Where is Jim?: Hello all. I'm a daily... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Where is Jim?

KiwiBlake profile image
35 Replies

Hello all.

I'm a daily logger onto this website, infrequent poster.

Jim, username mjames1, from USA, we haven't heard from you for a month or so. I always find your comments to be informative and well balanced.

Are you OK Jim?

Please let us know if you are all good.

Regards

Blake (NZ)

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KiwiBlake profile image
KiwiBlake
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35 Replies
jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

He has replied to a post this week, maybe it was yesterday.Jean

KiwiBlake profile image
KiwiBlake in reply tojeanjeannie50

That's great.

Keep up the good work Jim!

Blake

mjames1 profile image
mjames1

Hi Blake,

Thanks for the nice words and concern.

Recently needed six stents for blocked coronary arteries, so a little less time here and more time on other heart forums, both at HealthUnlocked and elsewhere.

My recovery is going well and getting close to where I was before the whole thing's started.

Jim

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply tomjames1

Wishing you a full and event free recovery . Take care

baba profile image
baba in reply tomjames1

Wishing you a complete recovery

Tellingfibs profile image
Tellingfibs in reply tomjames1

Wishing you well Jim. This forum needs you so look after yourself 😉😊

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply tomjames1

Wishing you a speedy and successful recovery Jim.

Sixtychick profile image
Sixtychick in reply tomjames1

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I’m sure you’ve replied to me a few times.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tomjames1

Big procedure. Take it easy now.

Buzby62 profile image
Buzby62 in reply tomjames1

Where’s Jim?

I had the same thought yesterday and a click on your profile then Posts or Replies showed you had been around on BHF and replied to a few here so thought no more of it.

Take it easy Jim and best wishes

OzJames profile image
OzJames in reply tomjames1

Jim happy to hear all went well. Take care mate

Cavalierrubie profile image
Cavalierrubie in reply tomjames1

I too wondered where you were. Thank goodness you are ok and in recovery. Wishing you well Jim and while l am here, thank you for your vast knowledge and helping many on here. Take it slow with lots of TLC.

Fastbeat profile image
Fastbeat in reply tomjames1

Hope you do well.I had 2 stents for CAD 22years a go still doing well,will be 85yrs later this year,had AF since about55yrs old been permanent AF since2017,doing fine with that also.

Cavalierrubie profile image
Cavalierrubie in reply toFastbeat

. Good to hear, great encouragement thank you.

Bagrat profile image
Bagrat in reply tomjames1

Good to hear you are taking it steady, I know, never assume, but glad you are making good progress.

Autumn_Leaves profile image
Autumn_Leaves in reply tomjames1

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

10gingercats profile image
10gingercats in reply tomjames1

Glad to hear all is well with you and that you are the road to recovery

Ablation7 profile image
Ablation7 in reply tomjames1

Wow, that’s a lot to go through! Glad you are on the mend!

DrBook profile image
DrBook in reply tomjames1

Hello, Jim. Wishing you all the best as you continue to recover.

Brian

KiwiBlake profile image
KiwiBlake

The great things about these types of forums is the collective knowledge built up by individuals from all corners of the globe.

I find it an excellent source of information and encouragement.

Thanks Jim

Blake

Sixtychick profile image
Sixtychick in reply toKiwiBlake

Same here. I would probably not have gone ahead with my ablation, without the help of the lovely people on here. Their information and encouragement, helped me to decide to have it, 16 months ago now. I try to help anyone on here, who needs it, in return.

JOY2THEWORLD49 profile image
JOY2THEWORLD49

Hi

If you made mjames1 a friend you would get a copy of his postings.

Cheri JOY 75 (NZ)

mike1961 profile image
mike1961

Another fan here Jim ! I too very much appreciate your posts.

Sorry to hear you've needed SIX (!) stents, but obviously delighted to hear you're pulling through well. Presumably the narrowings were discovered via an angiogram, but what led to you having the angiogram in the first place ?

Take good care.

Mike

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply tomike1961

Mike:Presumably the narrowings were discovered via an angiogram, but what led to you having the angiogram in the first place ?

Yes, discovered via angiogram. Started having chest pains last March, but both GP and Gastro wrote it off to Gerd, both based on symptoms and a negative nuclear stress test. and indeed, some of the pains may have been Gerd, as they can be so similar.

Finally a cardiologist took my history, looked at my Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan (It was 2200) and off to the Cath Lab, where they discovered severe five vessel CAD with multiple 95% blockages, including the LAD.

Looking back, we should've intervened a lot earlier, but I got lucky and was spared a heart attack and any resulting damage.

Jim

mike1961 profile image
mike1961 in reply tomjames1

Thanks Jim - did you also have the lp(a) test and, if so, was it also confirmatory?

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply tomike1961

Yes, lp(a) was high. That and the CAC score are two tests I highly recommend to help stratify CAD risk.

Jim

ozziebob profile image
ozziebob in reply tomjames1

Really pleased you are recovering from such a serious procedure.

And, hoping I'm not being insensitive, have you been able to reach any conclusions about the causes of your almost total blockages? I'm thinking such personal experience would provide helpful insight for others on our Forum, and for me. Or perhaps genetics played a large part?

bob.

mike1961 profile image
mike1961 in reply toozziebob

Ozziebob,

My experience with friends suggests that there is a strong genetic component at work here. Certainly high lp(a) is often familial.

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toozziebob

OzzieBob: have you been able to reach any conclusions about the causes of your almost total blockages?

For me a combination of advancing age and genetics plus being part of a medical system where treating heart disease is often more reactive than proactive.

Here are some sobering statistics.

1. 1/3 of all worldwide deaths are from CAD.

2. SCD (sudden cardiac deaths) account for 10 to 12% of all deaths in the general population.

And most sobering of all..

3. 12% of the general population will die of CAD without ever knowing they had it.

And yet, GP's and Cardiologists generally coddle us along until we are symptomatic or have an event.

Jim

ozziebob profile image
ozziebob in reply tomjames1

Thanks for your reply. Both my parents had heart bypass operations at or before age 70, and neither lived long afterwards. It seems I should be looking into the tests you mention, lp(a) and CAC score, but, disappointingly, my GP hasn't offered either. Although, to be fair, my family history in Australia is probably not recorded properly in my UK medical record. I will ask my GP if I get a chance.

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply toozziebob

Lp(a) & cac score- what are these tests please?

ozziebob profile image
ozziebob in reply toGowers

Courtesy of Google ... I'm no expert, just a patient like you ...

Lp(a) blood test gives the amount of Lipoprotein (a) in your blood (Lipoprotein (a) is a type of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, that carries cholesterol to your arteries). A high level of lipoprotein (a) in your blood can indicate a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.

And the CAC (coronary artery calcium) score (provided by a non-invasive CT scan that measures the amount of calcium in the walls of your heart's arteries).

Both tests mentioned above by mjames1 .

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply toozziebob

Thanks

mjames1 profile image
mjames1 in reply toozziebob

I would definitely push for both tests. The lp(a) is a simple blood test and where I live, you can order one yourself for under $50. The COC scan of course requires a prescription from a doctor. If your GP will not do it maybe you should speak to a cardiologist.

Jim

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply tomike1961

Doesn't the routine blood test always measure the Ldl and Hdl cholesterol - I know mine does, or are we speaking of something different?

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