The Mixed Bag of Results!

I've e-mailed this to some friends and I thought I'd just post it here for anyone who happens to follow my blog.


The angiogram procedure itself went well with no problems such as bleeding etc. It’s pretty amazing really that I wasn’t even given a sedative, only a local freezing (he said sorry for the ouch but it was not even as bothersome as my insulin needles!) and I’m talking to him the whole 20 min. while he’s “tickling” my heart as he put it. It feels like a butterfly when it’s in the left auricle! You get a huge heat rush from your head to thighs when they shoot in the contrast agent (dye) so they can take pics…and I was quick to tell him that just in case any male patients wanted to know, this felt just like a huge hot flash….X 20! (Except for the sensation of peeing your pants which I had yesterday!!)

Bottom line results….kinda mixed…

Good news part:

My actual heart muscle is in the top category 1 for a strong pumper and having no damage.
My cholesterol is really excellent
I don’t need a bypass (phew!) at this point…

I’m just to continue with my same meds and manage symptoms of angina with nitro spray.

Not so wonderful part:

There were several smaller arteries that were anywhere from 70%-90% blocked but the main artery was only (! Ha!) 50% and they don’t do any bypasses until it’s 70%. So I have some more time before the huge surgery. I see him in 6 months. I only need to do 20-30 min. of moderate walking or swimming per day…that is supposedly enough, although I’d love to be able to do what I was doing before.

And, of course, there’s the sugar to control, which is the main reason my arteries are blocked. The ever-elusive sugar. It is almost impossible for me to have under great control but it is better. The whole huge Mash-type unit yesterday (and I presume every day) was filled with mostly diabetics, albeit all older than me. This condition does ugly things to your insides and it is mostly the straying from low to high sugar that contributes to the coating and sticking to the arteries. I truly hope there is a cure for diabetes some day for it has certainly had its way with me in many areas.

Really Fabulous Part: !!!

He said I should go to Dallas on the 13th to my niece’s wedding!
Even though my insurance will not cover anything related to my heart, he told me that even though I’m a higher risk than most people, that he didn’t really think I was in danger of having a huge episode in the near future. It is only for 3 days. Let’s hope he’s right. I’m not a huge risk taker, but come on, in the big Casino of My Life, surely I can be granted 3 days episode free!??

We are lucky to have our health care system, such as it is and as much as we always complain about it. What I saw yesterday sure fostered my “faith in the process” type thing. The place ran like a well-oiled machine and the level of care was excellent. I was surrounded by happy upbeat people. In fact, with all my dealings with the various hospitals and doctors I have had, I have always found them to be excellent.

I have sincere gratitude for my many blessings in life; a wonderful caring, understanding husband, a close-knit loving family, (the best ever!) and fabulous friendships with so many people it is hard to believe. I thank my Creator several times a day actually….and most recently from the new upper deck in the trees where I am closer to the Universe!

Thanks to you all for always being so thoughtful and supportive of me.

I’m just taking it easy for the next few days…..and then I'm packing for Dallas!!!