Heart Cath. Done & Results

[Lisa45]

Ok the test is finally over and I can breathe! I was really really scared. It wasn?t as bad as I thought, the after care was worse. They gave me Valium and Benedryl and I laughed cause I have those at home and with so many past surgeries that's was like getting nothing. So they gave me Verset I.V. And Demerol and Fengren after for pain. My vein or what ever in my groin was so narrow they could not get the stitches or a whole plug so they had to do a very little almost no plug and butterfly and I went from having to lay there 3 hours and go home had to lay 6. It was not until 8pm that I got to go home cause they could not get my blood pressure back to where it should be. I stayed around 80/56 for hours and almost passed out. Finally around 3 bags of fluid later around 7 or so I got to 102/60 and they let me go home with strict instructions.

Findings: They did me without exercise right and left. He did not spend much time on the right side he said because he felt the echo was pretty clear cut and no need, severe Aortic is severe Aortic. He did not see or think I had ph, or pph or sph but again the test was not done under exercise.

After talking to Randy and I he agreed that in my case because of the coumadin (the blood thinner) if I got that I could not get the transplant. That would have been his first choice to use a mechanical valve. So since that is out he explained and was thinking of a tissue repair valve. The thinking is this. I for sure will have to have the surgery he feels in around 4 years, but it would be better in my case with my existing symptoms to have it now while I am in better health, no blockages or muscle damage to the heart. No telling where I could be in 4 years..so why not do it now while I am in the best health possible, then I could get listed because I would not have to be on the blood thinner meds. If I did not have the pulmonary fibrosis he would wait the 4 years but either way I will have to have the surgery.

So what do you all think? Thanks for praying for me I felt it you are all great and loved. God bless you all


Lisa
Heart to Heart

 

[JimL]

Congratulations, Lisa, on making it through the heart cath.
I envy you having four years to make a decision! I had like four minutes.
I suggest that you take your time and gets lots of information before you decide. We're all cheering for you.

 

[Gnusgal]

Hey, Lisa! I just read your profile and noticed we are in the same area (I'm in Plano, but go to Dallas for my docs). Where did you have your cath? Just curious. I had one back in January at Medical City.

Also, I was wondering (and I'm sure you've probably said before, but I missed it) what kind of transplant are you needing? Your comment about not being able to get a transplant due to coumadin made me sit up and take notice, because I am now on coumadin and I know will eventually need a heart (possibly heart/lung) transplant. What did your doc tell you? I had not thought until you mentioned it about the coumadin and how it would affect getting a transplant. It just occurred to me that when they get an organ that works you don't have the time to get the coumadin out of your system before the surgery, which would certainly cause a problem. I wonder why this was not a consideration for my valve surgery. Is this the reason you were given???

Good luck in your decisions.

 

[Ross]

Please remember that 4 years is only an estimate. When the valve is bad, it can go from 4 years to no time. If your regurg is as severe as it is, I would recommend getting this done as soon as possible in order to stave off any further heart damage. With you, I'm afraid to say anything because of your lung condition.

I'm not up to speed on why they couldn't use a mechanical valve. I think it would be a benefit to you, but your one of the rare cases that have to be treated fragile.

My Doctor didn't want me to be on Coumadin, but I had no choice. If I start another lung bleeding episode, I may not be around to keep you all laughing. He is being very aggressive in preventing blood clots and another surgery. I'm on 75mg Plavix, 81mg Asprin, 7.5mg Coumadin and my INR is finally stabilizing. I'm at 3.3, down from 3.5.

Lisa, this is one of those times like I faced. You'll have to turn it over to God and let go of the worries. In the long run, you don't have a choice anyway. You might as well do this while things aren't terribly bad.

Love,
Ross

 

[joy]

Hi Lisa, I think the cath turned out right, and I agree with you on having the surgery when you are in good health. That way you can get on the list for your transplant. I feel bad, but I think Ross is right, this is a situation that you have to turn it over to God, and trust Him to lead you to do the best thing for your health. I wish you all the luck in the world, and keep us posted, PLEASE! I will keep you and your family in my prayers, and just remember, you're among friends, and family.Take care, and I hope you are feeling better very soon.

 

[Sully77]

Lisa,

I, like you, was given a choice to take some time to make a decision. During that brief period another problem developed and I had to have the surgery right away. I chose to have the mechanical valve put in. I'm only 38 and didn't want to have the surgery again in 15 years or so. Ross's advice is very good and you have come to the right place to help you make that decision. I wish I had this kind of forum to help me when I was going through this last year.

Jay Sullivan

 

[wlaldridge]

So happy that the cath went ok and you are free of blockages, etc.

You are probably right about not going the 4 years and doing it while you are in as good a shape as possible.

We will pray for you as you struggle with this extremely diffivult decision. God will give you strength, without a shadow of a doubt.

Hang in there.

Bill

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Lisa

So glad to hear the cath went ok and you are feeling ok. I've read all your responses and I think Rossman hit the nail on the head when he said your health situation is "fragile." I know from Tyce's situation---totally asymptomatic one minute and afib and valve replacement the next---that my advice to you would be to have the procedures done now while you're in good health. But then, I'm the type of person who doesn't like to sit and wait for things to go bad. I believe in looking at the problem head on and solving it ASAP. I think you have to decide what type person you are and what is best for you personally. As I've said a few times on this forum, we have a friend who is a pathologist and his advice to us when Tyce was in good health was...."When valves go bad, they usually do it fast and you don't have alot of time to make decisions, so you're better off doing it while you're healthy and not compromised." I'm so glad we listened to him. I will put you in our prayers, I know you will make the decision that is right for you.

Evelyn

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi lisa!
so glad the cath went well and is behind you. now, decision making time.
it's really nice to have the luxury of a "supposed" 4 years or so... i would meet with different docs and really look into it carefully in the near future. as everyone said, you don't want to wait too long or for things to start going wrong.
this way you will be prepared should the time come.
it's great that you have "clear vessels" and no blockages_ that makes things a little simpler; just the valve to deal with.
please let us know how you're doing as you go along in making this difficult decision. we found that once we had that behind us we were be able to catch our breath again.
be well and please keep us posted.
all the best, sylvia