They did my procedure! The did an angioplasty and did not need to insert any stents!
I am doing better than I have done in a couple of years!'
My Cardiologist was there after I came to and said to me that we did a tune up and you will be fine!!
I am pleased!
100% totally agree!!!!That is good to hear. Let's hope for pleasing results for Iron Woode too. 👍🏻
Sounds great, and while you are feeling awesome currently, keep in mind that the blockage resolved by the angioplasty was only the blockage that was creating an acute problem at that moment in time. Blockage like that doesn't just show up, it built up over time, and for that to have occurred means you have that build up all throughout your vascular system. You need to change your lifestyle dramatically to even have half a chance at avoiding further issues. I hope your Cardiologist already explained all of that to you. My mother in law had the same type of surgery, prompted in her case by a heart attack. She never changed anything about her lifestyle and ended up with a second event within 18 months.They did my procedure! The did an angioplasty and did not need to insert any stents!
I am doing better than I have done in a couple of years!'
My Cardiologist was there after I came to and said to me that we did a tune up and you will be fine!!
I am pleased!
ditto that!! Stay strong!!Another Update:
They are doing phone consultations now and I just finished up talking to the surgeon.
He wants surgery done to correct my abnormality. He also said my specific variation of it is extremely uncommon. He also said that in my case I need full open heart surgery to fix it. He said I would be hospitalized for at least 5 days.
Surgery will be scheduled in around 3 months, give or take, due to the covid-19 issues. He told me his office will contact me about preliminary tests and appointments.
Well, it looks like I will be preparing for a big change in my life. I am also apprehensive about the whole thing. I know it has to be done and that is the way it is.
I will update everyone as things progress.
There are surgeries very worth having that don't provide obvious benefit but prevent problems that would later develop if the procedure(s) were not done. For example is the one I had to correct a not very uncommon condition known as hyperparathyroidism. There are four parathyroid glands in the human body (at least in normal people). They are not always in the same location, but are usually in the lower neck area. They regulate a few things, including the calcium level in your blood. For reasons I think are somewhat if not totally unknown one of those four glands (whose function are all the same, I believe) can become oversized and create too much hormone, resulting in elevated calcium in the blood. A routine blood test (I fortunately had medical at the time, I used to not) revealed my condition, the tipoff being elevated calcium level. I was scheduled for and had followup appointments including further blood and urine testing and seeing an endocrinologist. The treatment is to remove the crazy gland, leaving you with three. The three remaining have no trouble compensating for the removal of the bad actor. I had this done by a pioneering surgeon who developed a non-invasive identifying and removal technique. Other surgeons treating this condition had to find and inspect all four glands to make sure they got the right one and the recovery was around 6 weeks. This doctor injected a radioactive isotope and scanned to identify the bad gland and its location. In my case, the recovery was virtually instant... I flew home next day and resumed my normal activities immediately. Now, I never experienced symptoms. However, my brother (who was a vascular and general surgeon and occasionally did the standard procedure) assured me that without the operation I would have eventually developed serious problems.I had both my heart surgeries before I could drive. I'm approaching 50 myself and if the narrowing continues to the point it affects me I'll need another to replace the valve once again. I understand your worry about surgery and aging. It will be tougher to bounce back the older we get. With that said I do know that my life was much better after the surgery. If I didn't have it I wouldn't be here right now. If this defect is affecting you your quality of life should improve if you need to have surgery.
Yeah, I flew to Tampa, FL for my outpatient hyperparathyroid surgery from SF Bay Area. My brother thought I was nuts, he didn't like the doctor's self-promoting website, but after I had the surgery he congratulated me on dealing with my condition in a very intelligent and ultimately effective manner. He was impressed by my experience. This was in 2003.Sorry you had to hear this news during the most stressful time of year .
I would probably be doing a little research and some phone calls to try and find a staff more familiar with your condition. It kinda sounds like your current docs might be in over their heads. Heck, I would point blank ask them if you needed to go somewhere else and if so where would they suggest.
check this out:There are surgeries very worth having that don't provide obvious benefit but prevent problems that would later develop if the procedure(s) were not done. For example is the one I had to correct a not very uncommon condition known as hyperparathyroidism. There are four parathyroid glands in the human body (at least in normal people). They are not always in the same location, but are usually in the lower neck area. They regulate a few things, including the calcium level in your blood. For reasons I think are somewhat if not totally unknown one of those four glands (whose function are all the same, I believe) can become oversized and create too much hormone, resulting in elevated calcium in the blood. A routine blood test (I fortunately had medical at the time, I used to not) revealed my condition, the tipoff being elevated calcium level. I was scheduled for and had followup appointments including further blood and urine testing and seeing an endocrinologist. The treatment is to remove the crazy gland, leaving you with three. The three remaining have no trouble compensating for the removal of the bad actor. I had this done by a pioneering surgeon who developed a non-invasive identifying and removal technique. Other surgeons treating this condition had to find and inspect all four glands to make sure they got the right one and the recovery was around 6 weeks. This doctor injected a radioactive isotope and scanned to identify the bad gland and its location. In my case, the recovery was virtually instant... I flew home next day and resumed my normal activities immediately. Now, I never experienced symptoms. However, my brother (who was a vascular and general surgeon and occasionally did the standard procedure) assured me that without the operation I would have eventually developed serious problems.
