Shocked but OK

[KimC]

Hi,

I had my adenosine cath yesterday. Results? The study med hasn't improved endothelial dysfunction (vasoconstriction). I had an "event" during the procedure, but all and all, everything went smoothly. I received excellent, compassionate care from the staff at SHANDS, and am recovering well.

I also had an echo, and here's where it gets murky. You see, I thought aortic valve disease combined with coronary arterial stenosis was causing cardiac dysfunction. According to my echo, this is only part of the story.

I'm scheduled to speak to my doc who'll hopefully help me put things into perspective, but according to my echo, I have right atrium enlargement with tricuspid regurg and right-sided dysfunction. The aortic sclerosis was only 1.6 with 2+ regurg (no change).

When the nurse shared the results with me in the car on the way home, I felt like I was going to throw-up. I'm not kidding. OK, so I didn't handle it with grace. I'm not even sure what the results mean. The words "dilation" and "dysfunction" certainly caught my attention though.

Thankfully, my husband had our satellite radio tuned to Top Hits, so we tended to our wounds with the help of Zep, Mick and other Bad Company.

Thank you, Bob and others for helping me with questions related to the tonometry test. I honestly don't know where to go from here. What kind of questions do I ask. Should I see a heart failure or PH specialist. I ask about the latter because what causes right-sided dysfunction? When I'm off the meds, I can't breathe. This is a fact. I thought only left-sided dysfunction caused pulmonary problems?

I'm scheduled to see Dr. Pepine again in three months, continuing on the same regime of medications until then.

Thanks for your support. Compared to other "cases" I witnessed in the cath lab, I'm really OK. Really. I know that. I'm trying to protect the quality and longevity of my life. And like so many of us in VR.com, I want to know what to expect.

Now I'm going to cry a little, pray a little and play a lot of rock and roll before I get on with my life. I also may sue my OB-GYN. Just a thought.

With love,

 

[bvdr]

Hi Kim,

Sorry things are rough for you right now.

What kind of event did you have during the procedure? Vasospasm?

It seems that your test results are in and you might as well wait until you get the official report. Once you get that, digest it and decide if further action is needed on your part.

I don't blame you for wanting to aim for the highest quality of life possible with whatever challenges you are handed.

 

[KimC]

Thanks, Betty. The event was vasoconstriction (chest pressure). The cardio immediately resolved it with nitro. He said normal arteries don't behave that way.

 

[bvdr]

Kim, that is what I had too. He saw the EKG changes and told me I was about to get chest pain before it even began. I then told him the pain was exactly what I would experience sometimes after being exposed to cold air and sometimes even an ice cold beverage. He wasn't sure if the cause was an oversensitivity to the contrast medium used or that the coronary arteries responded that way from being brushed against by the catheter. I've got ostial lesions in two coronary arteries and I was told the same thing....not normal.

 

[Karlynn]

Kim, it's hard to wait for the official report, but I've often found that most times it presents a clearer, more acceptable picture for me than the first "off-hand" report I get.

You know the drill by now, sister. Give yourself a bit of time to be a crying, whining, pouting baby, then (since that's not the person you really are) you'll pick yourself up and move on. There is not much in life that Rock 'n Roll won't help you out with. Wish I was there so we could do a little dancing around like silly, school-girl fools together.

 

[Nancy]

Kim-

I urge you to think of the words dilation and dysfunction as just that, words. It's a safe bet that the vast majority of the people here have dilation and dysfunction, otherwise, their hearts would normal. You have some KNOWN heart issues, so it is logical that you would have some sort of dilation and/or dysfunction. The real question is to what degree, and you will find that out when you speak with your doctor.

Joe has right-sided heart failure with atrial enlargement. His is very, very advanced and nothing like what you have. He had it when he was diagnosed with PH and his pressures were in the seventies. He has it still, now that his PH is under control thanks to Tracleer. His pressures are now in the forties. He most likely has constritive heart disease which means that the scar tissue from all of his heart surgeries is constricting the movement of his heart, however it is still squeezing OK. He has tricuspid regurg. too. There are many reasons for right-sided heart failure.

I don't mean to compare your situation with Joe's, just wanted to let you know that right-sided heart failure has quite a few causes.

 

[Marguerite53]

Kim

Kim

Kim. Thinking of you.

You know, I crank up the rock and roll to feel better all the time! It's my best medicine besides my kids. My daughter actually wrote her college entrance essay on walking in on me one day dancing through the house with "gimme shelter" on at ear blasting volume! Apparently I was dancing around with a wooden spoon singing at the top of my lungs. I danced over to her and swung her around the room for awhile! She was only 8! Funny how some things just stick in your hearts. GO. Have some time with your kids. Don't look at the clock. Just roll around in the grass and laugh.

Good luck. Best wishes!

Marguerite

 

[KimC]

You guys made me laugh, thank you! I am so grateful to "know" you, and hope that we can meet in person! I'm sorry to say that I won't make it to Vegas! How 'bout Orlando next year???

I've shared your comments w/ my husband who also appreciates the levity.

Much love,

 

[KimC]

I'm still waiting to speak to my doc re: the echo. We're playing phone tag.

I think what I'll do is share the results with y'all. That way you can help me put things into perspective. I've asked my RN to mail the echo and cath results to me.

Nancy, thanks for your encouragement re: "words." You're such a blessing!