Wish me luck......

Ken C.

Ken C.

Jack of all trades, master of none.
Staff member
Super Mod
Joined
Jun 14, 2000
Messages
15,401
.......because for all I know I may not be here come Monday.

In August I had a complete physical done. Heart scan, nuke stress test, bloodwork...the whole nine yards. I hit a positive on the stress test and the scan showed something at the bottom of the heart. Could be a blockage, could be artifact. I have no idea. Had my test redone in December. Same things popped up. Ordered by my cardiologist to schedule an angiogram on Monday to make sure the pipes are clear. Risks involved? 1 in 100 chance that I could die on the table or that I need an angiplasty to open the vein/veins and live. I'm terrified because I know what can happen on Monday and what might happen if I don't get this done. Heart attack..not the way I want to go out.

What pisses me off is that I have been watching my weight and what I eat for the past year. I stopped smoking a long time ago and haven't had a beer in almost a year. I also started working out more and doing cardio. I made a commitment to my wife and kids that I would do everything I possibly could to be around for a long time. I have lost 9 lbs in 2 weeks and have been eating better than I had been before.

Well, there you have it. My fears laid out on the table. I would rather die in a fire than go out with a bad ticker.

I'll let you know what happens on Monday night. Maybe.
 
Anything can happen, but modern medical technology being what it is, you're much better off taking your chances with a procedure before something happens, rather than during or after an event. I'm pulling for ya, big guy. Good luck.
 
Hang in there. You'll do fine. You and your family will be in my prayers.
 
Ken, you will do fine, I have had to the have same procedure done, the only thing I did not like was lying butt naked on a stainless slab with 20 female nurses running around. Do yourself a favor and ask for a towel, I was too embarrassed to ask. So I died mentally.:D
James
 
Ken C. said:
...What pisses me off is that I have been watching my weight and what I eat for the past year. I stopped smoking a long time ago and haven't had a beer in almost a year. I also started working out more and doing cardio. I made a commitment to my wife and kids that I would do everything I possibly could to be around for a long time. I have lost 9 lbs in 2 weeks and have been eating better than I had been before.
Click to expand...
That's the problem...You put your body into shock by taking care of yourself.
No worries, you'll be ok, as they say..."Only the good die young", so you don't have much to worry about.:D.

BTW...I'm not too sure that a (massive) heart-attack isn't a "good" way to "go", as it's quick, and painfull for only a few minutes.
 
You're going to be fine.

The odds are overwhelmingly on your side.

Chances are this is no more than an annoyance (alright, a severe annoyance).

Regardless, smoke and prayers going up from Virginia on your behalf. :):thumbup:
 
You'll do fine.......no other option is acceptable. All the best and we'll be awaiting your return. Someone else might get to "guess" during your temporary absense. :p
 
Calm down, Ken... you're in better shape than I was when they started tinkering with my blood vessels back in 2000. Angioplasty, two stents and a double bypass later and I think my knees are what will give out first on me! Take it easy and leave the nurses alone! :) Wishing you the best, buddy! :thumbup:
 
:cool:...Ken...I know how hard it is to wait and worry about what's going on with you now. Please try to do like Gary suggested and "take it easy"...Whatever might be the problem it's probably just something "mechanical"..."Mechanical" they can fix and they do it very well these days. It also may be nothing at all. Working in a medical facility I see people come in who have convinced themselves they are desparately sick...I also see the big smiles when they find out it was nothing that couldn't be fixed...Stay positive and let them do the PM on your bod...You'll be most likely be here 20 years from now clogging up the forums...LOL...My prayers are with ya Ken...:thumbup:
 
Ken,

Been there, etc.

A few years or so ago I was experiencing PCVs. Because I have good insurance (cynicism), they ran a butt-load of tests on me before deciding I needed a heart cath. This is a procedure in which they open your femoral artery in the groin and run a catheter to the heart where they pump some isotope into the heart. It then shows any blockage.

Of course, this is was a terrifying prospect. Not just the potential results, but the procedure.

Is this the kind of thing they are prescribing for you?

If so, rest assured, it's not so bad. Just be careful and follow the post-op procedures.

Best of luck to you and hurry (slowly ;)) back soon.
 
Just thought of something else, Ken... in the beginning I asked my cardiologist if it would be OK to have a beer or a glass of red wine once in awhile. All he said was... "I've been to many gatherings of cardiologists and 99% of them are walking around with a glass of red wine in their hand. Moderation is the name of the game."
 
Many of those scary-sounding procedures are now commonplace with high success rates.

Best Luck to you,
-Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top