Checking your heart for blockages?

[carinatauk]

Poppiecock said:

carinatauk said:

Thanks

"Luckily" I have had one before so quite looking forward to seeing the video.

Went for the Pre Angio Assessment this morning. All seemed Ok, ECG shows some issues, BP 175 / 92 BPM 72.

Weird setup though, apparently they won't put stents in etc during the angiogram, politics dictate that I have to go to Papworth???

I can't remember much about the first angioplasty I had, as I was maxed out on morphine.

I watched the full show on multiple widescreen monitors for the 2nd precautionary op.

Well angiogram complete. One positive outcome, it wasn't too bad although started to get heart pains when they were in there.

Results not so promising, 2 areas [separate arteries, LAD etc] cause for concern from blocking [very restricted blood flow] in the future and they found a blockage near the heart that the believe to be oldish. Decision as to what treatment to undertake will take 2 weeks. Treatment options; more tablets; stents; triple bypass. All I want is for all this ste to be sorted so hoping for no more fking tablets.

Interesting comment made re total blockage [and the earlier mention about not doing anything about it]; apparently the heart is very adept with finding ways of re-routing blood sources and as a consequence it is not always necessary to bypass that blockage.

[Frimley111R]

The Mad Monk said:

Frimley111R said:

She gets consulted on all my medical stuff anyway (2 head operations in the last year plus countless checks and tests). I do the 5k at least once a week and about 1.5hr on my bike. The 5k wasn't a one off. I do try to do 2 fitness things a week on average.

No history of any issues in my family and i eat reasonably well and am not overweight/don't smoke.

Well, you did say:-

"Had to lie to Mrs 111R about why I was going so she didn't worry".

True. It's just that with this one I sort of knew it was just me worrying a but unnecessarily but I knew if I told Mrs 111R about it she'd panic/worry A LOT. If it had been anything genuine I would have told her of course.

[NDA]

carinatauk said:

Well angiogram complete. One positive outcome, it wasn't too bad although started to get heart pains when they were in there.

Results not so promising, 2 areas [separate arteries, LAD etc] cause for concern from blocking [very restricted blood flow] in the future and they found a blockage near the heart that the believe to be oldish. Decision as to what treatment to undertake will take 2 weeks. Treatment options; more tablets; stents; triple bypass. All I want is for all this ste to be sorted so hoping for no more fking tablets.

Interesting comment made re total blockage [and the earlier mention about not doing anything about it]; apparently the heart is very adept with finding ways of re-routing blood sources and as a consequence it is not always necessary to bypass that blockage.

An option you might consider is a MIDCAB procedure on the LAD and stent the others.

Has anyone mentioned this procedure to you?

[super7]

Frimley111R said:

off to see the doc at 4.30. Have some minor chest pains which may be nothing but she's going to check me over just in case.

EDIT: Checked me over but said doubtful it's anything heart related but booked me in for an ECG next week as a precaution. Went home and did a fairly quick 5K. Good to have doc's opinion for a bit of peace of mind. Had to lie to Mrs 111R about why I was going so she didn't worry

Edited by Frimley111R on Friday 9th August 10:47

I went to see the Doc after some mild chest pains, which I was sure was muscular. He sent me to see the nurse for an ECG and she went off to see him the results. Before I knew it, he was spraying GTN around the place, giving me Aspirin and telling me not to move. He reckoned my ECG was showing a Heart Attack and he'd just called the ambulance out. So... I phoned work and said I might not be back and then got carted off to A&E. The paramedic were amusing. Very friendly and re-assuring. They did an ECG in the Ambulance and said that I had an inverted T wave, which is why the Doc though it was a Heart Attack, but that it was also on an ECG that was taken around 20yrs ago. Some people apparently just have inverted T-waves and i've probably had it since birth (in fact all kids have inverted T-waves apparently and it flips over in your teens????)

At A&E, the Paramedic showed the Consultant my ECG and he was less than interested and just got the usual Bloods done and then i went home.... A&E agreed it was probably muscular (ribs) and certainly not my Heart..... which was a relief!!

[carinatauk]

NDA said:

An option you might consider is a MIDCAB procedure on the LAD and stent the others.

Has anyone mentioned this procedure to you?

Not yet, but in fairness she did say she needed time to discuss the options with whomever.

But thanks for the info, I shall ask when I see her next time

[andygo]

The MIDCAB procedure looks a much more appealing way to get repaired. I'm guessing, having googled, that its a case of getting the standard 'open you up' deal from the NHS rather than the nicer MIDCAB route. Rather like getting NHS specs and hearing aids as they are £2.50 cheaper.

I'm going to be asking about this asap. Lets keep everyone updated on any of our findings please.

[NDA]

andygo said:

The MIDCAB procedure looks a much more appealing way to get repaired. I'm guessing, having googled, that its a case of getting the standard 'open you up' deal from the NHS rather than the nicer MIDCAB route. Rather like getting NHS specs and hearing aids as they are £2.50 cheaper.

I'm going to be asking about this asap. Lets keep everyone updated on any of our findings please.

I've had the MIDCAB, so happy to answer questions if you go this route.

