C
ccrawford
Hi Lisa - Good to hear from you. Golly kiddo, sounds like you're having a time of it. Good luck at the doc's office, let us know how it went, and you know you're on all of our minds. Chris
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
L
Lisa45
Thanks Everyone
Thanks Everyone
I really can't say enough how much I appreciate all you have done in prayers and comments and thoughts and prayers.
There is an old saying that you either contribute to or contaminate someone elses life...you all have contributed to mine!
I promise to post as soon as I get home.
I would be lying if I said I definately am a little more nervous than normal....The cardiologist made some comment I seem to remember (course still out of it some what.) that the artery may make it's own bypass? Is that possible? If so and it continues to become more and more
blocked than wouldn't that get in the way of the other artery in the same area? Isn't that the whole reason they can't do the stint or the angoplasty?
Ok there I go again. I will post when I get home. Good one to ask him if I get the chance.
Love you all
Lisa
Thanks Everyone
I really can't say enough how much I appreciate all you have done in prayers and comments and thoughts and prayers.
There is an old saying that you either contribute to or contaminate someone elses life...you all have contributed to mine!
I promise to post as soon as I get home.
I would be lying if I said I definately am a little more nervous than normal....The cardiologist made some comment I seem to remember (course still out of it some what.) that the artery may make it's own bypass? Is that possible? If so and it continues to become more and more
blocked than wouldn't that get in the way of the other artery in the same area? Isn't that the whole reason they can't do the stint or the angoplasty?
Ok there I go again. I will post when I get home. Good one to ask him if I get the chance.
Love you all
Lisa
R
Raverlaw
Lisa,
Just saw your thread. I know you're probably at the Doctor as I write this, so best wishes and prayers for you. I hope you ask your Doctor all of these questions - the doctors are the ones we have to put our trust in.
If they're telling you they can do the heart surgery now and that will keep you *alive* and eligible for the lung transplant, what other choice do you have? There are many people on this board who have had more than one major surgery - none of them by choice.
Also, I wanted to share with you that I have an acquaintance who had cystic fibrosis and had a double lung transplant at age 22 - she has fully recovered and is doing fine now, two years post-op. If you're not ready for the lung transplant yet, do whatever they're telling you it will take to get ready and stay eligible.
That's what I'd do. Be sure to post when you get back from your consultation today and keep us all up to date on your situation.
Just saw your thread. I know you're probably at the Doctor as I write this, so best wishes and prayers for you. I hope you ask your Doctor all of these questions - the doctors are the ones we have to put our trust in.
If they're telling you they can do the heart surgery now and that will keep you *alive* and eligible for the lung transplant, what other choice do you have? There are many people on this board who have had more than one major surgery - none of them by choice.
Also, I wanted to share with you that I have an acquaintance who had cystic fibrosis and had a double lung transplant at age 22 - she has fully recovered and is doing fine now, two years post-op. If you're not ready for the lung transplant yet, do whatever they're telling you it will take to get ready and stay eligible.
That's what I'd do. Be sure to post when you get back from your consultation today and keep us all up to date on your situation.
A
alicia
My dear little Lisa, How can God put yet another thing on you? I am praying for you and I know you will have a great outcome! You are a fighter and that helps. If you need anything, you've got my #. Love ya girlfriend...
Alicia
Alicia
Glenda
Well-known member
Lisa, all I can say is that my prayers are with you. I think I have been though so much these past four years but it's nothing compared to what you are going thourgh, and you are so young.
A book that really helped me was "Minute Meditations for Healing and Hope" by Emilie Barnes. It's a wonderful little book. I keep it by my chair and pick it up all the times. The pages are getting frayed.
Love and God Bless, Glenda
A book that really helped me was "Minute Meditations for Healing and Hope" by Emilie Barnes. It's a wonderful little book. I keep it by my chair and pick it up all the times. The pages are getting frayed.
Love and God Bless, Glenda
L
Lisa45
Home from the Doctors
Home from the Doctors
Okay, I don't know any other way to say this because I am so frustrated right now I could go through the roof. Also, I think sometimes that doctors need to come down a notch and realize that the amount of stress they put on their patients contribute to the patients own illness.
So this is what he said today:
1. He spoke with my lung transplant team and they feel my lungs are still in good enough shape (there would be sufficient lung capacity to withstand the open heart surgery.) that His outcome to operate or not will not affect my staying on the lung transplant list. So that in itself is great news.
2. The Surgeon's biggest concern is getting the most accurate readings possible for many reasons ( I am sure you all know them on my arteries and my valve.)
3. Therefore he wants me in tomorrow morning for a Cardiac MRI which will definitively give him the results he is looking for in 5 min. (sure!) He did promise to let me know one way or another tomorrow. If surgery is required I could go in for both as soon as Friday.