Yeah, I flew to Tampa, FL for my outpatient hyperparathyroid surgery from SF Bay Area. My brother thought I was nuts, he didn't like the doctor's self-promoting website, but after I had the surgery he congratulated me on dealing with my condition in a very intelligent and ultimately effective manner. He was impressed by my experience. This was in 2003.
This will be my second. My first was done in 1981. They go in through the vein in your thigh. I went in the day before and had it done around 7:00AM. I was awake for the procedure and back in my room within an hour or so. Check out was around 4:00 or 5:00PM that day.My 2nd and last heart cath (age 15) went better than my first (age 5). About the only thing I remember from the 2nd was they had to apply a ton of pressure on the cut afterwards since it was in a major artery or vein in my groin. They had to make sure it stopped bleeding. That's about the only discomfort I remember having. If it only takes a day now they have improved since the mid 80's as I had to stay at least one night if not more.
You have a great memory. I can only remember three things about the entire event in '86.This will be my second. My first was done in 1981. They go in through the vein in your thigh. I went in the day before and had it done around 7:00AM. I was awake for the procedure and back in my room within an hour or so. Check out was around 4:00 or 5:00PM that day.
I was 16 when I had it done. I do have a excellent memory especially things that are very emotional (good or bad). Those are vivid memories like when I had chicken pox when I was 4.You have a great memory. I can only remember three things about the entire event in '86.
My first was when I was 5. They attempted to go through my arm but my veins were too small so they went the normal way. I still have the scar on my arm from that attempt. Then the contrast material? made me sick. I also remember about 3 people sitting on my legs and holding me down to keep me still. A traumatic thing for a little boy to go through. The 2nd was a walk in the park like your first.
Interesting stories!Well we're not unfamiliar with heart problems in our house.
YMMV as not all parts of the country are as "progressive" as they are here.
My triple bypass was done in 2001 by the "beating heart" method.
My heart was never stopped for the procedure and after resting in the cardiac ICU overnight, they had me on my feet the next afternoon and sent to a regular room in the cardiac recovery section and told to start walking the hallways about (100') a minimum twice a day to start. Kept me there 5 more days until I could shower myself and do "other things" unassisted.
The only real pain I had was when they pulled the 3 drainage tubes (damn near passed out). I wasn't even uncomfortable sleeping, once I learned to sleep on my back, instead of my side.
It took about a month before breastbone "knitted" enough that I could finally sleep on my side comfortably again.
I had my last heart cath. done 9/18. They now go in through the radial artery in the left forearm.
Unfortunately for me, I no longer have that artery, as it was used for my triple bypass
So they went in through the femoral artery in the right leg - crotch area.
They also used "conscious sedation".
They put you out only long enough to make the insertion and then you are fully conscious and can watch everything on the huge monitors with no pain.
The contrast dye indicated a restriction, so they inserted a stent.
(When the dye is released, it generates a "warm" feeling)
Outpatient in at 7am, admitted after procedure (insurance stuff), stayed overnight, went home next morning.
If they had been able to go in through my left arm, I would have been able to go home by noon.
My wife had open heart surgery in 2010 to remove a benign tumor about the size of her thumb growing on the center wall of the heart (it happens often enough that it has some fancy name that I can't remember). Every time the heart beat the blood flow flipped the tumor up against the valve, triggering another heartbeat. End result was that her resting heartrate was 160+ and she complained of being tired all the time. In for the surgery a day ahead, recover for 5 days, go home, resume normal activity gradually until normal after a month.
No problems then or since.
I would strongly advise you get one of those wedge-shaped pillows/props for sleeping as you don't want to lay flat for quite a while after they "crack" your chest. Something that is between 30-45 degrees will allow you to relax and sleep comfortably while healing.
Hope everything goes as smooth for you as it has here for us.
We'll pray for you.
As always I feel we are all in this together! We are 100% behind you!Interesting stories!
The surgeon told me this procedure is to see if there are any other issues with my heart this way they could be dealt with while I am on the table. In upcoming visits I will find out more about how they are going to reroute my abnormal pulmonary vein. I am apprehensive about the surgery.
I have been looking into sleep methods during the lengthy recovery phase.
Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot when you are staring down at a frightening situation.
Congratulations! You have a surgeon that definitely knows what he's doing !The surgeon told me this procedure is to see if there are any other issues with my heart this way they could be dealt with while I am on the table.
Don't be! From what you've told us you are in good hands. I've had much, much more than average amount of surgeries over the years. I always went into them with confidence in doctors and surgeons I selected.I am apprehensive about the surgery.
A positive attitude goes a very long way and is key to a fast and good recovery.Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot when you are staring down at a frightening situation.
I know. I can't help being apprehensive. It's in my nature.Congratulations! You have a surgeon that definitely knows what he's doing !
Don't be! From what you've told us you are in good hands. I've had much, much more than average amount of surgeries over the years. I always went into them with confidence in doctors and surgeons I selected.
I was never disappointed.
A positive attitude goes a very long way and is key to a fast and good recovery.
Remember, the surgeon can only do the mechanical part, the rest is up to you.
You have to want IT, that is the essential part of recovering.
I would say under the circumstances bring a couch potato and knowing what you now know. gives you some satisfaction!UPDATE: I got back from my angiogram around 1:00PM. I had two procedures done at the same time. They tested both left and right side to my heart. One through the thigh the other through my right wrist. The good news is they found nothing else wrong with my heart so nothing more needs to be fixed other than my defect. The downside is I can't use my right arm for the next 48 hours. So I am now going to be a couch potato for the next couple days.