susieq14
Well-known member
Forgive me - this is not a valve question but I was hoping I could get some help from some of you who have first-hand experience with cardiac catehrization and basic cardiac knowledge.
My husband might need to have a cardiac cath and I'm wondering if there is a protocol to follow about where it should be done and by what doctor. From the posts I have been scouring it sounds like most of you had your cath a few days before your surgery at the hospital you were having your OHS. Did your cardio do your cath or were you referred to someone by your cardio? Did anyone have a cath earlier in the procedure and perhaps not related to their valve? If so did (and or should) you "shop" for the right place and doc to do the cath like you do for OHS?
To make a long story short, Joe is 61 and has been without any health issues until last year when he went on BP meds. He had a physical in April and all was good except his cholesterol numbers were not so good. PCP offered choice of statins or visit dietician, lose weight and exercise which is what he chose and I thought did a good job at. (He did lose 8 pounds) He Saw PCP on September 3 and cholesterol increased from 195 to 214 and his LDL went from 132 to 150. HDL is only 50 and triglcerides are 70. Also told PCP about experiencing some minor shortness of breath and slight chest pain whenever we went on our nightly neighborhood walks this summer and walked up this one hilly stretch. PCP sent him to see a cardiologist who then scheduled him for an echo and a nuclear stress exercise test. He had the stress test on Thursday and seemed to do okay - walked 9 minutes with no symptoms. Friday night at 8:00 pm the cardio called us and said there was a slight abnormality on the front wall of the heart and she wants to talk about a cardiac cath to determine what it is and whether a stent or surgery might be needed. She also asked him how he felt and said don't walk up any hills. He actually had an appointment to see her next Thursday for a follow-up on the tests but she said he could come in on Monday afternoon. Needless to say we are going in on Monday.
Needless to say we have been in a fog digesting this news and trying to research and prepare our questions for the cardio. Although I've been in the waiting room with a leaky mitral valve since my August 2004 diagnosis this is a little new to us although it is also a little like deja vu because 27 years ago my father was diagnosed at 62 with CAD and needed to have triple bypass.
I'm sorry to be rambling and apologize for posting about a non-valve issue. I also feel awkward posting a question on the Board since I have not been on in a very long time. needless to say any comments or suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Susie
My husband might need to have a cardiac cath and I'm wondering if there is a protocol to follow about where it should be done and by what doctor. From the posts I have been scouring it sounds like most of you had your cath a few days before your surgery at the hospital you were having your OHS. Did your cardio do your cath or were you referred to someone by your cardio? Did anyone have a cath earlier in the procedure and perhaps not related to their valve? If so did (and or should) you "shop" for the right place and doc to do the cath like you do for OHS?
To make a long story short, Joe is 61 and has been without any health issues until last year when he went on BP meds. He had a physical in April and all was good except his cholesterol numbers were not so good. PCP offered choice of statins or visit dietician, lose weight and exercise which is what he chose and I thought did a good job at. (He did lose 8 pounds) He Saw PCP on September 3 and cholesterol increased from 195 to 214 and his LDL went from 132 to 150. HDL is only 50 and triglcerides are 70. Also told PCP about experiencing some minor shortness of breath and slight chest pain whenever we went on our nightly neighborhood walks this summer and walked up this one hilly stretch. PCP sent him to see a cardiologist who then scheduled him for an echo and a nuclear stress exercise test. He had the stress test on Thursday and seemed to do okay - walked 9 minutes with no symptoms. Friday night at 8:00 pm the cardio called us and said there was a slight abnormality on the front wall of the heart and she wants to talk about a cardiac cath to determine what it is and whether a stent or surgery might be needed. She also asked him how he felt and said don't walk up any hills. He actually had an appointment to see her next Thursday for a follow-up on the tests but she said he could come in on Monday afternoon. Needless to say we are going in on Monday.
Needless to say we have been in a fog digesting this news and trying to research and prepare our questions for the cardio. Although I've been in the waiting room with a leaky mitral valve since my August 2004 diagnosis this is a little new to us although it is also a little like deja vu because 27 years ago my father was diagnosed at 62 with CAD and needed to have triple bypass.
I'm sorry to be rambling and apologize for posting about a non-valve issue. I also feel awkward posting a question on the Board since I have not been on in a very long time. needless to say any comments or suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Susie