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OT - Follow Up Heart Dr Visit
As promised, I went to see my Cardiologist, for the results of my heart cath, and heart CT scan.
With mixed results, he told me there was an issue with an artery being pinched off, and sent me directly to see a surgeon. The surgeon looked at the results, did a quick exam and determined, though I have the issue, no surgery was needed. He said the constant "pressure" I feel, that gets worse with exertion was intercostal spasms or pressure, and that it was not being caused by the artery issue. Well, hello, he knew I have MS, and an MS Hug, which I had explained to my heart Dr. as feeling like an "ace bandage" wrapped around your chest, snugly or tightly, and feeling like having a ton of bricks on your chest. So, anyways, short of it, no surgery, at least, at this time. I wasn't expecting to hear any type of possibility of surgery, in the first place, but I am relieved I won't be having open heart surgery, but it concerns me that I do have the artery pinching. Oh well, I go back for a follow up, with my Cardiologist, in a month. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
-- Socrates2k1 (aka Stan)
With mixed results, he told me there was an issue with an artery being pinched off, and sent me directly to see a surgeon. The surgeon looked at the results, did a quick exam and determined, though I have the issue, no surgery was needed. He said the constant "pressure" I feel, that gets worse with exertion was intercostal spasms or pressure, and that it was not being caused by the artery issue. Well, hello, he knew I have MS, and an MS Hug, which I had explained to my heart Dr. as feeling like an "ace bandage" wrapped around your chest, snugly or tightly, and feeling like having a ton of bricks on your chest. So, anyways, short of it, no surgery, at least, at this time. I wasn't expecting to hear any type of possibility of surgery, in the first place, but I am relieved I won't be having open heart surgery, but it concerns me that I do have the artery pinching. Oh well, I go back for a follow up, with my Cardiologist, in a month. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.
-- Socrates2k1 (aka Stan)
Point of reference
A little more details ...
(I did some online research, which didn't tell me much, but)
What my Cardiologist told me (and the Surgeon confirmed) was:
I was born with a heart malformation, whereby the Right Coronary Artery, doesn't follow the "normal" path. In travels between the heart and aorta, therefore when the heart "pumps", it temporarily squeezes off the RCA, yes, that means, it temporarily cuts off blood flow.
What the Surgeon said, was as he looked at the results of the Heart Cath. and Heart CT, was he didn't see any "schema" or anything indicating a significant blood flow problem.
Remember, he was told I have MS, and an MS Hug.
So, during his physical exam of me, he pressed on my chest, rib-cage, etc.
[Note: I fell off my back porch, back in 2009, one of the results was a severe chest contusion]
Yes, the pressure hurt, my chest has hurt since the fall, duh.
Since he believed, that he "duplicated" the results, by pressing on my chest, etc. He believes it's not a heart issue, but a chest wall issue. Hence, the intercostal spasms, "theory".
Well, I go to see my PCP, in 2 weeks, and back to see my Cardiologist in 4 weeks.
When I see my PCP, what I'm going to ask him, is this:
If you tell me, your arm hurts, and I pinch your arm, hard, does the pinching of your arm, hurt? Did I duplicate the pain in your arm, you already had, no!
What it boils down to is this, as far as the Surgeon, since he didn't see any significant blood flow stoppage, on the Heart CT, then it's not worth the risk of cutting me open to re-route my RCA.
Whether this is the cause of my heart pressure, and my heart feeling "tired", especially after exertion, like walking, mowing, or exercising (riding my exercise bike), we have no idea.
-- Socrates2k1 (aka Stan)
A little more details ...
(I did some online research, which didn't tell me much, but)
What my Cardiologist told me (and the Surgeon confirmed) was:
I was born with a heart malformation, whereby the Right Coronary Artery, doesn't follow the "normal" path. In travels between the heart and aorta, therefore when the heart "pumps", it temporarily squeezes off the RCA, yes, that means, it temporarily cuts off blood flow.
What the Surgeon said, was as he looked at the results of the Heart Cath. and Heart CT, was he didn't see any "schema" or anything indicating a significant blood flow problem.
Remember, he was told I have MS, and an MS Hug.
So, during his physical exam of me, he pressed on my chest, rib-cage, etc.
[Note: I fell off my back porch, back in 2009, one of the results was a severe chest contusion]
Yes, the pressure hurt, my chest has hurt since the fall, duh.
Since he believed, that he "duplicated" the results, by pressing on my chest, etc. He believes it's not a heart issue, but a chest wall issue. Hence, the intercostal spasms, "theory".
Well, I go to see my PCP, in 2 weeks, and back to see my Cardiologist in 4 weeks.
