my stress test results weren't good

Hey everyone I got a call yesterday afternoon at work from the cardiologist. He told me that my stress test shows that I am not getting enough oxygeon to my heart. He wants me to have a catherization done and then possibly an angioplasty. He believes that my arteries are narrowed. He talked about putting splints in. He said the best place to have a heart attack is in the hospital and that he wants me to be able to get off the operating table alive. ( Well duh, me too.) After getting the news I went kind of hysterical at work. (Why did he have to call me at work with this kind of news??) My dad died from heart failure about 21 years ago and my mom has unoperable congestive heart failure. Maybe I am too late to change and improve my health odds. I love my mom but I don't want to follow in her steps with all of her health problems. I feel more in control now after speaking to my pastor and best friends. In a way this is a gift from God that I found out about the problem before having a bigger problem. Telling my mom and daughter was the hardest part. (My family is really small and I am a single mom.) Sometimes I start feeling really alone and then my friends remind me that they are there for me. Has this happened to anyone else? I am going to continue with all my other appointments. Who knows what else they might find. As my best friend, Maryjane said to me, " Looking into gastric bypass surgery may have just saved your life." Rose

Dear Rose, Yep ... I went through the same thing ... so did a couple of others here on the board. Don't count your surgery out just yet ... wait to see the results from the cath. When my cardiologist talked with me, he in no uncertain terms told me we needed to get mine done ASAP (I was kicking a little bit and didn't want to do it) Anyway, they got me an appointment to go into Christiana within a couple of days for the cath. He told me that it looked as if two arteries were almost completely blocked. That he would do angio if at all possible but more likely I would need stints with the outside chance of them having to do cardiac bypass!!! I was beside myself ... this took me by such surprise. Anyway, to make a long story shorter, I went in for my cath, and the doc was pretty surprised. He said my heart was as healthy as a healthy 16 yr old female. I didn't need angio, stints and most importantly a bypass. He said that sometimes the tests show false positive results with larger busted women. But in my case, because I several different factors that he did not believe that was the case. He didn't necessarily know how mine showed such negative results only to find nothing but a good heart ... I told him I attribute it to the power of a healing God. I will be praying for you Rose. Please do not allow yourself to get upset over this ... you already know, God is in control of all things and He has His hand upon you and is watching out for you! If you want/need to talk to someone, just let me know or jet me out a email and I will give you a buzz. Take care of yourself sweetie, it is not a done deal yet!!! Hugs, Tammy

Hi Tammy I am okay for now but I know that I will be a basket case the day I go into the hospital to have the catherization done. I know and believe that God is in control. The news has just taken me by surprize. Thanks for the hug, I really needed that. Rose

Rose, That is exactly how I felt ... such shock!!! There was nothing in my personal history to indicate a problem (that I knew of anyway), although my family history was pretty shaky. But even still, I felt my heart was pretty healthy, even if my knees and back were not. So when he told me that there was a problem ... wow oh wow!!! And yes, it was scary. Hang in there ... and do your best to not allow yourself to think the worst. Do you have a date yet for the cath? Hugs, Tammy

Hi Tammy, The doctor did not give me a date. He told me that his assistant, Brenda, would be getting in tough with me. I don't know if it will be at St Francis or Christiana Hospital. He wants me to take his first available time slot. Brenda may have tried to call me after I spoke to the doctor. But after hearing the news, I walked away from my desk crying. My co-workers brought me tissues and my handbag and after comforting me, suggested that I go home. When I got home, there was a message to call the doctor's office on Tuesday. As soon as I hear anything I will let you know. Rose

Hi Rose, Don't panic, I had the same thing happen.. (had two areas of my heart that was bad...) and yes, I panicked as well. To make a long story short, I had the cath done, and was told I had arteries of a 12 y/o. Younger than Tammy! lol, anyway, I had to have nothing else done. So, just get through it, don't panic, and wait and see as to the results. Even if there is some narrowing, getting it taken care of now is preventing a problem down the road. Good luck.

TINAAAAAAA!!!!!!! So good to see you!!! So you were younger than me eh???? Ummm something to said about an older (read-experienced) woman ya know - just ask any young guy??? (I crack myself up sometimes) Seriously, it is sooooo good to see you ... I was hunting your phone number a few days ago, and could not find it. You have been heavy on my heart. Take care chickie!!! Love ya, Tammy

Hi Tina Thanks for being there for me. I know that finding out about the problem now and getting things taken care of while I am young (47) is better than waiting til I get older. Wow.... 16 and 12.....Do you both mean to tell me that I am old enough to be your mother? Now I really feel old. Thanks, I needed to laugh. Rose

Hey Rose - Sorry to hear the doc stressed you out! Not nice! Just remember, it's better to find these things out now and not have any issues on the operating table. We are all praying for you and sending good thoughts your way. Take it easy, as the other ladies have said, this could be nothing. And that's what we really want. Relax this weekend, take it easy, pamper yourself. Email if you want to talk and I'll shoot you my phone number. Take care, Valerie

Hi Valerie You are soo sweet. I was in the pity party mode until 3pm on Saturday. I got up, called the hairdresser, threw clothes on and got my hair cut by 3:30. For some reason, getting my hair done always pulls me out of a slump. If I had had the money I probably would have gotton a manicure and a pedicure also. Afterwards I went to my church, we are having a missions conference weekend and had a strange international dinner. I had talked to my pastor earlier that day and so he sent an email to everyone in the church. It seems that having a catherization of the heart is really common. I just wish that I didn't have to be awake for it. I am feeling better. I know that God is in control and that I am surrounded by lots of love, prayers and good thoughts. Thanks for being there. Rose