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Class I Heart Disease

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  • HadIt.com Elder

If I had heart angina or chest pains I'd take my chances on the Heart catheter, that's the best way to look ( in my opinion) because there's chances you take with any test like this.

Usually before they do the catheter, they do a stress test and usually with the VA They use the Nuclear stress test to induce a heart-attack (so to speak) given the medicine by IV injections And I hear its pretty bad you Almost pass out, But I think its the veterans choice rather or not to take the Nuclear stress test. heart catheter has saved thousands of lives.

Always check with the Dr that will be doing the catheter test to see about his experience/expertise and he is well qualified...I'd make sure he has at least over ten years experience....as well as the heart surgeon.

Depending on the % of blockages as to do the angioplasty ''balloon for the the heart stent...if the blockages is at least 83%,95% blocked, usually they prepare the veteran for open heart by pass surgery ASAP.

A Good Caring VAMC Will that is!

jmo

.....................Buck

Edited by Buck52
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  • HadIt.com Elder

Based upon personal experience - - -

You would want to have a heart cath and related diagnostics done at a medical facility that can and routinely does open heart surgery.

The Cardiologist doing the cath should be prepared for emergency situations and well qualified and experienced (board certified) as an interventional cardiologist.

(Some VA cardiologists and VAMC's don't meet all the requirements I listed above.)

I've had several caths over the last couple of decades. One some years ago, started as a fairly routine cath, and progressed just before

the first cath was inserted to an emergency situation. Evidently a blood clot had broken loose just as I was getting on the table, and was causing a full blown

and potentially fatal blockage. The cardiologist inserted two caths, one in each leg, removed the clot, used a temporary assist pump,

and inserted a coated stint. I was at least semi conscious through the whole thing. (Somewhat painful, but not really bad!)

The only preceding symptom was that I had to take several nitro tablets to get from the parking garage to the cath facility.

Had the balloon and basket with filter to catch the clot not worked, immediate prep for and high risk emergency open heart surgery would have been the next step.

I had open heart surgery with multiple bi-passes about twenty years before this incident happened.

(You really, really, really want to avoid that if at all possible! It Smarts!)

Edited by Chuck75
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OK, you old guy's (ha,ha) are scaring the crap out of me.

Lets slow the train down a few.

Maybe I will just get everything together and go see a specialist (cardiologist?) and she what they say.

Just in teresting what you find in your med records (and c-file) when you take time to read 3 inches of papers.

Thanks again guys,

Hamslice

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  • HadIt.com Elder

Don't mean to scare you were just stating some facts.

don't mess around with your ticker.

I never had heart problems thank God But I watched my wife go through the surgery and pre testing she said the catheter was not bad they go in at the groin where your leg hooks on maybe an inch down or so.

The Heart Catheter saved her life if it was not from that test she would have had a heart attack and died before she hit the ground.

She had 85% and 95 % blockages, actually no time to do the stent or angioplasty ballon thingy...she was complaining her back hurt FROM her chest to the back. Bra-Line

Before the triple by pass surgery they did the Nuclear Stress test and she failed it big time, cardiologist wanted to do the heart catheter asap.

This was done at the Dallas VAMC Top South West Floor.

It worked she still going and this was in 2005. on her 51st Birthday.

Its Ironic and werid her Daddy died of a sudden Heart Attack at age 51 in 1988

.........Buck

Edited by Buck52
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  • HadIt.com Elder

Three factors - genetics, environment, stress

They all can add up against you.

When I was still working (at a local AFB no less) A fairly young, well known and easy going electrician had a catastrophic heart attack

in our building. Despite CPR and a Defib, he didn't make it. Seems that the initial heart attack survival chances are less when you are mid thirties to late forties.

Edited by Chuck75
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