If not then they may not do surgery at all right now and watch me for a bit (don't know what that means, a bit?) So..
Bottom line......... Don't know till tomorrow.
I wonder if these doctors ever realize how they put peoples lives on hold and what the heck good is having the right and left cath. if it isn't good enough. Apparently one or two doctors think it is significant and a couple aren't sure thus tomorrows test which should tell us everything.
I almost broke down and cried right then and there. I don't even care anymore some just make a decision already. It has been over 2 years 2.5 years and everyone wants to pass the buck or is scared or what I don't. Personally I think they are scared because of my age and because of a law suit. Aren't they scared that if they do nothing I drop dead tomorrow?
Sorry just venting that is all the news I have for now.
Thanks for being there everyone, till tomorrow 7:30 am.
Lisa
Home from the Doctors
Okay, I don't know any other way to say this because I am so frustrated right now I could go through the roof. Also, I think sometimes that doctors need to come down a notch and realize that the amount of stress they put on their patients contribute to the patients own illness.
So this is what he said today:
1. He spoke with my lung transplant team and they feel my lungs are still in good enough shape (there would be sufficient lung capacity to withstand the open heart surgery.) that His outcome to operate or not will not affect my staying on the lung transplant list. So that in itself is great news.
2. The Surgeon's biggest concern is getting the most accurate readings possible for many reasons ( I am sure you all know them on my arteries and my valve.)
3. Therefore he wants me in tomorrow morning for a Cardiac MRI which will definitively give him the results he is looking for in 5 min. (sure!) He did promise to let me know one way or another tomorrow. If surgery is required I could go in for both as soon as Friday.
If not then they may not do surgery at all right now and watch me for a bit (don't know what that means, a bit?) So..
Bottom line......... Don't know till tomorrow.
I wonder if these doctors ever realize how they put peoples lives on hold and what the heck good is having the right and left cath. if it isn't good enough. Apparently one or two doctors think it is significant and a couple aren't sure thus tomorrows test which should tell us everything.
I almost broke down and cried right then and there. I don't even care anymore some just make a decision already. It has been over 2 years 2.5 years and everyone wants to pass the buck or is scared or what I don't. Personally I think they are scared because of my age and because of a law suit. Aren't they scared that if they do nothing I drop dead tomorrow?
Sorry just venting that is all the news I have for now.
Thanks for being there everyone, till tomorrow 7:30 am.
Lisa
Lisa,
Up the roller coaster and down, huh?
Yes, the doctors are more concerned with having the right information than easing our emotions. I figure that we each have a role to play. We get emotional and impulsive. The doctors stay clinical and methodical. Frankly, in the long run, that's a really good thing. It's just that darned transistion from the "short" to "long". I remember having to go and sit in the dermatologist's office waiting for biopsy results. Errrrrrrrrgggggg.
You are making progress. Hang in there.
Believe me, if Dr. Magee thought that you would croak overnight, he would have found you a room upstairs.
And your age?.....you are spring chicken.
Up the roller coaster and down, huh?
Yes, the doctors are more concerned with having the right information than easing our emotions.
I figure that we each have a role to play. We get emotional and impulsive. The doctors stay clinical and methodical. Frankly, in the long run, that's a really good thing. It's just that darned transistion from the "short" to "long". I remember having to go and sit in the dermatologist's office waiting for biopsy results. Errrrrrrrrgggggg.You are making progress. Hang in there.
Believe me, if Dr. Magee thought that you would croak overnight, he would have found you a room upstairs.
And your age?.....you are spring chicken.
S
SJJ
Lisa,
I am so sorry for all that you are going through. I don't feel I have any guidance to offer but I do want to tell you that I care and hope that you will continue to keep connected with all of us here. You well be very much in my thoughts.
Sue
I am so sorry for all that you are going through. I don't feel I have any guidance to offer but I do want to tell you that I care and hope that you will continue to keep connected with all of us here. You well be very much in my thoughts.
Sue
K
KathyH
Hi Lisa,
Sorry to hear about your problem. I wish you all the best. Earlier you asked about the artery making it's own bypass. Sometimes people who have a blocked coronary artery develop what they call collateral circulation around the blocked artery. Basically, it means that the body grows smaller blood vessels around the blockage so the heart can still get the blood supply it needs.- This may have been what your doctor was talking about.
Good luck tomorrow, just take one thing at a time.
Kathy H
Sorry to hear about your problem. I wish you all the best. Earlier you asked about the artery making it's own bypass. Sometimes people who have a blocked coronary artery develop what they call collateral circulation around the blocked artery. Basically, it means that the body grows smaller blood vessels around the blockage so the heart can still get the blood supply it needs.- This may have been what your doctor was talking about.
