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Post by wendyco on Apr 20, 2009 10:47:02 GMT -5
Jackie suggested I start a new thread, the other was getting pretty long  ......so I have just copied what I wrote last about the cardiologist visit but have added an update to the bottom of the previous message......................................  everyone, Not sure what all I'm gonna say today, still have to run some things around my mind to get a grasp of all of it.... Yesterday I had a pet scan at Nat'l Jew to see for sure what the spot is...the hardest part for me was staying still (and they mean perfectly still) for 20 minutes while the radiation goes through your body. Then you go into the room and have the actual scan and that's another ½ hour of laying still, yikes that was soooooo hard for me...... Meanwhile I knew I had this appt today with the cardiologist and we also knew a huge snowstorm was heading this way....so yesterday, Thursday, we tried to see if we could re-schedule today's appt due to the pending weather...well we could but couldn't see the doc until June...so we kept the appt.... Poor Char called me at 6:00am to see what I thought, it had been raining all night here and snowed at her place in Wellington (about 20 miles North of us) we agreed we would try and see what happened. We made it but drove in heavy rain showers, mixed with snow the whole way and the whole way back. Really made it out've Denver before the heavy snow started so lucked out there.... The cardiologist was a sweetheart and reminds me of my best friend back in junior high and high school so I was comfortable right away .......(I had been told I was seeing him for a Mitral valve that was leaking and a hole in my heart that was leaking blood), well yep I have those two things but he isn't too worried about that. He is concerned with some calcium build-up, which could mean plaque build-up and perhaps blockages...also when they did the nuclear test with the bubbles, the bubbles should go up and down, mine went across.....another sign of things just not right....so more test...he wants to rule in or out some things and we will go from there. I can't get scheduled for those test until the middle of May so will play the waiting game........ I also postponed my appt with Dr Make, pulmo, cause we had scheduled a time for the results of the cardiologist visit, so now will see Make after the test and those results.......this is all good because if I weren't being tested for a LVRS I wouldn't have found these other little glitches..... so that's the latest, except it's still raining/snowing this is what I wrote when I first got home after seeing the cardiologist....I had to sort through and think about things a bit...remember, I'm very private and seem to have a problem mentioning things that I think will get a reaction..(get embarrassed with too much attention)....I spoke with our wonderful wonderwoman (Jackie aka Blossom) over the weekend and she asked me to please update with this info also because it might help someone else....especially someone that this may have happened to and they feel they have limited options....soooooooooo as Paul Harvey said...”here is the rest of the story”besides some blockages, he is quite sure I have had a heart attack...known as a silent heart attack..apparently I have some fat deposits which are areas that show a previous heart attack...he has to test further to see what damage has been done....in the meantime I am to take baby aspirin every day and 1 gram (not miligram) of fish oil each day......his main concern with all of this seems to be the blockage and how severe it might be....he said it is like being in an airplane and looking down and seeing smoke...well, you know there is a fire but you can't tell how big it is...that's what the test so far have told him...(see why I like this guy? He talks human ) I told my kids everything he said...heck I had to cause one of my daughters was with him and ratted on me hehehehehe....and they have been overly concerned since....I keep telling everyone I am no different today than I was the day before the doc told me these things.................as far as the heart attack, I know when it happened, now that it's been called a heart attack....but that's another story for another day..and I will share that as a clue to others......so, basically I'm having some issues but the cardiologist doesn't see why any of this would prevent me from having the LVRS, after they have figured out how bad/good I am....if blockage is bad, we will treat...if terrible will stent and the other things just have to wait to see where I am...but it's all workable and should'nt stop me from going forward once we handle it....hip hip hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!! so that's my story and I'm sticking to it......... |
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Post by roadtrip on Apr 20, 2009 13:47:16 GMT -5
Fascinating Wendy. Thanks for posting. I just wanted to tell you one thing in case it helps you.
I too had a bubble test at National Jewish. My bubbles also travel across. They called mine an intra-cardiac shunt. Apparently it is a genetic thing. Mine only 'shunts' upon exertion and contributes some to my SOB. They told me it means that the heart's blue blood is mixing with red, oxygenated blood. They told me tons of people are born with intra-cardiac shunts and most are not bothered by them. They told me if mine becomes more bothersome they could patch it but otherwise just ignore it. Yep, that is what I am doing - ignoring it.
Thank you again for your invaluable posts.
Take care.
