Staying the Course -- 06/10/2019

[Superbob]

Greetings, welcome to another Staying the Course Week.

We were in a drought through May but getting some beneficial showers now. Discovered some nasty little spider mites harming our beautiful cedars, so trying to drive them out by hosing them out with water. Wary of using poisons.

Have my pre-op cath set for week after next. If all's okay, guess will be getting a surgery date soon. Sure do miss my exercise class, but no time to be doing planks and such. Still walking my dog. Need to remind myself to get to exercise room for some x-biking too.

Look forward to hearing what all of you have going on....

Cheers,
Superbob

 

[Gordo60]

Speaking of planks this video is interesting. This guy is a very experienced physical therapist and trainer. Very highly regarded by many:

 

[user 16827]

whenever i have done a lot of planks my lower abs, psoas and external obliques have always been sore/tight.

It definitely hits the core, jeff cavaliere is a super knowledgeable guy i have watched lots of his videos

he fixed a damaged muscle in my forearm, i learned gripping the bar thumb-less on pull movements strains the tendon that flexes the finger next to the pinkie ( who Knew )

Rain and cold in the UK atm, it's supposed to be summer, rain gear for the dog walk today after my early 7am gym session, Back . chest & shoulders done today.

Have a good week all

 

[Paleowoman]

Best of luck for your cath SB !

As leadville says, rain and cold here, especially bad where we are - part of the M25, the most major road around London, was shut both ways due to flooding and the appearance of sinkholes in the road. Kingston, our local town, was flooded too with the main road through town shut in one direction. We're having work on our conservatory done, ripping the old wooden framework off and replacing everything with UPVC as I can no longer keep up with the repairs and decaying wood on the 26 year old structure. I hope the builders make sure the floor is sealed from further rain tonight as the floor and lower walls will be exposed to the elements later today.

Results of the MRI on my sternum show there is an effusion at the left sternoclavicular joint, that's where it joins the top of the sternum. I wonder how that got like that ? I think it may explain a lot of my left shoulder and sternum pain and why the exercises have not worked at all for the shoulder bursitis and supraspinatus tendinopathy and small tear - 18 months and still the same. Will be seeing the rheumatologist next week about both shoulder and sternum.

 

[Duffey]

We’ve had record rainfall this year, and the Mississippi River, whose western bank creates the eastern city limit of our town, is approaching a historic crest. Our downtown is protected by a levee, and its gates were raised 92 days ago, way back in early March. That is a first; one that we could do without! I believe that I had mentioned that my husband Bob was to undergo ablation on June 4. He was all set when he received a call from the cardiologist the day before that it was put on hold. The results of his pre-surgery, diagnostic cardiac ct scan showed unexpected coronary blockage. He’s now scheduled for a chemical stress test tomorrow to determine what the next step is, or more specifically what the next test/procedure/surgery is. Lots of uncertainty right now. I know you can relate, Superbob, or as you are referred to in my prayers, Bob #3! It’s sure been a tough Spring for “Bobs”.

 

[Superbob]

Hope the MRI and next the visit to the rheumatologist will be getting you closer to answers for shoulder and sternum, Anne!

Gordo, thanks for that informative video on planking. I'm afraid as a beginner planker starting 3 years ago, I became too enthused about it. Was an ego boost to be able to do them pretty well at my advanced age, and to get praise. So I went above and beyond. But I think it may have contributed to the growth of my aortic aneurysm, actually. I think overall I benefitted hugely from the class, and I even hope to return to it after cardiac rehab. But when it comes to planks, I'm going to need to go to my own little corner of the workout room, and do modified stretching exercises, or maybe the rotational moves shown in this excellent video.

 

[Superbob]

Oh dear, Duffey, so sorry to hear about your Bob's not-so-good report from the cardiac ct scan. I guess though the positive is in finding coronary blockages that can be remedied. I can certainly relate to the uncertainties. Keep reminding myself that my surgery remains a question mark til all the diagnostic testing has been done. Noticed my hemoglobin went down close to a gram in a month, and I've had anemia concerns before. No doc has addressed that result yet, but reading up on it, I find hemo numbers can fluctuate unexpectedly, so more mystery/uncertainty. In addition to cath, I still have to do a PFT -- just NO part of it in a tiny enclosure. Sit on a chair and blow into a spirometer, fine with that. Anyway, all my best wishes to your Bob and you as you deal with your uncertainties and challenges!

 

[Paul1972]

We’ve had record rainfall this year, and the Mississippi River, whose western bank creates the eastern city limit of our town, is approaching a historic crest. Our downtown is protected by a levee, and its gates were raised 92 days ago, way back in early March. That is a first; one that we could do without! I believe that I had mentioned that my husband Bob was to undergo ablation on June 4. He was all set when he received a call from the cardiologist the day before that it was put on hold. The results of his pre-surgery, diagnostic cardiac ct scan showed unexpected coronary blockage. He’s now scheduled for a chemical stress test tomorrow to determine what the next step is, or more specifically what the next test/procedure/surgery is. Lots of uncertainty right now. I know you can relate, Superbob, or as you are referred to in my prayers, Bob #3! It’s sure been a tough Spring for “Bobs”.

