Manglesphoto wrote:
Not so scary, I have been expecting this since 2015, knew it was time for the stint.
I am very lucky to have a Cardiologist that I trust and that trust me, she knows I don't call over every little ache or pain.
The last time I had angioplasty for the placing of stints, I knew the surgeon well as a personal friend. They observe the whole procedure using fluoroscopic fluid and can see what they are doing. I was awake for the operation so I asked if one of the monitors could be turned so I could observe. He obliged and I got to see my operation on TV. He even narrated as he worked.
The skill those doctors have is absolutely amazing. Steering the catheter tip takes years of practice and training. Believe it, or not, the technology was developed by studying animals with prehensile tails, and cats.
dbrugger25 wrote:
The last time I had angioplasty for the placing of stints, I knew the surgeon well as a personal friend. They observe the whole procedure using fluoroscopic fluid and can see what they are doing. I was awake for the operation so I asked if one of the monitors could be turned so I could observe. He obliged and I got to see my operation on TV. He even narrated as he worked.
The skill those doctors have is absolutely amazing. Steering the catheter tip takes years of practice and training. Believe it, or not, the technology was developed by studying animals with prehensile tails, and cats.
The last time I had angioplasty for the placing of... (
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I have had caths/ stents at different hospitals. At one, the big screen and patient placement allowed me to view… interesting
Yes, before my valve replacement surgery they had to make sure I didn't have any blockages so they did an angioplasty but everything was clear, My doctor said that they had stints ready if they had seen any problem areas, but all was clear, and yes I was allowed to watch the procedure on a monitor. The doctor even gave me a CD-ROM with the video files on them, but it required a very expensive app to watch them. I downloaded a free preview copy, but it was only good for like 24 hours and if you tried to download it a second time, they knew that and wouldn't let you.
I am fortunate to have some good DNA and have not been in a hospital or had any procedure since birth. I'm 75.
This is an online response I posted to the NYT about the cost of weight-loss shots, etc.
"I know that for some, these drugs are needed, so don't get me wrong here. During the pandemic lock-down I worked from home. No dining out, no snacks on the way to/from work, no lunches at fast-food places. At home, a family member cannot eat wheat gluten and citric acid, so basically ALL pre-made food, ready to eat food, heat 'n eat, etc, is not consumed. We cook from scratch, and a year into the lockdown we tried going plant-based. We shopped the produce/fruit area and ordered a variety of grains. I learned to make great baked beans with dry pintos, curry, plain mustard and molasses . My pants kept getting loose. Dropped from a 40-42 waist to a 36-38. Dropped 50+ pounds, cut blood pressure meds in half. Weigh less than I when I was a chubby 18. I'm 75 now. Factory food is NOT your friend, fast-food is NOT your friend, restaurant food is NOT your friend. I'm no finger wagging vegan. Just someone who broke out of being hypnotized into thinking that the commercial food industry is good for you. It is not. It will kill you or make you miserable."
Sylvias
Loc: North Yorkshire England
Don’t overdo things Frank so pleased things are sorted out!
Manglesphoto wrote:
Back in 2015 I had my yearly checkup and the EKG found an anomaly which called for a Cardiac Cath.
As they were prepping me for the Cath. a nurse ask me what med I was on, Told her allergy meds. and B/P meds. she said at your age, that's all yep. Well they took care of that !!
The Cath. revealed some minor blockage in one small artery now on now on five meds. But they worked for a long time.
A Sunday morning this feb. I woke up with a tightness in my chest @ 1:00 a.m. it didn't hurt but it wasn't normal
I had been having these twinges that lasted never more than a min and my cardiologist and I decided to just keep an eye on them.
Sunday morning at 4:00 am I went down the road to the Ambulance House and the medics ran a strip and found nothing going on, Monday morning I called Dena left a message , she called back a little later, the told me to increase one med by 50% and not over 100% and come in Tues. unless I didn't get relief well the 50% didn't help so 20min I took another 50% and got relief almost immediately .
Wed morning they ran a strip and nothing was showing up, So time for another Cath. Fri. Talked to the surgeon and told him it the blockage was marginal to go ahead with the stint he agreed, well now I have the stint and three more meds. But everything is back to normal. Dena told me I might still have the twinges but with time they should diminish.
Our hike to Greer Spring the weekend before last was a test, I passed !!!