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Post by mary57 on Apr 20, 2009 14:07:42 GMT -5
Wendyco, I'm so glad for you that everything will be 'workable' and you can go forward from there. Thank You so much for being so open, I'm afraid I understand how hard that is... Take Care Mary
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Apr 20, 2009 17:26:47 GMT -5
Wendy... (Zoom) I wanna TY for being so honest and open; I really do. I think that as you travel along this road you're learning more about your body (they - your Doc's; are too!)  You're also letting folks know that even beyond our "lung" problems there can be other problems....in your case; your heart. By the same token my dear; ...and some folks know you; , others are getting to know you; if it can be overcome....... you'll overcome it! The other great thing is that even within your situation and probable heart attack; they're not "discounting you" from future possibilities..... Gotta like that! |
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Post by wendyco on Apr 21, 2009 13:59:38 GMT -5
I'm never sure where to put things so I will stick this right in here............................the doc's nurse called me today to tell me my PET SCAN came back.....It's okay!!!!! nothing bad, unusual, or cancerous!!!!!!! hip, hip hurray!!!!!! the spot they were worried about it gone, heheheheehe I love it when they disappear!!!!
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Post by bobbioh on Apr 21, 2009 16:42:48 GMT -5
Congrats!!!! To you... Keep on Zooming Girl Bobbi
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Apr 21, 2009 18:18:34 GMT -5
WooooooooHooooooooooo!!!!!!!! WTG Woman!!!!!!! You're getting soooooooo much closer! Wendy/Zoom.... You KNOW how happy I am for you!!! Celebration time lady!!!!  |
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Post by aero63 on Apr 21, 2009 18:31:04 GMT -5
 Had to put the dancing smiley to celebrate the good news on the PET scan. I am so glad that things can move forward for you. I recently heard on the news about silent heart attacks and trying to get mri s to become more routine and less expensive. Anyhow thanks for keeping us updated and sharing.
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Post by mary57 on Apr 21, 2009 18:43:11 GMT -5
I'm so glad that the spot on your lung cleared up, such good news. Now you can breathe easier (on that score). Best wishes for the rest of your journey, I know it will move forward for you now.
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Post by muffin on Apr 23, 2009 1:36:52 GMT -5
Wendy, so glad the spot on the lung is gone and I am thinking positive for the other news.
Thanks so much for sharing, I know it is hard and to actually put it down and see it along with hearing it makes it just a bit harder I think.
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Post by virginia on Apr 23, 2009 10:37:58 GMT -5
How wonderful Zoom...You go girl!!!!!
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Post by wendyco on May 15, 2009 10:59:42 GMT -5
Breathing well and the treadmill? No way Well my newest adventure took place yesterday, Thursday May 14,09 and this was the first day of “Nuclear Cardiac stress test one and two day imaging”….. I couldn’t have any caffeine for 24-hrs prior to the first test and that includes chocolate so I couldn’t wash away my tears from having NO coffee, with chocolate or anything yummy… Char and I took off for the drive and ran into awful traffic and arrived right when my test was scheduled (supposed to be there half an hour early) they were very nice about the whole thing and I was very grateful……so they hooked me up for action….. Heart leads on…..IV hooked up for the radiation tracer, blood pressure monitor on and pulse ox on…….once everything was ready they explained that I just had to get my HR up to 138 and we would try to get there quickly….once I reached that rate the tracer would be inserted and we would keep my HR there for a minute…sounds easy, right? HA! Actually it wasn’t that bad, the whole thing started and ended in three minutes but the last minute was really, really hard….they started the treadmill on an incline and as the tech said it was like walking up steps non-stop….then they increased the speed and it was like running up stairs………..so we got the HR up and inserted med and I keep it up and more for the minute and then we stopped…..After a rest they took me into the room with the scanner and I laid on a table/chair and had to remain still for 15 minutes while the scanner did it’s thing…..it takes hundreds of pictures and they turn 3D for the docs…pretty cool stuff…… Today I go in for the second part which is just the scan part of yesterday, it’s called the resting scan…….will let you all know about that later……… |
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on May 15, 2009 13:08:25 GMT -5
No caffeine for 24 hours!!!!!!! Ughhh
I hope today you could have some.
Q. You said you had to lay still for 15 minutes....... what happens if you had to cough? Would it effect anything?
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Post by wendyco on May 16, 2009 16:18:43 GMT -5
Don't know to be honest....I wasn't even allowed to re-adjust my head.....I do know that the machine is taking pictures every few seconds and I imagine if you coughed it would affect that picture but they should have enough that one would be okay to mess up, but I am just guessing here.......laying still is extreme torture for me so I wasn't gonna move so much as a finger and take a change of having to start over again...
a side note to that, had the second part of the test done withou any complications.....just had to inject the radiation and then wait for 20 minutes while it zoomed around in there and then the pictures...............now an echo cardiogram again next week...