Good luck tomorrow, just take one thing at a time.
Kathy H
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Lisa45
Thanks guys
Thanks guys
I will stay in touch...Just one more procedure and one more test right? That is the way I have to look at it. Tomorrow will be here before I know it and then we will know for sure what is what.
He said very clearly:
A. He will tell me to go on with my life (keep close check on me every 3 months)
or
B. Friday I will go in for OHS
That is the bottom line. Thank Goodness
my favorite shows are on tonight
24 I love my Favorite by far (probably not the best for heart people! LOL)
and I must admit hooked to American Idol.
Thanks guys
I will stay in touch...Just one more procedure and one more test right? That is the way I have to look at it. Tomorrow will be here before I know it and then we will know for sure what is what.
He said very clearly:
A. He will tell me to go on with my life (keep close check on me every 3 months)
or
B. Friday I will go in for OHS
That is the bottom line. Thank Goodness
my favorite shows are on tonight
24 I love my Favorite by far (probably not the best for heart people! LOL)
and I must admit hooked to American Idol.
C
ccrawford
Lisa - a lot of frustrating and scary stuff, but it sounds like you still have your head screwed on tight lady, and we all admire you for that. Lets get that next test out of the way, and we'll go from there. You know you have a heck of a bunch of people rooting for you all the way, and we'll be waiting for your news with baited breath. Keep up the good attitude. Chris
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Lisa45
ccrawford
ccrawford
ccrawford,
Thanks for the encouraging words. Sometimes it is hard to remember all the support there is for you until you turn on the computer.....LOL
Lisa
ccrawford
ccrawford,
Thanks for the encouraging words. Sometimes it is hard to remember all the support there is for you until you turn on the computer.....LOL
Lisa
C
ccrawford
Lisa - I was a mess worrying about surgery until you guys came along and straightened me out. Don't know if you are a Robert Frost fan or not, but my favorite poem tells me you are gonna do just fine - you have "many miles to go before you sleep" You're in our prayers. Chris
Hi Lisa,
I was glad to see you post again as I often wondered how you were doing. My heart goes out to you and you are in my prayers.
When doctors speak of "making it's own bypass", or phrases similar to that, they are sometimes referring to the remarkable resiliance God built into our bodies. Sometimes if one vessel is blocked than another nearby vessel begins to increase in diameter to be able to carry more blood to the affected area. Sometimes more than one vessel becomes involved. It is also called increased collateral circulation. It is a good thing. If I remember right, younger hearts are more adapt at doing this.
Lisa, when I had my first heart cath I had coronary vasospasm during the procedure. My blockages are at places not easily measured and it was hard for them to determine how much was true blockage and how much was vasospasm. I think the report read 40 to 70% which is quite a spread and treatment can differ from one end of the range to the other.
I'll be watching carefully for your next post.
At least the MRI isn't a painful procedure.
I was glad to see you post again as I often wondered how you were doing. My heart goes out to you and you are in my prayers.
When doctors speak of "making it's own bypass", or phrases similar to that, they are sometimes referring to the remarkable resiliance God built into our bodies. Sometimes if one vessel is blocked than another nearby vessel begins to increase in diameter to be able to carry more blood to the affected area. Sometimes more than one vessel becomes involved. It is also called increased collateral circulation. It is a good thing. If I remember right, younger hearts are more adapt at doing this.
Lisa, when I had my first heart cath I had coronary vasospasm during the procedure. My blockages are at places not easily measured and it was hard for them to determine how much was true blockage and how much was vasospasm. I think the report read 40 to 70% which is quite a spread and treatment can differ from one end of the range to the other.
I'll be watching carefully for your next post.
At least the MRI isn't a painful procedure.
Hi Lisa,
I'm a newbie here but from what I've read on this thread you sound like a courageous lady. I can't even begin to put myself in your shoes, but it sounds like you're handling it well considering the circumstances.
I'm fighting the opposite problem. I was told over a month ago that I need OHS and have not really moved forward from that point. If I got a call saying "we can do your surgery Friday" I would jump at the opportunity. Of course that's easy for me to say having never been through one, that and the fact that I'm not dealing with the waiting very well at all (huge understatement).
Just hang in there and trust that whatever happens will be for the right reasons. At some point you just have to let go and trust that your doctors are going to make the right decisions. And I'm a closet AI fan too. Got hooked on it last year...lol.
I'm a newbie here but from what I've read on this thread you sound like a courageous lady. I can't even begin to put myself in your shoes, but it sounds like you're handling it well considering the circumstances.
I'm fighting the opposite problem. I was told over a month ago that I need OHS and have not really moved forward from that point. If I got a call saying "we can do your surgery Friday" I would jump at the opportunity. Of course that's easy for me to say having never been through one, that and the fact that I'm not dealing with the waiting very well at all (huge understatement).
