Cath Results...YIKES!

[JetService]

Well, here I am in bed nursing a tender groin. What an interesting day at the hospital. To get down to the important stuff, the Cardiologist that performed my Cardiac Cath didn't pull any punches. He said while my heart and arteries were fine, my leak is incredibly severe and said he couldn't believe I wasn't in the hospital or on a respirator!!! I told him I felt fine and even did a little soccer scrimmage with my son's team last night. My BP was great, pulse was 60 and resp. was around 12-14. I asked him if I could at least hold off until my Las Vegas trip in three weeks and he said, "You're not going to Las Vegas." I have a consultation with the Heart Center doing the surgery on the 7th and he said I should have the surgery the following week. He did put in his notes his opinion, but indicated that the H.C. team will make the final decision. I hate missing the Vegas trip and 6 people we had planned to go with will be very disappointed. On the otherhand, part of me is somewhat relieved that this will all be over very soon (and I'll save a $1,000 from gambling )

The day started out a little shaky. Checking in, I noticed the DX on my form was 'Unstable Angina'. I asked one of the techs if that meant chest pains. He said yes. I was furious and said I wanted to know how that got on there. That was the wrong DX and I have AVI!!! I told him this is exactly how people get their wrong kidney's taken out and wondered if the incorrect DX would have any bearing on the type of cath the cardio performed. He said I'll make some phone calls. Everything was sorted out and Cardio assured me that he knew what needed done and my situation. I told him I was very disturbed by this and wanted to know where the wrong DX got put on the form and who's responsible. Also, that my confidence was just shattered. But it all worked out in the end. The cath with nothing like I expected. There was no discomfort whatsoever. I was alert the whole time and the only two things I felt was the initial local which wasn't a big deal and the heat from the dye. That was WIERD! Felt like my body was filled with hot bath water. Very interesting feeling. So that's my update. Any thought??!!!

 

[fyrfytr]

Sounds like you won't be in the waiting room much longer and you will be on the downhill side of the mountain recovering. If I were you I won't wait much longer, I think your friends will understand why you can't go to Vegas and that there will be many more times you will be able to go.

The heat from the dye is a very weird feeling isn't it.

I hope that everything goes well for you. You are in my prayers and thoughts.

Dave
_________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[Ross]

I love the warm fuzzy feeling that dye gives you and the way it shoots about all 4 quadrants of your body. Makes me all giddy. hehe.

I guess you don't want to go fishing today then huh? hehe again.

At least your proactively doing something about all of this and not trying to put it off. If it's as bad as they say it is, you could be in real trouble. Not saying that to scare you. So what, no Las Vegas this year, but at least you'll be fixed and be around to go in the years ahead, that's more important anyway.

Let me know how bad you end up bruising. I looked like they hit me with a Greyhound bus for a couple of weeks afterwards.

Keep us up to speed as you can.

 

[KathyH]

Hi, Sorry to hear about your heart problems. I was wondering if the Dr put DX of chest pain down so your insurance would pay for the cardiac cath? I had gotten a copy of my stress test which the Dr was doing because of valve problems, however the reason for the test said chest pains. I just assumed that the Dr put that to be sure insurance would cover it. Good Luck with your surgery.
Kathy

 

[Nan]

Good luck with your upcoming surgery. It's really probably easier on you in the long run if you get it done ASAP (not to mention safer!)....waiting is really hard
( for most of us, at least) And you can look forward to going to Las Vegas as a recovery present! Keep us posted.

 

[JetService]

Thanks everyone. I'm definately not going to Vegas. Gambling with some extra dough is one thing, but with wellbeing is another. My wife has already cancelled everything. Thanks for the info on the DX. That makes complete sense and makes me feel soooooo much better. I never even thought of that. Now I feel bad I made such a fuss!!! Well, now that that's over, my big fear is that my heart is going to start going South on me at any moment. I still feel fine and I'm guessing nerves will start causing pitter-patters and a pit in my chest. I just hope I can tell the difference. RossY, I didn't go fishing afterall LOL! I was too afraid of my femoral breaking open out in the middle of nowhere. Would've attract some fish, but....oh, that's just sick! heehee.

Thanks again for all the well wishes. Like I said, I think knowing that this whole saga will not linger for very long is actually helping me cope with what's coming. The irrational part of my brain is kind of looking forward to getting it done. I'm sure my sensible part will take over soon and start giving me the heeby-jeebies. As that happens, I'm sure I'll be all over this board for a dose of resolve and strength.

Talk to you later!

 

[Nancy]

Hi Jet-

You got a big surprise, but a fortuitous one! Thank goodness they found out just how severe your situation is and are getting it taken care of fast. You should feel very lucky. This is exactly the type of situation that can cause people to be in serious, serious trouble, asymptomatic and not knowing the true facts, is a bad combination.

Your life has been saved and you won't have this problem hanging over your head anymore.

I hope you will take things easy until you have your surgery. It's not going to be that far away, and then in about 6-8 weeks you will be feeling pretty well.

I know you're shocked, so keep coming to the site and chat with us. It will help to relieve your anxieties.

