Heart Attack - James Beasley

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One of the interesting things that I take away from most of these stories is, that it seems to take an "emergency situation " for doctors to get to the root of most cardiac problems...

I know my time is coming, and even though I have been dealing with A-fib most of my life, it seems like doctors, cardiologists, pulmonary specialists all wait for "the big one" before any serious action is done.
I watched it happen with my father, and it is happening with me ...

I do express my concerns with my doctors, they do the minimal routine EKGs,, stress tests,, etc, I take my medication faithfully everyday, but I feel like they should be looking into my concerns a little deeper...

I just hope when mine happens, I survive and they finally get to the bottom of what's going on..🤔
New doctor!?
 
I've been to a couple of heart doctors over the years as I've moved and had to find new ones...and I do trust what they tell me,
but I just find it interesting that many people I know have had the same happen to them.They have been under a cardiologists care when they had their heart attack..
It's kinda like, Well doc....I thought you of all people would have seen this coming...

I have a friend that has been with the same cardiologist for years... he was having some back pain and went to see his regular family doctor.... next day he was having bypass surgery... the blockage was causing his back pain due to it being on the backside of his heart..
His family doctor said it is known as widowmaker blockages because most people just chalk it up to normal back pain and just wait it out for a few days... he was lucky.
 
Every guy on this forum should take the time and do a Heart Imaging Scan. Best indicator if you have plaque build up or blockage in the arteries. Your physicals and stress test miss show much. Its a few hundred bucks and well worth it. Non invasive and takes about 10 minutes out of your day. Gives peace of mind which is priceless. I have them done every 5 years. We live next door to a cardiologist and it is what he recommends.

Glad it turned out well for you.
 
I had a few TIA's or "mini strokes" five years ago (just turned 57) and ended up with emergency Carotid surgery, big family history of stroke/heart attack.

Asked my GP about my ticker and with no symptoms he couldn't do anything here under our socialized health care, BUT, you could shuffle off to Buffalo and get a "coronary computed tomography angiography" (CCTA) done (was about $400 IIRC). Low and behold, blockage here, blockage there, blockage, blockage everywhere. Now they can do something.

First cardiologist did a stress test, you're fine he says. A neighbor is a medical tech and said I should check this other guy out, told him I wanted to be "proactive" instead of waiting for an "event" like my younger brother. He says as he's nodding "so what you want is an Angiogram", I nodded with him "yes please".

Had it done two years ago. They sedate you, go in with a camera through your wrist, map out all your coronary arteries and put in a stent if needed. Luckily I'm not there yet but at least now I know where I'm at heart wise.
 
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Good work Terry
I have had 2 cardiac caths, fortunately no obstructions

The ultimate test is a cardiac cath/cardiac angiogram. Renal function has to be considered before having a cardiac cath

The other tests, non invasive can suggest possible issues, but are not definitive.
 
Good work Terry
I have had 2 cardiac caths, fortunately no obstructions

The ultimate test is a cardiac cath/cardiac angiogram. Renal function has to be considered before having a cardiac cath

The other tests, non invasive can suggest possible issues, but are not definitive.
So the angiogram by itself cannot detect possible blockages ?
 
Great news. Had my first scheduled follow up with my Cardiologist this Tuesday. The Echocardiogram revealed no damage to my heart, its pushing n pumping the correct volume and no further sign of irregular heart beat. LDLs down to 60. Took me off one med but will have to take a handfull from here on out. Cleared me for normal activity, and an occasional beer! Thnx for the prayers guys. Boaters are the best.
 
Great news. Had my first scheduled follow up with my Cardiologist this Tuesday. The Echocardiogram revealed no damage to my heart, its pushing n pumping the correct volume and no further sign of irregular heart beat. LDLs down to 60. Took me off one med but will have to take a handfull from here on out. Cleared me for normal activity, and an occasional beer! Thnx for the prayers guys. Boaters are the best.
Great new James, keep it up
 
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