When I see my PCP, what I'm going to ask him, is this:
If you tell me, your arm hurts, and I pinch your arm, hard, does the pinching of your arm, hurt? Did I duplicate the pain in your arm, you already had, no!
What it boils down to is this, as far as the Surgeon, since he didn't see any significant blood flow stoppage, on the Heart CT, then it's not worth the risk of cutting me open to re-route my RCA.
Whether this is the cause of my heart pressure, and my heart feeling "tired", especially after exertion, like walking, mowing, or exercising (riding my exercise bike), we have no idea.
-- Socrates2k1 (aka Stan)
My husband just went through a heart cath procedure to get a stent inserted in the left anterior descending. I would be very concerned about the 'pinched artery' but if the heart cath didn't show a blockage, then there is probably another cause to the pain.
I have problems with esophageal spasm and the MS hug too, and the first thing I did was get to the doctor so they could run an EKG. Everything was just fine. A pinched artery doesn't sound fine!
I have problems with esophageal spasm and the MS hug too, and the first thing I did was get to the doctor so they could run an EKG. Everything was just fine. A pinched artery doesn't sound fine!
I’ve discussed this post with my girlfriend, a medical assistant to a cardiologist.
I’m sorry this is the case, but she says you will need surgery someday. When the surgeon said you didn’t need it, he presumably meant you didn’t need it in the immediate future. Based on this post we can’t guess if that is six months, six years, or ??? away, and maybe the doctors can’t narrow it down much either. Although the surgery is inevitable, she indicates there are medical reasons to wait to perform such an invasive event. So many variable factors play into it, and those factors aren't addressed here.
There is no reason to believe that the surgeon didn’t take the pinched artery seriously. That said, each surgeon and each cardiologist has a different approach to what is necessary and when. Sort of like our neurologists. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, whether before or after your next visit to the cardiologist.
Just as we anticipate new MS therapies in the coming years, there are alternatives to open-heart surgery under investigation, and we can hope one of those are approved and more commonly practiced by the time you need the pinched artery addressed.
I’m sorry this is the case, but she says you will need surgery someday. When the surgeon said you didn’t need it, he presumably meant you didn’t need it in the immediate future. Based on this post we can’t guess if that is six months, six years, or ??? away, and maybe the doctors can’t narrow it down much either. Although the surgery is inevitable, she indicates there are medical reasons to wait to perform such an invasive event. So many variable factors play into it, and those factors aren't addressed here.
There is no reason to believe that the surgeon didn’t take the pinched artery seriously. That said, each surgeon and each cardiologist has a different approach to what is necessary and when. Sort of like our neurologists. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion, whether before or after your next visit to the cardiologist.
Just as we anticipate new MS therapies in the coming years, there are alternatives to open-heart surgery under investigation, and we can hope one of those are approved and more commonly practiced by the time you need the pinched artery addressed.
I am glad you don't have to have surgery. Getting a 2nd opinion would be a good idea I think. My husband just recently had an emergency quadruple bypass. When they did his heart cath he had a clot ready to move in the widow maker artery which would have been instantly fatal. He was in the right place at the right time. In order to get to that place though I had to demand tests from the dr. Once a stress test was done they found he had been having multiple silent heart attacks. I am telling you this as an example of being proactive in your health care.
But in the meantime don't stress yourself over it as the heart is wonderfully resilent. The surgeon may very well be right. But it never hurts to get another opinion.
Let us know. Will be praying for you.
But in the meantime don't stress yourself over it as the heart is wonderfully resilent. The surgeon may very well be right. But it never hurts to get another opinion.
Let us know. Will be praying for you.
Huh??? WTF??? This doctor has just given you the biggest pile of doo-doo about this being your MS hug and not taking the artery problem seriously. A pinched artery is not something to be taken lightly - there is even an artery named the widow maker. The left descending artery is usually the culprit in sudden death, if I am remembering correctly.
I want you to immediately go back to your cardioligist, report to him what you were told and ask for a referral to someone different. If it weren't a concern to him, he would not have sent you to the surgeon. Now it needs to be a concern to you and get some answers.
Sorry to sound harsh, but you only have one heart and that muscle can be so damaged if this is left untreated.
Lu
wife of a man who has had CABG and stent!
I want you to immediately go back to your cardioligist, report to him what you were told and ask for a referral to someone different. If it weren't a concern to him, he would not have sent you to the surgeon. Now it needs to be a concern to you and get some answers.
Sorry to sound harsh, but you only have one heart and that muscle can be so damaged if this is left untreated.
Lu
wife of a man who has had CABG and stent!
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