We're all getting older. Keep your doctor in the loop. Please.

[Leo]

I am a also a candidate for a valve replacement. There is one brand, that uses bovine tissue in the ring that is made to rebuild. The first install is a big deal like always but the replacement kit snaps into what is already there and can be done without re opening the chest cavity.

AT this point I don't know if I would live long enough to need a rebuildable unit, but I like the idea that it would be available.

 

[Bassat]

I am a also a candidate for a valve replacement. There is one brand, that uses bovine tissue in the ring that is made to rebuild. The first install is a big deal like always but the replacement kit snaps into what is already there and can be done without re opening the chest cavity.

AT this point I don't know if I would live long enough to need a rebuildable unit, but I like the idea that it would be available.

So... repair is not an option for you? I am only 66 and my repair should last 25-30 years. It is only the replacements that will need replacing again, from what I understand. I had several cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons tell me that the preferred fix is repair. It lasts a lifetime. Replacements have some issues; tissue replacements wear out, mechanical replacements require you to be on coumadin for life. However, if you need a replacement, you need a replacement. Good luck.

 

[johntheplinker]

Sorry for the late update, not been a good last few days. Got my results back Friday. Doctor has referred me to a cardiac specialist for a full workup. Also found some really screwy kidney readings that will also need looked at.

 

[Bassat]

Sorry for the late update, not been a good last few days. Got my results back Friday. Doctor has referred me to a cardiac specialist for a full workup. Also found some really screwy kidney readings that will also need looked at.

Best wishes for you. Take someone you love to your meetings with the doctors. Most people getting less than stellar news, shut down when they hear anything detrimental. I am a healthcare professional, and I did it. I didn't hear a word he said after, "open heart surgery". My oldest daughter ALWAYS goes with me to other-than-routine appointments.

 

[ghuns]

My little brother, 46, had a heart attack Monday night. Luckily, a pretty minor one.

He's 6-4 and under 200 pounds. Never gets sick. Very fit and farm boy strong. What he doesn't have is a nagging wife or GF to make him go to the doctor. He's seen a doc twice in the last 20 years.

Monday night he had 'pressure', not really pain, in his chest. Thought he might have tweaked a muscle or something. So he took a couple Advil and went to bed. Couldn't sleep, really uncomfortable, then his right hand and arm felt like they were asleep. He chuckled to himself and thought, glad it's my right side, if it were the left I'd be inclined to believe I was having a heart attack. About 15 minutes later, he got the same sensation in his left hand/arm.

Living alone, he figured it best to call 911. After describing his symptoms the dispatcher asked if he had any aspirin. He dug around and found an old bottle with three tablets left. Dispatcher said, take one and chew it. He claims this was the worst part of the ordeal.

He lives in BFE so it took a bit for EMTs to show up. They immediately took and EKG. EMT #1 said, you're fine. EKG normal, you probably didn't have a HA. EMT #2 said, I've had HA and I'd suggest you take a ride with us just to be safe.

They hauled him to the ER, no lights-n-sirens. He walked his happy arse into the ER and told them, pretty sure I just had a HA. They directed him to a chair in the waiting room. Where he sat for 2 hours.

When he got in a room they did another EKG, which was normal, and then took blood for testing. Test came back with elevated troponin levels. Told him, yes, you had a HA. We'll roll you to the cath lab in the AM and put some stents in.

In the cath lab the next morning they went in through his leg/groin to install stents in the blockage they were sure they'd find. Only when they snooped around, they found no blockage worth mentioning.

Pretty unusual for a male to have this kind of HA. Also a PITA because it's hard to tell why he had it. He's got a good cardiologist so they'll run him through a battery of test in the near future. He'll be discharged today and the only real instructions they gave is to plan on an aspirin a day from now on, but he doesn't have to chew them.

My wife has generously volunteered to be the nagging woman in his life that insures he gets to the doc for an annual physical and routine bloodwork. She's very good at that. I haven't missed one in 15 years.

 

[Bassat]

My little brother, 46, had a heart attack Monday night. Luckily, a pretty minor one.

He's 6-4 and under 200 pounds. Never gets sick. Very fit and farm boy strong. What he doesn't have is a nagging wife or GF to make him go to the doctor. He's seen a doc twice in the last 20 years.

Monday night he had 'pressure', not really pain, in his chest. Thought he might have tweaked a muscle or something. So he took a couple Advil and went to bed. Couldn't sleep, really uncomfortable, then his right hand and arm felt like they were asleep. He chuckled to himself and thought, glad it's my right side, if it were the left I'd be inclined to believe I was having a heart attack. About 15 minutes later, he got the same sensation in his left hand/arm.

