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Posted 2/20/2005 6:47 AM (GMT 0)

Hi every one, I'm feeling much better. I had 2 more bleeding episodes just before seeing the doctor and right after. They sent me home from rehab and told me to rest instead. I have had no more episodes since then. I will try to refrain from driving while having chest pain. It's kind of hard since my husband has to really struggle to get into the seat since our seat does not turn at all. They want $500 for a used pedistal for the van so I guess that's out of the question since the van needs $800 in repairs at the present time. I guess nothing short of a miracle is going to make the van more accesible for my hubby. On a bright note though I am glad that I don't have to put his chair in and out of the car anymore and he gets to bring his scooter every where since the van has a lift.

Marshfield and Eau Claire are way north of me. I think I might look into a support group. I bet one of the hospitals has one if there is no mended hearts near me. I am very confused as to what pain to worry about or do something about and what not to. The cardiac nurses and my cardiologist are no help at all. I've come to the conclusion that if you have heart problems once it's treated and diagnosed you are pretty much on your own to decide when to go to the hospital. It's very frustrating. I want to be able to return to my former activities like cross country skiing. My sister is now afraid to ski with me. The nurse told me if I have pain to stop what I'm doing and rest and then take the shortest way home or back to the car. I've decided I'll do everything the doctors tell me too and take the medications, but I'm not going to sit around and worry about this. Like my boss says if it's our time to go it is. She had a heart attack 9 years ago and that is her view on it. Despite all my health problems I am young at heart and love to do outdoor things like camping, hikeing, bikeing, swimming, water slides and skiing. I'm not going to stop all that. I go back May 17 for a stress test. Hopefully all will go well. I have a lot of living to do yet. I've been given a second chance and I'm going to take advantage of it. Tim McGraws song live like you were dying pretty much describes the way I live my life. He's a country singer.

Hey Barb the answer to the question about the stents is the medicine lasts 3 months. Well I'm off to bed now. Barb

Posted 2/20/2005 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All, Guess I just need to know there are folks out there going through the same problems I am. In the last 3-4 weeks I have been having unstable angina, even after the bypass in late July. Now I'm wearing a nitro patch during the day, taking it off before bed. It's just a bummer!! I was so hopeful that everything would go okay after the bypass, but guess maybe I should have known better. Oh well, feeling sorry for myself won't help a bit, so might as well stop. My mom would have said "get off the pity pot". It's just disheartening. Any of you out there that feel that way sometimes? Barb M
Posted 2/21/2005 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I did, I did !! Barb, I had stents (3) , bypass surgery (3), and then more stents (2). I was really getting weary of it all, and wondering if there was ever going to be an end to it. All this was in a six month period. As it turned out, this was almost 18 months ago now, and I'm doing just great. No pains, no angina, no nothing. Back to life as usual. Try to maintain a positive attitude-it's very important to your full recovery. Hang in there, everything's going to be just fine. I demand it !! hehehe

Jim

PS-Mended hearts is a GREAT group. I'm a charter member in the Austin, Texas chapter 318. Great folks and a bunch of good info on things we all need to know.

Jim
Posted 2/21/2005 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb, I can understand your disapointment. I don't know if my stent is closeing back up but it was very disapointing to think of that happening. I went through disapointment like that when my stomach surgery didn't turn out the way it should have. I went through it for nothing because I now have the same problem I had before surgery with the heartburn. Hang it there though things will get better. I've decided that if it is closing I'm not going to sit around and worry about it. I'll deal with it when it happens. Barb
Posted 2/21/2005 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
yeah  hanks for the encouragement!  Guess we all need it from time to time. I'm feeling better already! My husband and I took a walk this morning, looking at all the tree's that are just about to bloom out. We planted over 3,000 seedlings; fir, pine, cedar, blue spruce, etc., and then ran a drip system to each and every one of them. I say we but my husband did most of the work. It's amazing how a little water raises the percentage of tree's that make it. Watching them all grow is another good reason to be happy. Thanks again! Barb M 

Posted 2/21/2005 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb, glad to hear you are feeling better. It helps to get out of the house too. Also helps to keep busy. I've been busy working on my scrapbook room this weekend. I'm getting every thing organized. I wish I could get my sister to go skiing with me, but she's scared because of the heart thing. Can't say as I blame her. It sound's beautiful where you live. I love the trees especially the pines and ever greens. My husband and I love to camp in the woods and hike and bike. Well I bike he rides on his electric scooter. We love the outdoors. Well I have to go get ready to go to rehab now. I'll talk to you later. Barb
Posted 2/23/2005 2:29 AM (GMT 0)

Dear Barbs.  Just went through a checkup with my cardiologist.  I particularly emphasized the weird chest pains that I have been having since surgery and after (8 to 12 hours after) strenuous exercise.  He tells me that these are not heart related so I am breathing easier.  Perhaps the pains you are having, if they are not during exercise, are similar to mine and not directly related to the stents.  He claims that without angina, I must be having no stent problems. Also learned that since I am doing 1 hour per day on the treadmill with no angina that he thinks I don't need a stress test in the near future. 

