A
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Well after what seemed like weeks and WEEKS of waiting, I FINALLY have the results from all my tests..... but not really any answers..!!
THE CARDIO:
The stress test was "good", despite the fact I never even made it to a jog! My cardio said "well Anna, you performed better than other people in your age group who don't even have a history of prior cardiac issues". I can only assume by this comment he is comparing me to 30 year olds with acquired heart disease, ie: people who have made unhealthy life-style choices (maybe over-eating, not exercising, smoking...), as opposed to myself who has always been very fit and healthy. I thought that was a pretty worthless comparison.
The event monitor didn't reveal anything other than frequent ectopic beats - which was no surprise. He told me he was looking for v-tach but since none was recorded, everything is apparently hunky-dory. I would have thought a 24hr holter would be more beneficial for that sort of thing, as I very seldom "feel" my heart misbehaving anyway.
He also told me he didn't think it would be worth my while taking beta-blockers for the PACs & PVCs since they apparently slow your whole system (and mind) down.
Other than that, there wasn't much else to say.
THE GP:
All the blood-work they did came back A-OK.... which, again, was no surprise. They did the full iron & iron-store count, calcium and potassium, thyroid, white blood cell count, inflammatory/virus, liver & kidney, yada, yada, yada.
The sleep study didn't reveal anything at all and I did OK on the 6 minute walk.
He suggested I might benefit from a supervised exercise program, but I pointed out I was very fit until I started becoming symptomatic, and also participated in a monitored exercise program last year which only left me feeling more and more exhausted.
Anyhoo - all in all, I'm in fantastic health...... apart from feeling so completely exhausted and short of breath all the time.
MY OTHER NEWS:
I am packing up and moving interstate to lovely Victoria! I'll be living about 3hrs out of Melbourne which has some excellent medical facilities and a Congenital Heart Clinic for ADULTS!!!! This is actually run by the Director of Cardiology, so I'm hoping I'll be able to get some answers there.
Because of the move, I have obtained copies of all my medical records and found an interesting letter from the surgeon (who was originally going to do my PVR) to my cardio. While he agreed that surgery could wait, he was of the opinion it was definitely close to the time I would need it done, although it could probably wait another 12 months. After meeting with the surgeon, my cardio basically told me to see him for a check-up in 2 years and not expect to need surgery for 3-5 years.
Quite a difference!! Especially since he lead me to believe this was the surgeon's recommendations.
I emailed the surgeon on Friday to query the conflicting advice I'd been given and am currently waiting to hear back from him.
SO - that's about it! I'm going to be very busy in the next month or two getting everything packed and unpacked... so if you don't see much of me here, you'll know why. Meanwhile, I'm very excited about the move, especially since it's so gorgeous in that part of the country. Perhaps I might even get to catch up with some of the other Melbourne based valvers while I'm there.
Cheers everyone
Anna : )
THE CARDIO:
The stress test was "good", despite the fact I never even made it to a jog! My cardio said "well Anna, you performed better than other people in your age group who don't even have a history of prior cardiac issues". I can only assume by this comment he is comparing me to 30 year olds with acquired heart disease, ie: people who have made unhealthy life-style choices (maybe over-eating, not exercising, smoking...), as opposed to myself who has always been very fit and healthy. I thought that was a pretty worthless comparison.
The event monitor didn't reveal anything other than frequent ectopic beats - which was no surprise. He told me he was looking for v-tach but since none was recorded, everything is apparently hunky-dory. I would have thought a 24hr holter would be more beneficial for that sort of thing, as I very seldom "feel" my heart misbehaving anyway.
He also told me he didn't think it would be worth my while taking beta-blockers for the PACs & PVCs since they apparently slow your whole system (and mind) down.
Other than that, there wasn't much else to say.
THE GP:
All the blood-work they did came back A-OK.... which, again, was no surprise. They did the full iron & iron-store count, calcium and potassium, thyroid, white blood cell count, inflammatory/virus, liver & kidney, yada, yada, yada.
The sleep study didn't reveal anything at all and I did OK on the 6 minute walk.
He suggested I might benefit from a supervised exercise program, but I pointed out I was very fit until I started becoming symptomatic, and also participated in a monitored exercise program last year which only left me feeling more and more exhausted.
Anyhoo - all in all, I'm in fantastic health...... apart from feeling so completely exhausted and short of breath all the time.
MY OTHER NEWS:
I am packing up and moving interstate to lovely Victoria! I'll be living about 3hrs out of Melbourne which has some excellent medical facilities and a Congenital Heart Clinic for ADULTS!!!! This is actually run by the Director of Cardiology, so I'm hoping I'll be able to get some answers there.
Because of the move, I have obtained copies of all my medical records and found an interesting letter from the surgeon (who was originally going to do my PVR) to my cardio. While he agreed that surgery could wait, he was of the opinion it was definitely close to the time I would need it done, although it could probably wait another 12 months. After meeting with the surgeon, my cardio basically told me to see him for a check-up in 2 years and not expect to need surgery for 3-5 years.
Quite a difference!! Especially since he lead me to believe this was the surgeon's recommendations.
I emailed the surgeon on Friday to query the conflicting advice I'd been given and am currently waiting to hear back from him.
SO - that's about it! I'm going to be very busy in the next month or two getting everything packed and unpacked... so if you don't see much of me here, you'll know why. Meanwhile, I'm very excited about the move, especially since it's so gorgeous in that part of the country. Perhaps I might even get to catch up with some of the other Melbourne based valvers while I'm there.
Cheers everyone
Anna : )