Living alone, he figured it best to call 911. After describing his symptoms the dispatcher asked if he had any aspirin. He dug around and found an old bottle with three tablets left. Dispatcher said, take one and chew it. He claims this was the worst part of the ordeal.

He lives in BFE so it took a bit for EMTs to show up. They immediately took and EKG. EMT #1 said, you're fine. EKG normal, you probably didn't have a HA. EMT #2 said, I've had HA and I'd suggest you take a ride with us just to be safe.

They hauled him to the ER, no lights-n-sirens. He walked his happy arse into the ER and told them, pretty sure I just had a HA. They directed him to a chair in the waiting room. Where he sat for 2 hours.

When he got in a room they did another EKG, which was normal, and then took blood for testing. Test came back with elevated troponin levels. Told him, yes, you had a HA. We'll roll you to the cath lab in the AM and put some stents in.

In the cath lab the next morning they went in through his leg/groin to install stents in the blockage they were sure they'd find. Only when they snooped around, they found no blockage worth mentioning.

Pretty unusual for a male to have this kind of HA. Also a PITA because it's hard to tell why he had it. He's got a good cardiologist so they'll run him through a battery of test in the near future. He'll be discharged today and the only real instructions they gave is to plan on an aspirin a day from now on, but he doesn't have to chew them.

My wife has generously volunteered to be the nagging woman in his life that insures he gets to the doc for an annual physical and routine bloodwork. She's very good at that. I haven't missed one in 15 years.

I am a registered nurse, working in Cardiac Cath Lab and Cardiovascular OR prep and recovery. I waited 3 hours after the chest pain started to go to the ER. BTW, cardiac arteries are very muscular. As such they can spasm and cut off blood supply. This is frequently caused by either low calcium levels and/or stress. No clots, no blockages, but restricted blood flow. That all by itself, can spike troponin levels, indicating MI (myocardial infarction==heart attack). Voice of experience here. Been there, done that.

 

[KG1]

I am a registered nurse, working in Cardiac Cath Lab and Cardiovascular OR prep and recovery. I waited 3 hours after the chest pain started to go to the ER. BTW, cardiac arteries are very muscular. As such they can spasm and cut off blood supply. This is frequently caused by either low calcium levels and/or stress. No clots, no blockages, but restricted blood flow. That all by itself, can spike troponin levels, indicating MI (myocardial infarction==heart attack). Voice of experience here. Been there, done that.

i have a female friend that had a heart attack where there were no blockages, and she was told that the likely cause was stress related which I'm assuming led to a restriction of blood flow like you were saying. She's always been prone to stress a lot.

 

[Expat]

Having someone go to the doctor is great. The wife used to remind what I needed to say. At my last neurosurgeon visit, he asked me something and I was like, I don't know, don't really remember. If she was still around, she would have handled that question for me.

 

[KG1]

Having someone go to the doctor is great. The wife used to remind what I needed to say. At my last neurosurgeon visit, he asked me something and I was like, I don't know, don't really remember. If she was still around, she would have handled that question for me.

That's true. It's always nice to have another set of ears too to help with remembering what the Dr. said. There's been times I have walked out of a Dr's appt. by myself and forgot about half of what he said before I even got back to my car.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Having someone go to the doctor is great. The wife used to remind what I needed to say. At my last neurosurgeon visit, he asked me something and I was like, I don't know, don't really remember. If she was still around, she would have handled that question for me.

That's true. It's always nice to have another set of ears too to help with remembering what the Dr. said. There's been times I have walked out of a Dr's appt. by myself and forgot about half of what he said before I even got back to my car.

I try to go with DoggyMama for big stuff (for her) for that very reason. Doesn't always work out that way though. I listen closely to what my doc says.

 

[johntheplinker]

Welp, tomorrow is the big day. Dr. wants to start with the EKG, ECG, and stress test; got the xray last week and what blood work the family doc did included the heart stuff. Will go from there depending on results.

 

[Bassat]

Welp, tomorrow is the big day. Dr. wants to start with the EKG, ECG, and stress test; got the xray last week and what blood work the family doc did included the heart stuff. Will go from there depending on results.

