GOTTA HAVE HEART CATH!

Hey, I just received a call from the cardiologist office and I have to go see him on Monday, and have a heart cath next week! She said my stress test came back abnormal. Has anyone else had this happen, and do I have to stay overnight? Does it hurt? Can you still have the bypass if you have blockages and get them corrected? I am so stressed, I didn't think one thing about those tests coming back abnormal. Now I am worried!!!! If anyone has had this same problem, PLEASE clue me in on what to expect! I have all my testing over with now, except a sleep study next Tuesday the 22nd. I have to wait until May 21 to even get a date for surgery because I just quit smoking on Feb. 14! I don't mind the wait, that gives me some time to try and get more weight off. Thank all of you for your support of others and taking your time to help those of us who are rookies at this! It certainly is wonderful to come to this site and find out all kinds of information. I still need to go to a support meeting, but I failed to write down all the dates, times and places. If you attend a support meeting in the Lawrenceville, Snellville area, please let me know. Thanks, Karen Dr. Hart

Hey Karen, Try not to stress out too much over your stress test. I know that is easier said than done but so often with women it is a false/positive. Big boobs get in the way and cause a shadow. I wasn't too worred about mine until at dinner the night before (I had only found out that morning and I was able to get it scheduled right away). We were discussing it (husband, mil, fil) and both of the inlaws have had heart cath/bypass surgery. When mil asked me which surgeon was going to perform the test, I was like I think it will be some kind of tech doing it. She was like oh no there will be a surgeon there. So that kind of freaked me out. Plus you are awake during the procedure. After the test starts you will get some happy juice but it was a little un nerving at first. I just knew that I would have blockages and stuff would have to be done. The surgeon actually told me I had the heart of a 25 year old. All in all it was a lot of time spent waiting around for about 20 25 minutes of testing. I had surgery 3 months later and am still reaping the benefits from the test. My pcp was concerned with my cholestreol and said it may not have been my weight that was the culprit but family history. This was a year after surgery and he was contemplating putting me on a med. After remembering that I had had the heart cath he decided it was ok for me to not go on one. Heart disease runs rampant in my family (grandmother died at 58, mother at 62, and my sister aged 47, just had a heart attack on Tuesday )So I feel I have really dodged a bullet. The WINGS around Atlanta group meets this Saturday at NE Baptist church 4046 Chamblee Tucker Road Atlanta, GA from 9-12. It relocated from Snellville several months ago. I also attend a weekly meeting on Wednesday nights at Central Gwinnett high school from 7-9. Hope to see you at one soon! Good luck in the rest of your journey. Marie post op, 12/02/03 Dr Hart -294 lbs from highest weight (539 11/01)/-110 lbs from illness (11/01)/-30 lbs doing the 6 month nutritioal dance/-18 lbs as a preop/-135 lbs since surgery/just climbed STONE MOUNTAIN for the first time

Me too... false positive, thankfully. One of the good things (and can also be a scary thing) about all the pre-op testing is that you find out if there's anything else wrong that should be corrected. After all, the point of going through all of this is so we can be healthy, and live longer, healthier lives, right? So even if the test shows some problem area, it's always better to know and get it taken care of before it becomes a bigger problem. Stay positive, hang in there, and you'll be on your way soon. Blessings to you, Cheryl

I have never had to have one of these done but I know quite a few people who have. They say it isn't bad. My thougyhts and prayers are with you. If you need anything, yell. Hugs, Debra =^..^=

Hi Karen, I, too, was a false positive and boy was I a wreck. The heart cath is, honestly, a breeze. The worse part is when they apply pressure to stop the bleeding after you are back in your room. They numb the area of injection and give you meds through an IV to make you loopy. Actually made me doze during the whole procedure. At the end of the test they woke me and said I was going to feel warm. I had a rush of warmth that I told them felt good (you are in a very cold room) from some dye they inject. As everyone told me, of course it is wonderful to find out if there is a problem with your heart before you have any symptoms. But we will be praying yours is healthy and lets you procede with your journey. If you need to talk or have any other questions I'd be happy to help you out. In God's Love, Barb

Karen I had a heart Cath about a month ago. I needed to have the stress test ,but because I had had some chest pain off and on they wanted to do the cath. It was not as bad as I had feared. It was really not painful. They had to shave the groin area (no fun, but not painful) The worst thing was the IV's. He told me immediately that everything was fine. Now if I get approved I won't worry about surgery as much. All my stuff was sent to insurance this week. I am also a paitient of Dr. Hart!

Hi Karen! Same thing happened to me--shocked me to death that something might be wrong. I worried myself to death, but had the heart cath and it was perfectly fine. The Cardio said he'd like to have my heart, even!! Read my profile--the story is on there about how it went. The cath isn't bad--laying still for two hours afterwards was probably the worst part. My cardio told me IF there was a blockage, they'd clear it, I'd go on some meds for a few weeks, then I could have surgery. Luckily, my cath showed nothing, so I didn't have to worry about any of that. You spend the night IF they clear a blockage---otherwise, they keep you a few hours and then send you home. I was home by 4pm after having it done that morning. Best of luck---keep us informed on how you do!! Hugs... Michelle

Hey chic...I have to be at the hospital at 830 but my surgery is scheduled for 1245...woohooo.......hope that helps. I will tell you all about it..nothing bad at pre-op though. Read the post about D'Lynn waiting on details by Patrice....love ya. D'Lynn

Hi Karen, I had a false positive about 5 yrs ago...turns out they think part of it had to do with my weight, as they had seen a "shadow' of sorts on the lower portion of my heart... The cath was not bad at all...just sucked having to remain perfectly still for such a long time, cuz it was so hard on my back, but all in all, it was not bad at all. I wish you all the best, and if you find a local support group, let me know... I am in Duluth, and would like to find a local group as well. Thanks. Tami

Hi: It's been a while since I posted - been gone in Hawaii - too bad now back. Saw your post and had to reply. I had to have a heart cath because of an abnormal stress test and when they did it they found a blockage of 95% in my right coronary artery (this was all being done prior to the surgery) and had to put in a cardiac stent. I had that last June and then went on plavix for six months - the surgeon in my hometown refused to do the surgery because of it but then it was recommended that I go to Atlanta - I went to Dr. Duncan - and they did the surgery on December 13 and so far I have lost 65# I am doing so much better and exercising well so try not to be too stressed. I look at it like it saved me from a fatal heart attack and I still got my surgery. Meg