val144

Thanks to those who responded with offer of information and help on my last question about irregular heartbeat. I saw my doctor today and had an ekg and she pulled up my records from May when I had my echo and stress test and told me it all seemed ok, the reports showed no signs of abnormalities, which furthers my belief that the cardiologist had his own agenda. That said, I have a new question for anyone who may have experienced this. And, before anyone answers, yes, I do plan to speak to my surgeon before surgery about this. My next question concerns blood thinners before or after surgery. I spoke to a lady who had the same irregular heartbeat as myself, and after her band surgery, she was put on Coumadin, a blood thinner. She has been on them ever since her surgery, she has lost around 80 pounds, but my concern is more toward long term blood thinner use. I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to spend the rest of my life or any part of my life on blood thinners!!! This hasnt come up in any literature or any information that has been told taught discussed with me by my doctors, surgeons, nurses, anyone. I had no idea this was even a possiblity until I spoke to the lady. Anyone had this experience???

Update- I saw my doctor today and she did an EKG, and she pulled my results from my echo and stress test which had been done in May, and it was all fine. She said today's tests showed no abnormalities and neither did the ones in May. Could be too much sodium, or too much caffeine from the coffee or just stress. She told me that if I continued having the feeling and if I began having any pain, burning, tingling, sweating or shortness of breath to go to the ER. However, and this is just another fear that popped up, after speaking to a woman who had the same irregular heartbeat, she told me that after her surgery, she was put on Coumadin. Now I have to tell you, I have had experience with blood thinners thru family member and I would just as soon cancel the surgery and forget the whole thing than take my chances on blood thinners!!! Has anyone else experienced any problems with this?

My name is Valarie and I am 13 days away from my surgery date. About 3 or 4 years ago, I had a stress test and echo and was told I had a slight irregular heartbeat, my medication was adjusted and I was told it wasnt serious and was most likely too much caffeine or some of my medicines, or related to my PCOS. So, after having had a stress and echo each year since, and was never told it had re occured or gotten worse, I never gave it much thought. Back in May, while going thru the process of getting my approval, I went for my heart stress test and the cardiologist decided to do an echo as well. He told me how great my heart beat was, how strong my heart was. But then out of the blue, he says, he wants to do a heart cath on me, and he never gave me any reason why, he never showed me any tests that showed an abnormality, etc. He also said, if you werent trying to get approval for lap band I wouldnt even consider doing a heart cath, but since you are I want to do one. I felt like this was a form of blackmail. It was as if my lap band surgery was being held hostage. I was told by his staff that I would not be given a good report without having the heart cath. But I refused to have it until they gave me a reason and when they didnt, I asked for my chart and the films as well as the dvd from the echo so I could get a second opinion, there was no need, because my surgeon told me that I was given a good report and all was cleared to go ahead. I never did get my chart/films. Now, here I am 13 days away from my date and I began the pre-op diet 4 days ago and yesterday and today I have had very noticable heart palpitations. I have a home bp cuff and have been taking my bp, it has been very good, and my pulse is at a good rate, however, when I take it, it shows the irregular heartbeat symbol. This has me worried, and I am wondering should I go to my doctor and have her do an EKG or something? Should I have had the heart cath? If I go back now will my surgery be refused or postponed, I only have until December before my approval runs out and I have to try again. What could have suddenly brought this on....? Stress? too much Calcium, or Protein increases or sodium in all the broth I am eating??? Does anyone have any advice or has had this happen to them?