M
MarciaB
Hi People!
It looks like I'm a new member but I was in a couple of years ago, got bumped, and have been ghosting around again for a while. I have mitral stenosis from silent rheumatic fever. I had a balloon valvuplasty 12 years ago which probably saved me a surgery.
I had been talking to my cardio about doing surgery this winter sometime. I was feeling really tired even though my echo hadn't changed much. I made it through the Grand Canyon (dinner party for 16 people - 18 days, see if that makes you tired) numerous horse shows, pond building, and working full time for the last two years managing my symptoms with Cozaar and Norvasc.
When I found out that IBM was closing down my husband's division here, I called my doc and told him I wanted to go ahead while we still have decent insurance. Before we got to the angiogram, it was discovered that I am anemic. So on to a colonoscopy (fun!), an upper GI (more fun!), finding and (hopefully) zapping H. Pylori bacteria in my stomach (which may or may not be causing the anemia, finally making it to the angiogram.
We decided to keep me awake this time (my 5th angiogram) so they could exercise me if they needed to. Everything was almost the same as angiogram #4 two years ago during the first part. I told my doc that he was going to have some 'splainin' to do if there was no difference. You really get some good "face time" with your doctor during a cath, probably why they usually knock you out. So they whipped out the weights and got me moving. Pressures immediately when sky high. They were all standing there going, "wow".
So that explains why I always did well on the tests but felt like crap. I seems my valve gets really "sloppy" when my heart rate goes up, but is pretty good when I am still and quiet. Also explains a lifelong avoidance of anything that makes me sweat. Of course there is the premise and if you can't hold a beer while doing it, it's not worth doing.
I meet with the surgeon my doctor recomended (actually he said "Dr. Kessler is your surgeon") on Wednesday and the Hematologist on Monday.
It doesn't feel scary yet, but I'm sure that will kick in as soon as I have a date.
I'd love to have any advice for questions to ask, or anything at all really. I've learned a lot from reading entries on the site. It's a wonderful thing.
It looks like I'm a new member but I was in a couple of years ago, got bumped, and have been ghosting around again for a while. I have mitral stenosis from silent rheumatic fever. I had a balloon valvuplasty 12 years ago which probably saved me a surgery.
I had been talking to my cardio about doing surgery this winter sometime. I was feeling really tired even though my echo hadn't changed much. I made it through the Grand Canyon (dinner party for 16 people - 18 days, see if that makes you tired) numerous horse shows, pond building, and working full time for the last two years managing my symptoms with Cozaar and Norvasc.
When I found out that IBM was closing down my husband's division here, I called my doc and told him I wanted to go ahead while we still have decent insurance. Before we got to the angiogram, it was discovered that I am anemic. So on to a colonoscopy (fun!), an upper GI (more fun!), finding and (hopefully) zapping H. Pylori bacteria in my stomach (which may or may not be causing the anemia, finally making it to the angiogram.
We decided to keep me awake this time (my 5th angiogram) so they could exercise me if they needed to. Everything was almost the same as angiogram #4 two years ago during the first part. I told my doc that he was going to have some 'splainin' to do if there was no difference. You really get some good "face time" with your doctor during a cath, probably why they usually knock you out. So they whipped out the weights and got me moving. Pressures immediately when sky high. They were all standing there going, "wow".
So that explains why I always did well on the tests but felt like crap. I seems my valve gets really "sloppy" when my heart rate goes up, but is pretty good when I am still and quiet. Also explains a lifelong avoidance of anything that makes me sweat. Of course there is the premise and if you can't hold a beer while doing it, it's not worth doing.
I meet with the surgeon my doctor recomended (actually he said "Dr. Kessler is your surgeon") on Wednesday and the Hematologist on Monday.
It doesn't feel scary yet, but I'm sure that will kick in as soon as I have a date.
I'd love to have any advice for questions to ask, or anything at all really. I've learned a lot from reading entries on the site. It's a wonderful thing.
