Your shower is too hot!

I had been seeing my primary care nurse for a little over 3 years, and everything was pretty much OK.

Then, I began having weak spells after my shower. I would have to sit down and put my head between my knees. This continued for a few weeks, and nothing was changing so I called and made an appointment to see my primary care nurse. I told her what I was experiencing, and she suggested I was showering in water that was too hot. I explained that I have very dry skin and I bathe in tepid water. She had no answer for me, and I left.

Not believed, once again

Well, the weakness and feeling faint after showering continued. I even have a shower stool to sit on while bathing, but the weakness continued. I made another appointment and told her nothing was changing, and I still feel weak and faint after showering. She once again told me I was showering in water that was too hot! I explained again that I have very dry skin and bathe in tepid water. It was very obvious she didn't believe me.

Still no support...

Another 3 weeks or so passed, and I was fixing dinner and broke into a drenching sweat, and my knees buckled, but I made it to a chair and put my feet up. After about 15 minutes, I felt better, but my husband insisted I lie down for a while, which I did. I made another appointment and told her about the latest incident. This time, she believed me. I got a call a few days later, and she told me to call a number she had just given me for a cardiologist!

Finally getting answers

Yep, I went to see him and told him what my primary care nurse said, and he rolled his eyes and shook his head! After all the ensuing tests, I had to have a heart catheterization. It turns out I do have a heart problem, and the test showed evidence of what was most likely a "Myocardial infarction"... a heart attack. I'm on medication now and feeling better, and I have a different primary care nurse. There are no doctors in my city who are taking on new patients! None! Our population is about 138,000 and there are only NPs available. I wonder if this nurse would have treated me differently if I didn't have a history of opioid use... it's hard when you have to fight to be taken seriously.