Just hang in there and trust that whatever happens will be for the right reasons. At some point you just have to let go and trust that your doctors are going to make the right decisions. And I'm a closet AI fan too. Got hooked on it last year...lol.
Lisa:
I looked at your photos on the intenet; sounds like you have a family, so I hope one of them was with you.
I'll PM you my phone numbers should you need them. I'll be going over to Dallas probably Wednesday to see Aunt Granny -- she's having AVR at Baylor on Monday -- and perhaps we could meet somewhere. May spend that night at my parents' home.
I looked at your photos on the intenet; sounds like you have a family, so I hope one of them was with you.
I'll PM you my phone numbers should you need them. I'll be going over to Dallas probably Wednesday to see Aunt Granny -- she's having AVR at Baylor on Monday -- and perhaps we could meet somewhere. May spend that night at my parents' home.
hensylee
Well-known member
Lisa, you have been on my mind all day. As you know from previous experience with us, we are hanging in there right along with you. Please keep us posted as things move on or don't move on. Ann
L
Lisa45
There are just so many of you
There are just so many of you
I thank you all for sharing your experiences and ideas and believe me I take them all to heart.
bvdr: you didn't say but what was the outcome of your 40-70% spread did they do the cardiac MRI and does anyone know what that all entails?
You have had just as hard a time it is all realtive, it is just who is going at it, at that moment.
Thanks Friends and I mean that
Lisa
There are just so many of you
I thank you all for sharing your experiences and ideas and believe me I take them all to heart.
bvdr: you didn't say but what was the outcome of your 40-70% spread did they do the cardiac MRI and does anyone know what that all entails?
You have had just as hard a time it is all realtive, it is just who is going at it, at that moment.
Thanks Friends and I mean that
Lisa
M
mamsram
hi Lisa
hi Lisa
Good to hear you vent. I would say you sure do need to.
In answer to your #
1. terrific, that must be a heavy thought that can at least for now,be pushed aside.
2. A Dr. is like a general making a battle plan. In order to attain final victory, he must guage all possibilities and their possible outcomes and strategys for the unexpected. This is serious business and stressful. Perfection is demanded of them by themselves and hard to attain.
3. You are not a Dr. treating yourself, and so must, follow the leader. It can be very frusrating when the leader you have relied upon is going this way and then that and no maybe we'll check this path, and DAM! LET'S GO SOMEWHERE!
God bless and I hope things run smoother--smile as often as you can.
hi Lisa
Good to hear you vent.
I would say you sure do need to.In answer to your #
1. terrific, that must be a heavy thought that can at least for now,be pushed aside.
2. A Dr. is like a general making a battle plan. In order to attain final victory, he must guage all possibilities and their possible outcomes and strategys for the unexpected. This is serious business and stressful. Perfection is demanded of them by themselves and hard to attain.
3. You are not a Dr. treating yourself, and so must, follow the leader. It can be very frusrating when the leader you have relied upon is going this way and then that and no maybe we'll check this path, and DAM! LET'S GO SOMEWHERE!
God bless and I hope things run smoother--smile as often as you can.
L
Lisa45
Photo finish the results are in
Photo finish the results are in
I want you all to know I went in there convinced positive. Never let them do this test to you. It is new and there are only 3 in the country. It is called a Cardiac MRI and basically you have an IV in each arm and they infuse medicine through each arm separately for about 2 hours and cause a fake heart attack. It is the definitive test.
I was so convinced after yesterday but as it stands the Dr. came out and said I do in fact need Open Heart Surgery. Friday morning at 7:30 am
so there you go. Surgery is 4 hours, 3-4 days in ICU, 7-10 days in the hospital and 6-8 weeks recovery. Yippy right in the middle of buying a new house!
Can a girl be any luckier than me????
Thank you for all your support. So I have to go to the hospital the day before for a bunch of pre tests as if today wasn't enough.
Love You all Lisa
Photo finish the results are in
I want you all to know I went in there convinced positive. Never let them do this test to you. It is new and there are only 3 in the country. It is called a Cardiac MRI and basically you have an IV in each arm and they infuse medicine through each arm separately for about 2 hours and cause a fake heart attack. It is the definitive test.
I was so convinced after yesterday but as it stands the Dr. came out and said I do in fact need Open Heart Surgery. Friday morning at 7:30 am
so there you go. Surgery is 4 hours, 3-4 days in ICU, 7-10 days in the hospital and 6-8 weeks recovery. Yippy right in the middle of buying a new house!
Can a girl be any luckier than me????
Thank you for all your support. So I have to go to the hospital the day before for a bunch of pre tests as if today wasn't enough.
Love You all Lisa
