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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Angiogram instead?
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Angiogram instead?
by Gigi747, Sep 05, 2003 12:00AM
Dear Med Help: Friday
I am going in for a nuclear stress test Monday. One morning a month ago I was raking apples under the tree, and within five minutes, I began breathing and sweating hard, walking very slowly, and could not go on for another second. I was afraid I would pass out outside, so went inside, laid down on the floor until breathing under control. My dog stood by, very worried about me. In the mirror, my lips were blue and skin above lips was white.
I now have continuous pain in my chest on left side. Since last summer, I hear a crackling sound when I breathe in. For a while now, I wake up with a start, my calves ache, my heart races up and down, I experience numbness in my hands, feet, and lips. Resting heart echogram is fine, ekg is fine. Fasting LDL is over 200, cholesterol is over 300, triglycerides are over 250. I am 5'2", 155 lb, 52 yrs. Grandfather had a heart attack in his 50s and father watches triglycerides.
1: My doctor is concerned about blockages. The stress test costs $1,000, and my insurance doesn't cover it unless I'm put in the hospital. May I go straight to the angiogram, so I will be hospitalized and my insurance will cover it?
2: Does angiogram show heart muscle damage, or is it only the stress test that shows that? What does heart muscle damage mean for a patient?
3: Does taking Zocor and Atenolol affect the stress test?
4: Should I be taking it easy, or can I mow the lawn this weekend?
5: Does any of this lead to disability rating? Thanks.
I am going in for a nuclear stress test Monday. One morning a month ago I was raking apples under the tree, and within five minutes, I began breathing and sweating hard, walking very slowly, and could not go on for another second. I was afraid I would pass out outside, so went inside, laid down on the floor until breathing under control. My dog stood by, very worried about me. In the mirror, my lips were blue and skin above lips was white.
I now have continuous pain in my chest on left side. Since last summer, I hear a crackling sound when I breathe in. For a while now, I wake up with a start, my calves ache, my heart races up and down, I experience numbness in my hands, feet, and lips. Resting heart echogram is fine, ekg is fine. Fasting LDL is over 200, cholesterol is over 300, triglycerides are over 250. I am 5'2", 155 lb, 52 yrs. Grandfather had a heart attack in his 50s and father watches triglycerides.
1: My doctor is concerned about blockages. The stress test costs $1,000, and my insurance doesn't cover it unless I'm put in the hospital. May I go straight to the angiogram, so I will be hospitalized and my insurance will cover it?
2: Does angiogram show heart muscle damage, or is it only the stress test that shows that? What does heart muscle damage mean for a patient?
3: Does taking Zocor and Atenolol affect the stress test?
4: Should I be taking it easy, or can I mow the lawn this weekend?
5: Does any of this lead to disability rating? Thanks.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-RCJ, Sep 05, 2003 12:00AM
gigi747,
Thanks for the post. Sorry to read of your ordeal.
(1) Yes, you could. Tell your doctor about the concern with your finances.
(2) The echocardiogram is probably the best test to show muscle damage.
(3) Zocor does not, atenolol can. Atenolol may blunt your peak heart rate, which can decrease the sensitivity of the test. Talk to your doctor before altering your dosing.
(4) I have never seen you ... I cannot recommend an activity level for you.
(5) I do not know what you mean by "disability rating" ... sorry.
Good luck.
Thanks for the post. Sorry to read of your ordeal.
(1) Yes, you could. Tell your doctor about the concern with your finances.
(2) The echocardiogram is probably the best test to show muscle damage.
(3) Zocor does not, atenolol can. Atenolol may blunt your peak heart rate, which can decrease the sensitivity of the test. Talk to your doctor before altering your dosing.
(4) I have never seen you ... I cannot recommend an activity level for you.
(5) I do not know what you mean by "disability rating" ... sorry.
Good luck.
your chol seems very high as does your weight, both are strong risk factors for cardiovascular problems...as is the family history of 'premature' (50s) coronary artery disease...;
do you have Type II diabetes ?
the numbness may be a sign of peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) and/or diffuse (throughout the vascular network) atherosclerosis (which diminishes blood flow in the smallest blood vessels in the extremeties especially);
for a _very_ comprehensive overview of coronary artery disease process, coronary testing methods, and treatments get a copy of "Heal The Heart" by Dr. K.Lance Gould (Amazon can getonetoyou very quickly)....try do this before you have any (invasive) testing done...your risk factors appear quite high and your symptoms should be taken very seriously....you also need to take active control of your diet, stress levels etc...active participation can help stabilise and improve our situation...;
be well;
//