OK...finally got my chart today and the cholesterol numbers don't look good !
Lab Results:
Total : 226 mg/dL
LDL: 165 mg/dL
HDL: 41 mg/dL
Triglycerides: 99 mg/dL
Stress Test Results: (I have no idea what this means -- am simply typing the words as they are on the report)
Resting ECG:
The resting ECG showed Normal Sinus Rhythm; Old inferolateral MI, anterior T wave abnormality consistent with ischemia
Stress ECG:
The stress ECG showed Sinus Tachycardia; ST/T wave changes in leads aVF, II, III, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6; Downsloping ST depression up to 2 mm.
Stress Study Impressions:
Abnormal exercise tolerance test die to diagnostic ST segment changes, without chest pain; Functional Class I; Normal incremental hemodynamic response to exercise; No exercise induced arterial desaturation; No significant induced arrhythmias
Profusion Summary:
Abnormal myocardial perfusion study; apical, apical wall ischemia
Any more thoughts/advice/suggestions based on this more precise information?
Thanks in advance.
A
Thank you guys so very much for the replied and support ! Your replies, along with the doctor's, certainly made things a bit clearer for me.
In the mean time, I have already asked for my complete chart so that I can take it to a non-interventional cardiologist for a second opinion. I did my labs yesterday and I am waiting for the results -- should be in tomorrow morning. I am definitely leaning towards a CT scan as it is non-invasive and as kenkeith suggested might give me a bit more information regarding the surroundings of the heart (had acid reflux for a long time -- not sure if that caused any damage).
Will post back with more once I get my chart !
Thanks
A
kenkeith is a good resource, sounds reasonable to me! (I always find wisdom in his posts)
Sorry, just read the doctor's opinion, and I agree...go medicine therapy. Although there is some duplication I hope may long post provided additional information to help you!
My experience has been to seek another opinion from a non-interventional cardiologist as an interventional cardiologist favors doing an angiogram and then almost always implants a stent or stents. I have had an interventional cardiologist and currently non-interventional.
Usually, it is chest pain (ischemia related) uncontrolled with medication that invokes intervention. Since learning I have a totally blocked LAD and 72% blocked ICX going on 5 years, medication has been the mode of treatment without any problems. Intervention therapy does not increase one's mortality (google COURAGE study), and I can cite studies that indicate there are excessive stent procedures that don't warrant the intervention. The studies are fairly recent and an outgrowth of drug eluding stents that have a restenosis tendancy.
A non-interventional CT 64 slice coronary angiogram is as good as a CA. In addition, the CT gives a complete 3D view of the vessel anatomy and whether or not there is remodeling as well as plague buildup on the outer side of the lumen (significant because it is that plague that breaks through endothelium (lining of the vessel) and it is undisputed that this condition is the highest risk for a heart attack...not the partially blocked lumen. Also the abdomenal aorta is viewed and the respiratory system including full-of-field view of the lungs mand soft tissue windows are used to evaluate extracardiac soft tissue.
I'm not advising, but I am suggesting you get a second opinion regardless of what the forum doctor may state. I recently had a ct scan and the procedure took about 7 minutes. It is necessary to get the heart rate below 60 for clear images, and may not be for everyone as one is required to hold their breath for short time and with medication heart rate may not become slow enough for good images. For more information ct 64 slice coronary angiogram.
You should be commended, and you are doing the right thing to get all the information available before making a decision. Take care!
That's wy I'm not a doctor I guess. That was good advice he gave on the expert forum, very interesting take. Sounds like a good option.
Good luck, I hope everything works out for you.
Jon
Sorry to hear about your problems. I'm not a Doctor, I see you were able to get this also posted on the expert forum and I'm sure you'll get good advice from the forum doctors. It sounds to me like your cardiologist has a sense of urgency about this, I don't think I would wait for a second opinion if he wants you in tomorrow, he must have a pretty reasonable expectation to want you in that soon.
I would take his advice, a cath is not risk free, but very close to it. I would not risk waiting, he has no incentive to put you through a cath for no reason.
Good luck with it,
Jon