I am hoping that all is well (as he says) but I still have anxiety attacks.  Leaving on my first business trip since the surgery last fall.  It will be the first time I have traveled without my wife since the surgery and I hope that I don't get too panicy while I am on the road alone.  This should be a good test.  The last couple of trips (Mexico-Dec and Ohio-Jan) when I was by myself for a few hours I found it was all I could do to stay patient until Robin (my wife got back).  I guess fear plays a part in this too.

Hope both of you are doing well and that the doubts about restenosis are unfounded.  Remember, if you have to go back in to talk with your surgeon about using a stent with a different anti-rejection drug.  BarbT, my sister lives in Shawano, (about the only place I know in Wisconsin).  I suspect that she may need to see a cardiologist in the near term.  Is that anywhere near you or your doctor?

John

Posted 2/23/2005 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Oops, I guess it took a while for me to get back to answer your earlier question Barb-for that I apologize. I haven't been in the best of health lately and just last week, my Mom passed away from Breast Cancer. She also was a 20 year member of the bypass club with a quintruple bypass after a major MI in her 50's.

My angioplasties were done in different areas, however 2 stents were placed in the LAD in the same place. The metal stent clogged back up to about 99.9%, so therefore, the medicated, cypher stent was actually put inside the old stent to help ward off more plaque and scarring. It did help to open it up some. The 3rd stent in another offshoot of the LAD never got placed, because the artery ruptured when they tried to inflate the balloon to expand the stent and I ended up with a triple bypass.

I'll try to keep pace here...Teri
Posted 2/23/2005 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback! I see my cardiologist 3-2-05, but just today I called another doctor about a different condition that may have some bearing on all this. I have a condition called Sarcoidosis. Not a lot is know about it, but in my case it has affected the lymph glands in the chest between the lungs, more right than left. So far I really haven't had any symptoms that I know of. It would never have been found except for the chest ex-rays taken when I had the heart problems. Before I go in for an angiogram I want to make sure the Sarcoid hasn't flared up, and is causing some of this. Don't know whether to hope it has or not. The only treatment for it is steroids, and we all know we don't want to take those unless absolutely necessary. Anyway, I should find something out in the next couple of weeks. Again, thanks for the feedback and the caring. Barb M

Posted 2/24/2005 3:15 AM (GMT 0)

Wow, Barb, that's a lot you have going on right now!  I always seem to be researching, though I've heard of this disease before, but one thing that I wanted to ask you re this-is that the only test (the x-ray) that you've had done to diagnose the Sarcoidosis?)

"HOW SERIOUS IS SARCOIDOSIS?

In over half the cases, sarcoidosis appears briefly and heals naturally. Sometimes the patient doesn't even know or do anything about it. From 20 to 30 percent of pulmonary sarcoidosis patients are left with permanent lung damage. And for a small percentage of patients, their sarcoidosis can become chronic, lasting for many years.

No one can predict how sarcoidosis will affect an individual patient. but several things are certain that may reassure the patient. Sarcoidosis is not contagious. And there is no evidence that it can be inherited, and passed from parents to children."

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35766

I hope you are okay!  Be well.

Teri

Posted 2/24/2005 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Teri, There is a blood test I have done periodically. I can't remember the name of it right now, but I think it has something to do with inflammation. I also have to have my eyes checked every 6 months. My understanding is that Sarcoid can affect any organ in the body, but about 90% of people have it in their lungs. I'm going in today for an ex-ray, and a chat with the pulmonary doctor just to make sure this chest discomfort isn't Sarcoid before I have an angiogram done. I have so much problem with bleeding after the angiogram that I don't want one if I don't absolutely have to have one. Planning a trip to Hawaii in May and want everything taken care of by then. Barb M

Posted 2/24/2005 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Much good luck to you, Barb!

Teri
Posted 2/24/2005 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Teri, just got back from the doctor. It is definitely not the Sarcoid causing the pain; at least I know so I can rule it out. This pulmonary doctor had bypass surgery a year or so ago. He said most bypasses last about 10 years, his only lasted 10 months. When I asked what they did for him after that, he said he just plays it one day at a time. In his case there is no room for more bypasses. I guess we all just live one day at a time. Barb M

Posted 2/25/2005 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
Well, Barb, perhaps, but I try to live for a little bit past that one day at a time-I'd rather be like my Mom who lived 20 yrs. past her bypass! :)

I'm glad it was not the sarcoid-will you/they continue to follow up on this??