Sending best wishes your way Duffy xx

 

[Duffey]

Sending best wishes your way Duffy xx

Thanks Paul!

 

[Superbob]

Still waiting to hear more from cardio and surgeon offices about my reluctance to take the Pulmonary Function Test -- or at least the more strenuous or stressful portions of it -- as part of my pre-op battery of tests. I have willingly completed three other kinds of tests and am scheduled for a cath.

What keeps going through my mind is this advisory from Johns Hopkins Medical, a very highly regarded medical outfit in Baltimore:

Among persons who should NOT be administered a PFT: Those with chest, stomach, or brain aneurysms. (Thought I had the full quote ready to paste. Will do it as an add-on.)

Okay, here is the exact quote in Johns Hopkins' advisory on PFTs:

In some cases, a person shouldn’t have PFTs. Reasons for this can include:

• Recent eye surgery, because of increased pressure inside the eyes during the procedure
• Recent belly or chest surgery
• Chest pain, recent heart attack, or an unstable heart condition
• A bulging blood vessel (aneurysm) in the chest, belly, or brain
• Active tuberculosis (TB) or respiratory infection, such as a cold or the flu.

A large (5.6 cm) and growing aneurysm of the ascending aorta would certainly seem to fall into that no-no caution. I am occasionally feeling mildly symptomatic though I realize that could be my mind playing games with me. In any event, it is not far-fetched to me to envision extreme inhaling and exhaling in a confined space putting enough pressure on the AAA to induce rupture. Am I wrong?

 

[Duffey]

Bob, I would expect an explanation from the doctor who ordered the test as to why it was necessary before I would agree to it. I routinely said no to a TEE pre-AVR, so I have some experience with what you’re dealing with. I never did agree to have one! The PFT I had was after my valve replacement. I don’t understand why they want you to have it before surgery.

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi @Superbob - I agree with Duffey, and as I wrote before in a previous thread, you need to find out why the doctor wanted you to have this Pulmonary Function Test. Do you have a respiratory problem ? I have a respiratory problem - small airways disease - but even before surgery I didn’t have any specific respiratory test, just a report from my respiratory specialist about how my lungs would be with general anaesthetic.

This is what it says the purpose of the Pulmonary Function Test is, from Wikipedia: Pulmonary function test (PFT) is a complete evaluation of the respiratory system including patient history, physical examinations, and tests of pulmonary function. The primary purpose of pulmonary function testing is to identify the severity of pulmonary impairment. Pulmonary function testing has diagnostic and therapeutic roles and helps clinicians answer some general questions about patients with lung disease. (my bold)

 

[Superbob]

Exactly, thanks very much. I have never had any lung disease and I am not a smoker. So will see if they just let it go or if they come back and say we gotta have PFT pre-op. If they say that, I will ask why. And it's not just the claustrophobia for that one enclosed part of the test. The tech explained to me other parts that could be problematic for someone with AAA. She made the suggestion to do it well after op, if for some reason it's needed then.

 

[Gordo60]

Given that stress has caused far more aneurysm problems compared to exertion it would seem to be unwise putting you through this test.

 

[Duffey]

I asked my DH why they would order the tests, and he said that it’s now a component of “best practice” criteria for the hospital where he works and are ordered for all undergoing valve replacement. So it seems like it’s possibly one of those silly things you often encounter these days in the medical field. I would continue to resist.

 

[Duffey]

Gordo60’s, I am happy to report that I have finally received the exercise bands. I hope to read the accompanying booklet this afternoon and get started with them tonight.

 

[MartinF]

SB, hope all your pre-op stuff gets sorted out and they go well for you.
Just returned from our yearly hiking trip to the Sierras in Northern California. We went to Mammoth Lakes again. They're going to have skiing into August this year! We didn't go to the ski resorts but went hiking locally. First day we tried to go to Mosquito Flats but the last mile of the road was closed due to snow. So we parked and walked out 2 miles with patches of snow. Turned around when it was all snow up a hill at about 10,500' elevation. We started at about 9,900' so not a tough climb. The other hikes were about 3 miles with no snow issues. Beautiful country, saw a coyote and deer with fuzzy antlers.
I'm still trying to get back into exercise during the week. My mileage is lower than I need for my cardio fitness. Weather just turned hot so rain is over and it will be easier to walk.
Weight is stable so I need to exercise more and eat less.
Today I had a root canal, first one. Went smoothly with no pain so no pain pills needed so far.
Everyone have a great weekend.