Back in Cali I had shortness of breath and doing my normal cardio was tougher. Figured I was just getting old. But my Doc sent me to cardiologist. EKG, Echo, Stress test... showed nothing.

Since I moved to Florida I had the shortness of breath again and heart palpitations, so 2 trips to the ER but they do EKG and bloodwork... normal... send me home. The last one I walked Tank, went to the gym, then came home and cut the grass... heart rate went to 114 and wouldn't come down. Drove myself to the ER. EKG no bueno. Bloodwork no bueno. Spent the night in the hospital, Echo and Stress test next morning... inconclusive... sent me home.

I 100% fkn KNEW something was not right. Took all the ER/Hospital paperwork to the VA and requested cardiologist referral. The VA takes f o r e v e r to do anything. So I did the same with my primary care doctor with Tricare. Had a cardiologist appt the next week. They looked at all that was done and did that again + a carotid echo, the CT with contrast and the heart cath. Last 2 showed the problem, scheduled the fix... and then the VA called and said they had an appt for me. 😂

MACS wrote:

Here’s a little food for thought.

Wheel and I had a conversation about 2 weeks before he passed. IIRC he mentioned that he had seen his cardiologist about a week or two prior and had a stress test. His doctor told him he passed with flying colors then shortly thereafter he passed away. If I’m not mistaken his death was due to a heart attack.

I too had recently had a stress test because I’d been having some intermittent left arm pain. My doctor had also told me I passed the stress test. So I made another appointment and while there I asked him what EXACTLY the stress test measured. His response was MAJOR blockage. So I asked him what was considered a major blockage and he told me something like 95%. I then asked him if I was say 90% blocked the stress test results would be normal. He said yes. With that I asked him if there was some other test that could be run because I felt like something was wrong because left arm pain is a possible symptom of a serious heart condition. He offered to do the CT with contrast as a heart cath was invasive and could have serious complications.

So we scheduled the CT. That’s when I found out one of my coronary arteries had a 25-35% blockage. That’s also when I all but stopped smoking cigars. Even though I didn’t inhale my doctor told me that by having nicotine in my mouth by putting on a cigar nicotine would still enter my blood via the veins in my mouth. Since nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict I was putting myself at greater risk of a heart attack by continuing to smoke cigars. In fact, I was smoking about 3-4 cigars a day at the time.

So I guess I’m encouraging everyone especially those over 40 to see a cardiologist and think about getting a CT with contrast. It may very well extend your life significantly.

Abrignac wrote:

Here’s a little food for thought.

Wheel and I had a conversation about 2 weeks before he passed. IIRC he mentioned that he had seen his cardiologist about a week or two prior and had a stress test. His doctor told him he passed with flying colors then shortly thereafter he passed away. If I’m not mistaken his death was due to a heart attack.

I too had recently had a stress test because I’d been having some intermittent left arm pain. My doctor had also told me I passed the stress test. So I made another appointment and while there I asked him what EXACTLY the stress test measured. His response was MAJOR blockage. So I asked him what was considered a major blockage and he told me something like 95%. I then asked him if I was say 90% blocked the stress test results would be normal. He said yes. With that I asked him if there was some other test that could be run because I felt like something was wrong because left arm pain is a possible symptom of a serious heart condition. He offered to do the CT with contrast as a heart cath was invasive and could have serious complications.

So we scheduled the CT. That’s when I found out one of my coronary arteries had a 25-35% blockage. That’s also when I all but stopped smoking cigars. Even though I didn’t inhale my doctor told me that by having nicotine in my mouth by putting on a cigar nicotine would still enter my blood via the veins in my mouth. Since nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict I was putting myself at greater risk of a heart attack by continuing to smoke cigars. In fact, I was smoking about 3-4 cigars a day at the time.

So I guess I’m encouraging everyone especially those over 40 to see a cardiologist and think about getting a CT with contrast. It may very well extend your life significantly.

Abrignac wrote:

Got a thumbs up at the cardiologist follow up appointment yesterday. Three more months of blood thinners. Rebuilding the stamina and immune system after the barrage of antibiotics they pumped through me. In the end, they gave me Vancomycin. That is the Mac daddy they use for MRSA infections.

Gut still isn’t right, but happy being 90% better than three weeks ago.

8trackdisco wrote:

Love hearing that, mah brutha. I, too, am anxious to get back to my normal routine. Aside from walking Tank each morning, I've been taking it easy.

Used to get maybe 10-15 "zone minutes" (heart rate 104-120 range) on the hour walk. Now it's 35-50 walking at the same pace. 🤦

After the round of super duper antibiotics best thing to do is eat probiotic rich foods. Get some Yakult and drink one of those each morning for a week you'll be back to normal. Yogurt, too... but get the full fat kind.

MACS wrote:

You'll be good. The prayers will continue.

I'm 98.2% sure you be back to the d-baggery, a-hattery, t-foolin' and shenin' soon after the procedure to one Ex[stent] or another. [gonzo]

8trackdisco wrote:

Hospital called to pre-register me. $58 bill to be paid upon arrival. Got my wife's contact info and told me there's free valet parking and to arrive at 0900 for a 1000 procedure. Overnight stay, at a minimum...

Hopefully it all goes according to plan and I am home in the recliner Wednesday afternoon.

MACS wrote: