Glad to hear it was successful.
Tomorrow (6/4) is my angiogram
- Thread starter propita
- Start date
Glad to hear it was successful.
Hubby is worrying less--he's relaxed enough to get snarky! Lol!
I'll hear from the doctors later in the week what the results are. I figured if surgery was required, they'd've told me already.
I fell asleep before the show started, thanks to the meds, but evidently kept kicking the leg they were working on. Not a good thing when they've cut open your artery, ya know? I'd've kept it still if I had been awake. I told them I didn't like pain. Now it just hurts when I cough, which my cold has turned into--a dry cough.
"If its not one thing, it's another!" At least it sounds like the worst is over. First time in 5 years that I don't have to WORRY about a heart attack, it seems. What a release! Just in time for our anniversary (me and Hubby). This'll be 25 years together. On D-Day.
I'll hear from the doctors later in the week what the results are. I figured if surgery was required, they'd've told me already.
I fell asleep before the show started, thanks to the meds, but evidently kept kicking the leg they were working on. Not a good thing when they've cut open your artery, ya know? I'd've kept it still if I had been awake. I told them I didn't like pain. Now it just hurts when I cough, which my cold has turned into--a dry cough.
"If its not one thing, it's another!" At least it sounds like the worst is over. First time in 5 years that I don't have to WORRY about a heart attack, it seems. What a release! Just in time for our anniversary (me and Hubby). This'll be 25 years together. On D-Day.
Less anxiety will make you feel better, too. 
Happy Anniversary, you guys.
Happy Anniversary, you guys.
Happy Anniversary...double cause for celebration.
Glad to hear it went well.
Good news--but strange news.
So after five years of angina and chest pain, and CRP tests that have not been under 10 during that time when anything over 3 is considered a high chance of a heart attack, my angiogram shows "no significant sign of disease" in any vein and artery checked.
Great! But huh? Makes no sense. Hubby knows this was not a joke--he says the kids at his hospital with CRP results over 10 have messed up hearts. He's seen me suddenly go pale, lips white, for no damn good reason, having sharp pains with hours-lingering aches. He says it started when Dad died, whom I would talk to for hours on hours a week sometimes.
So I'm VERY happy but somewhat confused that I can have all the symptoms, including pain, hypertension, and blood tests...without seemingly having a physical cause. Aside from stress, of course.
So after five years of angina and chest pain, and CRP tests that have not been under 10 during that time when anything over 3 is considered a high chance of a heart attack, my angiogram shows "no significant sign of disease" in any vein and artery checked.
Great! But huh? Makes no sense. Hubby knows this was not a joke--he says the kids at his hospital with CRP results over 10 have messed up hearts. He's seen me suddenly go pale, lips white, for no damn good reason, having sharp pains with hours-lingering aches. He says it started when Dad died, whom I would talk to for hours on hours a week sometimes.
So I'm VERY happy but somewhat confused that I can have all the symptoms, including pain, hypertension, and blood tests...without seemingly having a physical cause. Aside from stress, of course.
Well, that is very good news. And strange. I hope they intend to keep looking for the cause of the symptoms.
And strange. I hope they intend to keep looking for the cause of the symptoms.The cardiologist’s nurse practitioner said, “Well, it doesn’t appear to be cardio. Maybe it’s muscular? You know, that your muscles contract and cause pain? Or heartburn?” Yeah, right. I’ve had heartburn for decades, on and off; it’s not that. And muscles suddenly seizing up, perfectly mimicking a cardio issue when I didn’t know what it would be like? Whatever.
I’m just going to go forward and not worry about it. Hubby and I talked and I basically finally got to mourn for Dad after all this time, unloading some of the pain of that loss. I’m supposed to stay on the meds (statin and niacin) to ensure arteries stay clean and my cholesterol down--but now I really don’t have to worry.
Law school is over, the Bar is over, I’m not going to be working full-time (neither of us want me to), I’ve finally had the chance to grieve--we’re going to look forward and enjoy life!! Plan our next trip somewhere since we’ve finally been able to travel after all these years of school for both of us.
I’m just going to go forward and not worry about it. Hubby and I talked and I basically finally got to mourn for Dad after all this time, unloading some of the pain of that loss. I’m supposed to stay on the meds (statin and niacin) to ensure arteries stay clean and my cholesterol down--but now I really don’t have to worry.
Law school is over, the Bar is over, I’m not going to be working full-time (neither of us want me to), I’ve finally had the chance to grieve--we’re going to look forward and enjoy life!! Plan our next trip somewhere since we’ve finally been able to travel after all these years of school for both of us.