Teri
Posted 2/25/2005 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Teri, yes I continue to be checked every 6 months by both the pulmonary specialist, and the eye specialist. So far so good. I'll let you know the name of the blood test when I remember it. At my age, that may take a while yeah don't ya know? Barb M
Posted 2/25/2005 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Haha, you are right, Barb! Is it the CRP test? I'm glad that they seem to be following you so closely. Be well. Teri
Posted 2/25/2005 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Teri, still not sure, but angiotensen comes to mind. I'll check it out, find out, and let you know. Barb m

Posted 2/25/2005 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Teri, I was right! It is the Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme test (ACE)or (SASE). More research for you, huh? Glad I was able to get the brain cells working to come up with this one. Barb M
Posted 2/26/2005 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Barb, I did look that up. :) I'm so glad that your test is okay!! Since I've had my bypass (celebrated my 6 month anniversary yesterday) and then a stroke on top of it, my memory is past being "getting older". lol Though, I have noticed lately, that it is somewhat better, unless, I'm just getting used to the "not remembering". :) Teri
Posted 2/26/2005 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
eyes  
Teri, sorry about the stroke. My brother has had several small ones with no residual effect, thankfully.  Have you every heard of  Noni Juice? I remember seeing an article on TV about it some months ago, one of the news information type channels. They were saying it was supposed (?) to be good for just about everything. I looked it up on the internet and it sounds interesting, but has not had FDA approval. My husband and I started drinking 1 oz each in the morning, with no noticeable effect. They say it usually takes about 3 months for us to notice anything. I figure it can't do too much harm, however, I do intend to tell my cardiologist when I see him on the 3rd. The brand I bought is out of Hawaii, and is supposed to be 100% Noni Juice. The taste is a little strange, almost like apple juice that is starting to ferment. Oh Well, they say a little alcohol is good for us heart patients. Anyone else out there that has used or heard of Noni Juice?  Barb M
Posted 2/27/2005 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi again...I looked up the Noni Juice, it's everywhere! :) One site that I looked at said while "Others, like shark cartilage, essiac, 'noni juice', and saw palmetto, aren't harmful, but they haven't been shown to be effective either." (Source: WebMd.) So I guess that's all that the medical community is basically saying about that. Just like coenzyme Q 10, they say it won't hurt you, but it hasn't been proven to help either...and it's sooo expensive! I guess that's an individual choice and yes, I think it's a good idea to check with your Dr. about this, he'll probably say the same thing. Mine did about the COQ10.
Teri
Posted 2/28/2005 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, yes Barb I have heard of that noni juice from my uncle who is into nutrition big time. His wife had a stroke and instead of taking her to the hospital like he should of right away he kept her at home and fed her that juice and other stuff. She still has some problems. He claims she got through it faster and better because of him doing that. I think he was crazy. She is able to talk and everything but has a bit of a limp I guess. Have you had any problems with lumps in your legs. I have had a very painful lump about the size of a nickle below my knee on the inside of my leg. It's warm and a little bit red. It hurts when I walk. The nurse I called Saturday morning said to go to the clinic right away to have it checked. So between the clinic and hospital it ate up 6 hours of my Saturday. They supposedly ruled out a blood clot but couldn't really tell me what it is. The doc said it might be a new varicose vein. It really hurt after all the pokeing around by the doc and the ultra sound lady. If that in it self is not bad enough then I have an infection in my right foot that I finally went and had checked Thursday night. My foot hurts so bad on top that I can't wear regular shoes. Not sure the antibiotic is working because I had a temp when they took it Saturday. I told every one Saturday that if I was a horse they'd have to shoot me with my two lame legs. That gave them all a good laugh. Hey it's better to laugh about it than cry. Talk to you later. Barb

Posted 2/28/2005 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
BT Barb, :) Sorry, just wanted to make sure I was addressing the correct one. I haven't looked back far enough to know why you are taking an antibiotic (for the foot infection?)-so I can't respond to that, but to say I hope you're feeling better soon! I've never had painful lumps (knock on wood) in my legs, but I've seen a couple of lumps that I'm sure are varicose veins. If that's what your's is, it could be the cause of the pain...but gee did they refer you to someone to see what it actually is?? Speaking of legs and feet, I have got such a sore ingrown toenail, that I know what you're taking about re pain in the foot- :) socks & shoes both hurt, though I believe I got the problem fixed. If it's not better, guess I'll be visiting someone for that-I'm diabetic, so I'm not going to fool around too long with it. Have a good day! Teri
Posted 2/28/2005 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Teri, I've had varicose veins since I was 18 years old and I've never had one with a lump like that or this painful. If it doesn't get better I'm going to go see my regular doctor to have it checked out and maybe a specialist. I may have to go for my other foot anyway if it's not better soon. I don't know how I got that infection in my foot but my circulation istn't the best due to an accident at age 16 I have lots of tissue damage to my lover legs and feet. I know how bad an infection can be because I had an ulcer back in 99. 3 months to heal not fun. This pain is just as bad but no open wound. Thats why I waited almost a week to have it looked at. I have a very dear friend who has diabetes and he has lost 3 toes recently. He has had 2 heart attacks, and kidney damage from the diabetes. Unfortunately he doesn't watch what he eats. I've lectured him many times. It sounds like you take care of yourself though. Don't wait on the foot thing though. Have you ever had celulitis? That's what my foot infection is. Look forward to hearing from you again. Barb
Posted 2/28/2005 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
BT Barb :) Cellulitis is something I'm very familiar with...my Mom had it due to poor circulation and when her leg edema got so bad she couldn't walk, the pores opened up and the fluid seeped from these wounds. BTW (by the way) I worked as a nurse for several years in the Geriatric field til a back injury sidelined me, so I've seen it there, too. I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem! As sick as my Mom was with this, hers did heal with antibiotics-it just took as you said, a long time.
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