Take care,

 

[Gail in Ca]

After my screwed up cath, and I ended up in ER, then to Stanford hospital, the cardiologist that had seen me2 days before stated I had chest pain, yet I didn't. I actually had horrible back pain, but no SOB or pain. I think he stated this to be sure I got my surgery asap, since I obviously was not scheduled for my avr. But, my BP was 90/19, so I was needing that surgery, and got it, but not until the next evening at 7pm.
Gail

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hello Jetservice,

You have been blessed with a Life Saving Discovery.
I'm glad to hear your wife was wise enough to take advantage of it.

Another good diagnostic tool is the echocardiogram which is a non-invasive ultrasound picture of your heart but I guess they figure they know enough from your cath that additional testing is not required.

With valve problems, there are many cases where NO symptoms appear in spite of SERIOUS underlying problems. It takes a leap of faith sometimes, but waiting for symptoms can lead to disastrous consequences. Consider yourself VERY FORTUNATE and follow through with the proper treatment. Many of us find a calm in the middle of the storm when the fear of NOT proceeding exceeds the fear of proceeding.

Best wishes,

'AL'

 

[davidwattsjr]

Symptoms?

Symptoms?

May I ask what sort of symptoms you had that prompted your doctor to pursue the Cath? Glad things were caught in time. Best wishes.

David.

 

[Gisele]

Ross, Am I to understand

Ross, Am I to understand

that you liked the dye? OMG! I don't quite remember the dye from my cath as that was over 21 years ago, but I do remember the dye from my CT scan with contrast just one month ago. That was the most uncomfortable thing, OK, one of the most uncomfortables things I have gone through. I just had to talk myself through it so I wouldn't flip out. I really hate being a good patient and sitting there when that's the last thing I want to do.

I don't know if maybe this was so uncomfortable as I was in so much pain that maybe anything would bother me? All I remember was with my cath the docs in the room helped calm me down, but in a CT scan room you are by yourself.

Ross, guess you just surprised me saying you like it! LOL

 

[KimC]

JetService, you won't believe this: I'm from the Fort originally, have Aortic Insufficiency and will head your way for more diagnostics at Lutheran's the week of Oct. 13. Dr. Peterson and Deschner are the best surgeons in the area. They're at Indiana/Ohio Heart.

I'm meeting with them both, per referrals from my father and brother who both are neurosurgeons at Lutheran's. (They wouldn't steer me wrong!) You SHOULD have more than one opinion. My father said I should have THREE! OK, he's a bit concerned.

He also said that valve replacement surgeries are routinely performed at Lutheran's, as are heart transplants. An advantage of having it done locally is that you'll have more one-on-one attention than at larger research hospitals.

One of the cardiologists that I'm seeing is Dr. Mattson. My dad's setting up the other appointment, I still don't have his name but will share it with you when I do.

Most importantly, my brother's a Muskie fisherman, as I've mentioned to the other fisherman-Hoosier in our forum, AL. (He can share the good fishin' holes with you in a Private Message).

I'll send you a PM with my contact info. Please feel free to call me the week of Oct. 13, if you'd like to have a cup of decaf and chat about what we're going through or ask any questions.

BTW, I was also born in 1966 -- maybe we drank the same bad Fort water for too long and that's how we ended up here at age 37? (I'll be 37 in November).

Best,

 

[JetService]

David, I wasn't having any symptoms as all. What triggered everything was my family doctor detecting a murmur during a check-out. He ordered an echo and I was off to the races from there. The first echo show AVI, MVP and mild enlargement. The cardio that looked at it requested a TEE which indicated the leak was severe. He then ordered the cath which was done by a different cardiologoist and it apparently showed that it is more severe than they thought (either that or the two cardios had a difference of opinion on the severity).

Kim, my team is coming from Indiana/Ohio Heart and everything is being done at Lutheran. I'm glad to hear what you wrote about them. I knew they were pretty good and the only transplant center within a 120mi radius. I hope my surgeon turns out to be one of those you mention. I'm sure they're all terrific though.

 

[KimC]

P.S. Jet, given the urgency of your surgery, it sounds like coffee was a bad idea, sorry.

Please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me. I'd be happy to pay you a visit in the hospital if it's done the week of Oct. 13!

Praying for a speedy recovery --

 

[Ross]

Coffee is never a bad idea! Never never never.

 

[Guest]

Hey Jet-

Sounds like the good Lord up above is looking out for you!!
I'm sure everything is going to work out just fine. Everything may be going very quickly but it sounds like thats the way things need to go in your situation...the sooner the better.
Keep us posted and ask any questions you have on your mind. We'll help you get through this smoothly!

Julia

 

[JetService]

Thanks! I have a consult with the Indiana/Ohio team and I'm guessing I'll get a date then.

 

[John S]

Giselle--dye is OK

Giselle--dye is OK

Giselle,

Whenever I have to get test with the dye, I just imagine I'm baking on a beach somewhere, and that does it for me. What I hate about the CAT scans is having to keep your arms over your head for so long. I've finally found a way to cheat a little bit to be more comfortable.

Jet,

Yikes is right. Hope everything goes well for you. Plenty of time for Las Vegas.

 

[Gisele]

Thanks John

Thanks John

I guess with all the pain I was enduring with my subdural laying on the beach didn't come to mind, but if it ever happens again-which it better not-I will try to remember your hint.

When I have my CT scans they are of my head so my hands are down by my side. Right now I am so very cold that a nice warm beach sounds soooo good. I don't want to hear from our southern friends on how warm it is there.............I am so jealous!