Update on Update

[Hrty]

Saw the cardiologist this morning following my recent trips to hospital. To say he was prepared for the appt would be an understatement.

Short answer is he is going in for another look as, in his words, I've been marinaded long enough and it's time to get me back on the BBQ 🙃.

Owing to my awkward anatomy they are going to go via the femoral artery (eek) with the idea of using a balloon to deposit drugs directly to where the blockage is to improve blood flow.

If it all goes well he thinks I should be able to reduce my meds intake which would be a bonus.

As we left he said he was off to "beg" a slot to do this, hopefully fairly soon.🤞

[Tos92]

Hi Hrty

Great news with scheduling you in for another appointment. Hope getting the appointment isn’t too long of a wait!

Tos

[Hrty]

Thanks, you have a great weekend too x

[Yumz199725]

Wow mate that's great news so glad your cardiologist saw to you so quickly and sounds like they want to get your surgery sorted very quickly, keep us updated with your progress! 😊

[Hrty in reply to Yumz199725]

Thanks, will do

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I like the sound of your Cardiologist!

I had both my angiograms via the femoral artery.

It can be a little uncomfortable when they inflate the balloon. Don't feel shy about asking for sedation or pain relief if necessary.

Another word of advice make sure you go for a pee before you go to the cath lab.

You have to stay flat on bed rest for a while afterwards when they use the femoral artery in the groin.

As a woman I was offered a bed pan when nature called. As far as I am concerned it is not humanly possible to pee flat on your back on a bed pan.😖

It was a long wait before I could get up.

Good luck, I hope all goes well.

[Hrty in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks, must admit I'm not looking forward to it but I'm so glad he wants to have another look and isn't just fobbing me off with more drugs or treating me as a worry guts. He has always been keen to look to reduce my meds if possible. Both my wife and I felt better after seeing him, he took time to explain why and what he would be doing and drew lots of diagrams.

As for going for a wee, I'll be sure to go but I bet I'll want another one as soon as we get to the lab 🙃🤣

[Rogo23]

Got to love a surgeon who will beg, at least that is what madam Trixi says. And what with the leather gear she knows about begging, and pleading.😉I will keep my fingers crossed, just make sure that he doesn't forget about the basting whilst you are on the Barbi.

[Hrty in reply to Rogo23]

He's threatened to help take my mind off the procedure with his jokes 😀. I'm sure it wqs him who referred to one of the RBL tubes during my initial angiograph as the "really, bloody long" one 🤣

[Rogo23 in reply to Hrty]

The surgeon seems to be up on the correct medical terminology, as they are using a balloon is this called a lindstrad procedure? If it is the Branson his companies don't go all the way 🤣

[Hrty]

Thanks, trying not to think about it until I know when it will be.

[LSCE]

Hiya, I also like the sound of your cardiologist. Glad to hear you'll be getting the procedure soon. I hope all goes well.

[Smitty1956]

I love a doctor who is well-prepared prior to your visit! And he also has a sense of humor—-win-win!

I am happy that you will hopefully have your procedure soon. Like you, I am scared of the idea of using the femoral artery, but I know that it can turn out fine.

In 2006, my now ex-husband, collapsed while having a treadmill stress test. His cardiologist scheduled him for a stent the next morning. We knew that he needed at least one stent placed. His doctor went in via my husband’s femoral artery

The next day, during the procedure, the doctor discovered that he needed six stents, or open heart surgery. My husband chose the six stents. Because of the dye that was being used, the doctor placed three stents that day—kept my husband in the hospital overnight and through the next day and night—then placed the last three stents that next morning—-again through the femoral artery. I was freaked out that they had to cut the artery two different days in the same week, but it all seemed to work out well.

I recall that he did have to lie flat without moving around and, at that time (2006), they placed a weight over the artery while he laid in bed. I can’t recall the exact timing, but it seemed that they had him up and walking around the hospital within one or two days of the final surgery. He was 50 at the time, and he is still going strong 17 years later.

I really wish you well for your procedure, and I hope that you feel much better after the application of your medication! 😃

Try not to worry about the use of the femoral artery. I know that it has risks, but the surgery team and hospital staff are professionals in dealing with this type of surgery. Best wishes!

[Hrty in reply to Smitty1956]

Thanks, when my wife asked whether I'd be kept in after we were told I should be able to come home afterwards, presumably after a period of lying still and post procedural monitoring. I'm trying to focus on the positive aspect that he is prepared to have another look qnd not just throw more medication at me or, as some others on here have experienced, being fobbed off as anxiety.

[cappachina]

Hi Hearty I had my aortic valve replaced via the femoral artery It was nowhere as bad as I thought Yes I had to lie flat for 3 hours afterwards than half sitting up for another 2 . I needed a pressure pad on as it kept leaking They sealed the artery with something called a angio seal which dissolves by itself in 3 months and give you a card saying its there to carry with you just in case I was home in two days Wound healed well and no problems at all Good luck and I hope you are in soon

[Hrty in reply to cappachina]

Thanks, fingers crossed it will be soon. The meds are wiping me out at the moment and, hopefully, some will be reduced/removed afterwards.

[MummaSoap]

How do you feel about this news?

Personally I think it sounds pretty positive overall but I can appreciate that it may feel more of a mixed bag for you.

I hope that you don’t have to wait too long for a date for the procedure and that all goes to plan 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Best wishes

Soap 🧼

[Hrty in reply to MummaSoap]

Thanks, my wife and I talked about it afterwards and we both agreed we always felt better after talking to this Dr. He explained in quite a bit of detail what he is planning to do and why he needs to go in via this route rather than the wrist as well as why stenting would he difficult. I'm definitely focussing on the positive aspect rather than than the procedure itself, although I'd be fibbing a bit if I said it wasn't making me a bit anxious 🤥. Discussing it with son, daughter, mum, sister and wife we all agree it's a good thing. Mum is convinced I wont be waiting long. She is spookily accurate at times, even seeming to sense when something's happened to one of us. It's a bit of a family joke that she might be a witch 🧙‍♀️. She's even had several black cats over the years 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

[MummaSoap in reply to Hrty]

I think a bit of anxiety is to be expected but sounds like you’re dealing with this brilliantly and looking for the positives (of which it seems there are many) is great 🙂

My partner is a bit like that with family members and accidents but it scares him so he tries to ignore it. His mum is very in tune as well, the day I was scheduled to have some surgery she had my son and whilst she was giving him his breakfast she said to him, “you’re going to have a little sister”. 10 minutes later I was back on my doorstep saying that my surgery had been cancelled because I’m pregnant (about 8 weeks) and I did indeed have a daughter!!

She also gets cravings whenever someone in the family gets pregnant and before I found out with my 3rd she kept having cravings and I said well it’s definitely not me because I was adamant that was the case and I’d only just been diagnosed with my heart condition. Then lo and behold, I felt the baby move, went for a scan and I was 20 weeks pregnant!! 😱

wishing you a relaxing weekend, best wishes.

Soap 🧼