Back in 2015 I had my yearly checkup and the EKG f... (
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I'm happy all that worked out for you!
glad everything worked out
Manglesphoto wrote:
You don't get Old, Old gets you when you stop laughing
I think we said the same thing. Also, keeping a positive attitude makes our twilight years more enjoyable. Don't dwell on the troubles of the world.
My husband was totally asymptomatic. The doc ran a stress test and saw a little blockage. Cardiac cath and one stent. They didn't even have to give him any meds until after procedure.
That was almost two weeks ago and he is doing great. His first health problem since he finally retired 8 weeks ago-at age 80. Stubborn guy, but enjoying retirement. Now he starts 3 days a week for 12 weeks of cardiac rehab. Should be good as the young man he was when we met.
Manglesphoto wrote:
Back in 2015 I had my yearly checkup and the EKG found an anomaly which called for a Cardiac Cath.
As they were prepping me for the Cath. a nurse ask me what med I was on, Told her allergy meds. and B/P meds. she said at your age, that's all yep. Well they took care of that !!
The Cath. revealed some minor blockage in one small artery now on now on five meds. But they worked for a long time.
A Sunday morning this feb. I woke up with a tightness in my chest @ 1:00 a.m. it didn't hurt but it wasn't normal
I had been having these twinges that lasted never more than a min and my cardiologist and I decided to just keep an eye on them.
Sunday morning at 4:00 am I went down the road to the Ambulance House and the medics ran a strip and found nothing going on, Monday morning I called Dena left a message , she called back a little later, the told me to increase one med by 50% and not over 100% and come in Tues. unless I didn't get relief well the 50% didn't help so 20min I took another 50% and got relief almost immediately .
Wed morning they ran a strip and nothing was showing up, So time for another Cath. Fri. Talked to the surgeon and told him it the blockage was marginal to go ahead with the stint he agreed, well now I have the stint and three more meds. But everything is back to normal. Dena told me I might still have the twinges but with time they should diminish.
Our hike to Greer Spring the weekend before last was a test, I passed !!!
Back in 2015 I had my yearly checkup and the EKG f... (
show quote)
Yep, I’m getting my money’s worth from my insurance the last 12 years, making up for the preceding 40 when all I had were office visits.
Stan
TriX
Loc: Raleigh, NC
Yep, I’m running out of pleasures and things to give up that I used to love. Down to an IPA or two a day… (sigh)
GeneB
Loc: Chattanooga Tennessee
robertjerl wrote:
I forgot, this last Thursday I got hearing aids.
Kaiser tested me and the Audiologist said that besides my tinnitus I had loss in the high end and recommended I go to the VA to get them because with my VA disability they might be free instead of a copay at Kaiser. They were free from VA and a higher end model than Kaiser had for me on my teacher's retirement plan.
But on the followup in 4 weeks I need to get these things adjusted, the computer keys, rain on the roof, chewing, hair brushing my ears (the wife trimmed it yesterday etc. are now amplified too LOUD. My world now has too much sound. When I shaved I could hear every whisker getting cut.
I forgot, this last Thursday I got hearing aids. b... (
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I can relate to that/ I got my most recent hearing aids from the VA. These are the best I have over the years. This is my 4th et and the VA gave me a backup pair as well. My cost came to $50.00 for some reason but I don't care because it has worked out for me very well.
As for the other things people are talking about here, I can relate to all of those as well. I am 76 and it keeps getting tougher. But happy to be here.
My stroke started watching TV. I put the remote down, and then couldn't pick it up any more.
Wife gets worried, and drives me to he hospital. And wait.
An hour later I could barely stand, shuffled, and leaned on everything.
Typical LA CA ossifers assigned themselves to the ER kept asking me about them drugs.
That was 20 years ago. I have a "micro" strake now every half year or so.
Kinda like bizarro Quantum Leap Lite. "OK what happened this time?"
Sometimes one would fix something else. My left hand twitched but the vertigo passed.
They keep telling me I'm lucky .... so far.
TriX
Loc: Raleigh, NC
I just want to recognize for everyone who posted here with a chronic illness with a previous ”episode”, whether it’s cardiovascular disease/MI, TIAs/stroke, CA or… that it does change you. If you survive the initial onslaught, it’s always somewhere hidden in your psyche that anxiety/fear when you feel something isn’t quite right, that it might be a recurrence, at least it is for me. I take my vitals/EKG and if it’s a really scary chest pain, maybe a Xanax and my beta blocker. You can tell yourself it’s likely OK, but you can’t stop that hormone reaction, and I don’t want to be a “frequent flyer” in the ER for no reason. How do y’all cope with that?
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