Best of luck, Propita! I have no specific advice, other than you did good by going in to get it checked out. Please do keep us informed.
Oh, ETA, I see that it turned out well!! Great news!! If I had to guess about the strange symptoms, I'd guess anxiety, perhaps even anxiety attacks. Anxiety often can often produce symptoms that seem heart related (my grandmother went through this repeatedly but at 95 she's alive and well with a great heart).
Mr Awe
Oh, ETA, I see that it turned out well!! Great news!! If I had to guess about the strange symptoms, I'd guess anxiety, perhaps even anxiety attacks. Anxiety often can often produce symptoms that seem heart related (my grandmother went through this repeatedly but at 95 she's alive and well with a great heart).
Mr Awe
Had CTs, had echos, had MRIs, even had a cardiac catheter when I was a toddler and they talked about a trans-oesophageal echo once but never did it, but never had an angio. If there's no sign of heart disease then take that as a good thing and give yourself time to clear your head.
It's amazing and horrible what our own mind can conjure up. Grief, stress, worry about medical problems can all cause problems, so perhaps time to get over the stress of studying and the grief of losing your father, with the reassurance that there isn't an underlying heart problem may actually lead to an improvement there.
My dad's been having problems that seem to be heart related, angina type pains, dizziness and visual disturbances like low oxygen levels. He's had all sorts of tests and stuff done and currently has an implanted cardiac monitor for the next couple of years to see if they can find anything. But nothing is showing up. At this point they think it's possibly low blood sugar and dehydration causing it. So always possible there are seemly incongruous explanations for symptoms that appear to be heart related.
My dad was a super type A personality. He was "prescribed" TM lessons and took them, but didn't use them. (this was 30 some years ago) He was also told to sip a glass of red wine in a warm bath until the one was gone and the other cool.
Try that for a bit, or something like it and see if it helps. Embrace the good news.
Try that for a bit, or something like it and see if it helps. Embrace the good news.
I like the relaxation idea, but alcohol doesn’t mix well with my meds. I asked a pharmacist friend (he knows waaay more than Hubby, frightening intellect) about pot. Never tried it, wondered if it would work. He didn’t think so, and that, in my case, I’d probably have the opposite effect. There goes the "medicinal marijuana" route, lol!
I’m thinking of trying, in addition to exercise in general, some yoga or meditation--learning something, like sewing. It seems so useful and I’ve always wanted to learn. Now’s my chance! And maybe a class at the local college--my old English profs had told me they didn’t mind if I just sat in on class. Upper division English classes tend not to be full. As long as I continue cleaning/organizing the house, Hubby doesn’t care too much--though part-time work wouldn’t be bad.
Thanks again, everybody! You guys have all been great in your support and ideas.
I’m thinking of trying, in addition to exercise in general, some yoga or meditation--learning something, like sewing. It seems so useful and I’ve always wanted to learn. Now’s my chance! And maybe a class at the local college--my old English profs had told me they didn’t mind if I just sat in on class. Upper division English classes tend not to be full. As long as I continue cleaning/organizing the house, Hubby doesn’t care too much--though part-time work wouldn’t be bad.
Thanks again, everybody! You guys have all been great in your support and ideas.
TrekBBS is the best medicine.
Still awaiting FDA approval, though.
Still awaiting FDA approval, though.
TrekBBS is the best medicine.
Still awaiting FDA approval, though.
I'll vouch for what good medicine it is. I don't even care that it doesn't have approval.
Evidently, there are cases where there is pain and some evidence of problem (blood tests, I presume), but arteries are clear and no cause is found. Diagnosis by exclusion, "well, it's not that or that or that, so we'll call it Cardiac Syndrome X." I'm not kidding. Most often affecting women, it's assumed the microvessels have the problem. No way to clearly diagnose. So I suppose they're gonna go with that.
Good things: Heart attacks are a bit less common than with the large vessels blocked. Treatment is what I'm already getting (treat pain, take beta or calcium blockers, address hypertension, eat well, exercise). So I guess it's time to--slowly--hit the gym more.
And have regular doses of TrekBBS.
It's enough of an answer after five years. And things could be worse.
Good things: Heart attacks are a bit less common than with the large vessels blocked. Treatment is what I'm already getting (treat pain, take beta or calcium blockers, address hypertension, eat well, exercise). So I guess it's time to--slowly--hit the gym more.
And have regular doses of TrekBBS.
It's enough of an answer after five years. And things could be worse.
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