that I may have overeacted, I appologize to you... I am sorry.
Best wishes and God bless, telima