MIDCAB is only good for certain arteries - so it's not relevant for everyone.

[andygo]

NDA said:

I've had the MIDCAB, so happy to answer questions if you go this route.

MIDCAB is only good for certain arteries - so it's not relevant for everyone.

My LAD is the one thats blocked, and thats on the left side of the heart, so would that be appropriate? The other artery is thats an issue is ust narrowed, not totally blocked, so I guess they could stent those?

Is the MIDCAB a method they go for often, or is it something you need to raise with them?

[NDA]

andygo said:

My LAD is the one thats blocked, and thats on the left side of the heart, so would that be appropriate? The other artery is thats an issue is ust narrowed, not totally blocked, so I guess they could stent those?

Is the MIDCAB a method they go for often, or is it something you need to raise with them?

My LAD was bypassed under MIDCAB - so it's appropriate. I was 'done' privately under BUPA and it was suggested as an option.

The surgeon would have preferred a triple 'full Alien special effects' bypass, but my cardiologist thought a MIDCAB would be just as good. The other advantage with MIDCAB is that they take a bit of spare artery from your chest (the one that would supply breasts were you a woman). So there's no stripping of stuff from your legs....

I guess the disadvantage is that if you have other narrowed arteries that they may need to bypass later, they'd prefer to do those all in one go while they can.

But in essence you sound an identical patient to me. How old are you?

[andygo]

Sounds promising then. I'm 65 BTW, but don't tell anyone, lol.

[andygo]

After chasing the hospital for a summary of my condition I received this letter from the consultant just now.

On the good news front I don't need to look forward to hospital food, on what I think is not so good news is it looks like there is nothing they can do for me.

Edited by andygo on Saturday 24th August 12:34

[NDA]

I cannot argue with his reasoning as I am not a cardiologist - but what I probably would consider is blowing a grand or so on getting a second opinion privately - ECG, Echo etc.

[andygo]

Well if that section my heart wall is dead and unresponsive, then that's that I guess! It's weird how only the LAD artery hes got blocked and the others aren't even worthy of stenting.

I have no idea when I have had a heart attack though, which is worrying for every individual person I guess.

The MDT is a meeting of a team of consultants to discuss each case on it's merits, so not one Dr making the decisions so wonder if having the tests redone with another consultant is an advantage?

I might push to get my records released so I can get a 2nd opinion based on the MRI scan I had done last week.

[Badda]

NDA said:

I cannot argue with his reasoning as I am not a cardiologist - but what I probably would consider is blowing a grand or so on getting a second opinion privately - ECG, Echo etc.

Why?

[NDA]

Badda said:

NDA said:

I cannot argue with his reasoning as I am not a cardiologist - but what I probably would consider is blowing a grand or so on getting a second opinion privately - ECG, Echo etc.

Why?

Having had 3 heart operations I guess I’m slightly anxious when someone says their LAD is blocked but intervention not required. If it was me I’d double check the advice. Probably silly as you infer.

[Badda]

NDA said:

Badda said:

NDA said:

I cannot argue with his reasoning as I am not a cardiologist - but what I probably would consider is blowing a grand or so on getting a second opinion privately - ECG, Echo etc.

Why?

Having had 3 heart operations I guess I’m slightly anxious when someone says their LAD is blocked but intervention not required. If it was me I’d double check the advice. Probably silly as you infer.

I'm not saying it's silly advice, just that it might needlessly worry someone who is already probably quite worried!

This chap has had a full MDT discuss him, after tests and you are effectively saying 'I wouldn't trust the NHS, private it better' and it really isn't - yes you may get shorter wait times but it's the same consultants and there's only so much they can do with tissue which is infarcted.

[Poppiecock]

NDA said:

Badda said:

NDA said:

I cannot argue with his reasoning as I am not a cardiologist - but what I probably would consider is blowing a grand or so on getting a second opinion privately - ECG, Echo etc.

Why?

Having had 3 heart operations I guess I’m slightly anxious when someone says their LAD is blocked but intervention not required. If it was me I’d double check the advice. Probably silly as you infer.

When something is known as the ‘widowmaker’, I’d not be taking the advice ‘it’s blocked, but should be alright’!

My LAD blockage nearly killed me. Don’t take chances.

[Badda]

Sigh.

Andygo, any chance you can tell us the consultant's name who wrote that?

[andygo]

Badda said:

Sigh.

Andygo, any chance you can tell us the consultant's name who wrote that?

I would rather not divulge the chaps name tbh.

It looks to me as they have a committee of medics coming to a conclusion on these matters. Or am I wrong and it’s just one consultant.

Either way, assuming the MRI test is correct- and why wouldn’t it be- it’s a straightforward scan, it seems pretty cut and dried. Forcing the issue and having the surgery is likely to achieve minimal results with the associated downside of serious surgical intervention.

[Big_Dog]

Can I assume you are near Frimley Hospital. If so they have a fabulous Cath Lab and at least one very good cardiac specialist. Managed to keep me alive.
Privately first appointment about £220 subsequent appointments £150 wish. Also has a private practice in Guildford.