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on May 17, 2009 8:31:50 GMT -5
It'll be interesting to hear what the results are Wendy...... when do you get to review them (I assume sometime after the Echo) and who reviews it with you?
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Post by wendyco on May 21, 2009 14:11:48 GMT -5
Echo “Stress” Test This morning was my Echo test again with the nuclear medicine…what I hadn’t noticed on my schedule was the word Stress in there until this morning….. I had to fast for a blood draw before the test but didn’t have to for this test as in last weeks….soooooo, got to Denver and finally had the blood draw and found out that I have to give two more sputum test also….As soon as the blood work was done Char and I zoomed to the café, in the hospital, to get some coffee….ahhhhh life was good again after the first few sips Went back into the room and they got me hooked up again for action….had to bring the machine that takes the pictures and things into the room with me….once I had all the leads on, blood pressure monitor, IV, Pulse Ox and was about ready, I knew I could cough up some “good” stuff….so had Char hand me the bottle for just such an event and did my thing…(we turned that back into them, in the lab, on our way out…the next one I will take next week when we meet with the pulmo) Before the treadmill they did some scans and pictures of my heart with bubbles and the tracer……then Time to get back on the TM and do the same that I did last week….started uphill and after two minutes they increase the speed and inject the nuclear tracer….I have to keep up that pace for a minute and it has to be one of the hardest things I’ll ever do…..I managed and with this test, the second you are done you don’t cool down, you jump right on the bed again and turn to the side so they can take more scans while your heart is going like crazy….they got all the pics and scans they needed and I was done….took off all the stuff attached and got a big bottle of water to help rinse out the med……. On the way home from Denver Char stopped at Starbucks and I had a regular coffee while she had one of the foo-foo’s but we each got a hot chocolate cookie…I must have been very good to be treated so well!! For those that don’t know, I AM VERY competitive and had to find out how I did compared to last week….did 10 seconds longer so I best my own personal best and am very proud, Whewhoooooo! Don’t see the cardiologist until July but see Dr. Make, the pulmo next week and he should be able to sort through some of this….. |
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Post by toni on May 21, 2009 17:09:44 GMT -5
Wendy, this sounds like the test I'm going to have tomorrow. I haven't been able to have caffeine since Monday  because of this test and the one I had yesterday. They're going to inject the nuclear stuff into me and take pictures then they will induce stress (instead of putting me on a treadmill) and take more pictures. When I'm done I'm running to the nearest Timmy's for a nice double double! Thanks for sharing Wendy! Toni |
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Post by wendyco on May 21, 2009 17:48:29 GMT -5
that sure does sound like the same one Toni......hang on without the caffine, that's tough!!!!!
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Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on May 21, 2009 18:18:30 GMT -5
Zoom.../ Toni......
You know; I think it's absolutely fantastic that you guys can share Coles Notes "so to speak". And from 2 different countries no less! I think Colleen was right... there dowsn't seem to be a lot of difference....
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Post by aero63 on May 21, 2009 20:04:56 GMT -5
Wow! sounds like alot with this stress echo. Glad you outdid yourself, , so to speak. Good luck at pulmo too. |
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Post by maryaz on May 21, 2009 20:51:49 GMT -5
A lot of credit to you ladies for doing all this and a big thanks for sharing the journey with everyone.
Way to go Wendy. Good luck Toni.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2009 7:26:34 GMT -5
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Post by virginia on May 22, 2009 21:25:04 GMT -5
Linndie, I wouldn't think you would have to be in church to say a prayer...
I'm so proud of you guys,(Wendy and Toni) scares me to read about it but I care about you all and pray for you all the time...
Love you all..
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Post by susanny on May 26, 2009 1:54:04 GMT -5
I was excited to find these postings this morning. I am having the chemically induced stress test this Fri. AM and am nervous about it. My heart rate goes up to 146 just doing the 6 minute test. How did it go for you, Toni? I heard that they have a different chemical they use for people who get SOB like us.
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Post by mary57 on May 27, 2009 17:02:48 GMT -5
Wendy, I've just caught up with your posts, I'm so glad that you did so well with the tests. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, keep well. Mary
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......so I have just copied what I wrote last about the cardiologist visit but have added an update to the bottom of the previous message......................................
everyone,
because of this test and the one I had yesterday. 
