Cardiologist is Freaking me out!

lilith · March 18, 2009

Okay, so I finished my 6 month diet, and ALL my tests and the last thing I needed was clearance from the cardiologist - well he calls me today and tells me he thinks I have a defect in my heart and I have to have an angioplasty done - I'm 33!!! I am totally freaking out............ I'm trying to not act freaked out because I don't want my kids to worry. Has anyone else had to do this?

:sneaky:

dmwedding · March 19, 2009

Dont worry about!!! Get the angioplasty done. Its no big deal. You have two decisions. Get a second opinion before you get anything done. Find out what the cardiologist story is, I have had 7 of them and they are no big deal.

lilith · March 19, 2009

Dont worry about!!! Get the angioplasty done. Its no big deal. You have two decisions. Get a second opinion before you get anything done. Find out what the cardiologist story is, I have had 7 of them and they are no big deal.

Thanks - I think it just totally took me off guard, it never even occured to me that something would be wrong...

and seven - ouch! I hope you are doing well!

susan1961 · March 24, 2009

Sounds very strange to me. I presume you had some sort of a non-invasive test (such as a stress test). All that can do is suggest there might be a blockage. Until they do either a special cardiac CT or catheterization they can't know for sure there's a blockage, and can't know for sure that the best way to fix it is angioplasty (vs doing nothing, doing a stent, or doing surgery). If you do need an intervention, the surgeon will probably want to wait several months, as you will be on medications that increase your bleeding risk. It is highly unusual for a woman in your age group to have coronary artery disease. I'd ask a lot of questions, check in with my PCP, and consider a second opinion.

Best of luck.

lilith · March 24, 2009

Sounds very strange to me. I presume you had some sort of a non-invasive test (such as a stress test). All that can do is suggest there might be a blockage. Until they do either a special cardiac CT or catheterization they can't know for sure there's a blockage, and can't know for sure that the best way to fix it is angioplasty (vs doing nothing, doing a stent, or doing surgery). If you do need an intervention, the surgeon will probably want to wait several months, as you will be on medications that increase your bleeding risk. It is highly unusual for a woman in your age group to have coronary artery disease. I'd ask a lot of questions, check in with my PCP, and consider a second opinion.
Best of luck.

Hi Susan,

I actually went for a second opinion this past Friday, this doctor says that their is something on the stress test, could be nothing, could be something but the best way to tell is to go in and look. I like this doctor a LOT better so I'm having the procedure done tomorrow through his group. Thanks for your reply!

lilith · March 29, 2009

All done! Everything ended up being fine, it was a shadow from breast tissue or something... so that was my final test, hopefully I've been submitted for approval - this has been a long six months!!! (seven months...lol)

3636millie2 · March 29, 2009

I have a friend who is a nurse in a cardiac cath lab. I was freaking because I have had chest pain with EKG changes 8 months post banding. I just had my stress test and am fully expecting to have to go through the cardiac cath when I get my results this next week. The friend who is a nurse told me not to worry that alot of stress tests come back positive on "big breasted" women. Hoping this is true in my case.

lilith · March 29, 2009

I have a friend who is a nurse in a cardiac cath lab. I was freaking because I have had chest pain with EKG changes 8 months post banding. I just had my stress test and am fully expecting to have to go through the cardiac cath when I get my results this next week. The friend who is a nurse told me not to worry that alot of stress tests come back positive on "big breasted" women. Hoping this is true in my case.

My doc said the same thing, that it's very common! The test was a piece of cake, I had myself scared silly over it, and it really wasn't bad at all. You can feel pressure on your leg when they put the cath in but that's it, you get a little bit of warmth in your groin/belly area from the dye but never felt anything in my chest at all. You will need someone else to drive you and you can't lift anything over 10 lbs for a couple days. They put a seal in my leg when they were done and it dissolves within 60 to 90 days. It was sore for two days, like a sore wrist after typing for too long, that's all!

Please let me know how you do!