Keep us posted. I am particularly interested in whether or not your cardiologist orders an EchoCardiogram. It offers a glimpse of how well your valves and other internal parts are working. Mine was suspicious (severe mitral regurgitation), so he ordered a follow-up TransEsophagealEchocardiogram, which gives detailed moving pictures of all internal structures. My mitral valve was torn and dislocated from the chordae that hold it in place: a real mess. By the time I went for Open Heart Surgery to make the repairs, I couldn't walk to the bathroom without getting winded. Today, 16 days post open heart, I walked 3 miles. I'm still a bit slow, but I am getting there. Best wishes to you.

 

[johntheplinker]

Keep us posted. I am particularly interested in whether or not your cardiologist orders an EchoCardiogram. It offers a glimpse of how well your valves and other internal parts are working. Mine was suspicious (severe mitral regurgitation), so he ordered a follow-up TransEsophagealEchocardiogram, which gives detailed moving pictures of all internal structures. My mitral valve was torn and dislocated from the chordae that hold it in place: a real mess. By the time I went for Open Heart Surgery to make the repairs, I couldn't walk to the bathroom without getting winded. Today, 16 days post open heart, I walked 3 miles. I'm still a bit slow, but I am getting there. Best wishes to you.

Will do, and it is appreciated. Got The Boss going along already, not sure it is out of concern or she is hoping to collect my life insurance sooner.

 

[Bassat]

What?!?!?!? You still have life insurance? I couldn't buy it if I won the lottery. Two heart attacks, failed pulmonary function test (quit smoking in '86), a pacemaker, an implanted automatic defibrillator, and now open heart surgery. If I could afford life insurance, I'd have so damn much money I wouldn't NEED life insurance. Again, best wishes, and I am glad you are taking someone with you.

 

[bwframe]

???

 

[KG1]

Spent the afternoon in the ER yesterday. Been having neck, shoulder, arm and chest discomfort and tightness for a while. Since I have had cardiovascular issues for many years now my concern was that I was experiencing symptoms of a heart attack.

They conducted the usual cardiac marker bloodwork along with a chest x-ray and ct scan and the results came back negative. So now I have to do a follow up with my PCP to try and figure out what's going on. The issues that I'm having are still there and they are extremely dehabilitating. Coud possibly be something neurological in nature.

The moral is that even if you're not sure whether you are experiencing cardiac related symptoms or not do not hesitate to get it checked out. In my case luckily it wasn't but it could have turned really bad if it was and I let it go on.

Since I do have cardiopulmonary issues, my cardiologist has scheduled for me to have a heart/lung cath angiogram on the 11th of Sept. Hopefully that also will turn out well.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

i have a female friend that had a heart attack where there were no blockages, and she was told that the likely cause was stress related which I'm assuming led to a restriction of blood flow like you were saying. She's always been prone to stress a lot.

My wife had the same thing three years ago. She was having pain and tightness in her chest, so I took her to the ER. EKG and high Traponin levels indicated a heart attack, and they set her up for the cath lab to dye-test her coronary arteries to see how bad and how many blockages there were. I was told that if we were lucky she may get one or more stents and not have to get bypasses. I still remember standing there as they wheeled her away and someone asked me what my wife's code status was.

Long story short, the cath procedure showed no blockages at all, and she walked out the next day. They gave here a prescription for nitroglycerin, but she hasn't ever needed it. They said severe stress rarely can cause the coronary arteries to narrow and actually cause a heart attack, and she was the first patient they'd seen with that. She continues to be fine and she takes no blood pressure or heart meds.

 

[johntheplinker]

The news so far. Got some slight cardiomyopathy going along with Afib. Dr. has put me on a couple of meds for that and we'll see how it goes. Also recommends me to see a pulmunologist due to a HUGE amount of scarring in my lungs from having a couple severe rounds of pneumonia in the past. Doesn't sound like any one thing causing my issues but a few smaller things adding up to a bigger problem.

 

[Bassat]

The news so far. Got some slight cardiomyopathy going along with Afib. Dr. has put me on a couple of meds for that and we'll see how it goes. Also recommends me to see a pulmunologist due to a HUGE amount of scarring in my lungs from having a couple severe rounds of pneumonia in the past. Doesn't sound like any one thing causing my issues but a few smaller things adding up to a bigger problem.

Well, that is good news. At least you are not looking at surgery right off the bat. I know the doctor explained that Afib can lead to clots that may lead to stroke, pulmonary embolism, MI. Stay on your blood thinner (my guess is Eliquis).

 

[KG1]

Saw PCP this morning. She wants to wait on the results of my heart cath on the 11th to determine if my issues are heart related or not. If not, then she suspects it might be neuro muscular/spine related. Have to wait and see.