Some news

Hello everyone, I finally got a telephone call from my cardiologist/EP this morning confirming that my stress echo test carried out on the 29th May showed that parts of my heart were not getting enough oxygen.  

It would appear to be ischaemia, but I will need an angiogram to confirm the diagnosis and extent of any disease.  Because of my difficult symptoms during the dobutamine stress echo which was positive for ischaemia in only 2 LV segments, they cannot rule out microvascular angina as the primary cause for my chest pain.

After my angiogram they plan to review me to discuss a catheter ablation for Atrial Fibrillation, although my arrhythmia burden is still very low.

I told my EP I don’t want them to go through the femoral artery this time after getting a pseudo aneurysm during my last angiogram in 2017.  He mentioned he could use the radial artery in the wrist which is less painful and has a lower risk of vascular complications including bleeding risk.

So I must continue to wait patiently.  No date yet for my angiogram procedure.  I hope it won't be delayed because there has been a serious Cyber-attack affecting several London hospitals including mine, as well as GP surgeries in the area.  The cyber-attack is causing major disruption.  Russian hackers infiltrated and rendered unusable the IT system of Synnovis, a private firm which analyses blood tests.  This occurred on Monday, 3rd June.  Our National Health Service has not given any indication publicly how long it will take Synnovis to regain control of its system, from which they have been blocked by software inserted by the hackers.  Worrying I know.

14 Comments

stress test

by athena123 - 2024-06-12 16:48:36

Thats terrible that they hijacked the software, its a shame whats happening all around the world. Its not the kind of world our forefathers fought to establish democracy and peace for us to have a better life.  I hope everything turns out well for you Gemita.Remember, good things happen to good people. godbless to you and family.

stress test results

by new to pace.... - 2024-06-12 17:16:00

Glad to hear you are  getting some answers for your chest pain.  Which of course means more testing.  Now you can stop some of the worry that you have been going though.  Like you not sure about having a catheter ablation.

Sorry to hear your hospitals got hijacked.  What a horrible thing to have done to the current and future patients.

new to pace

💐hugs

by Lavender - 2024-06-12 19:07:20

I have been waiting all day for your report. I am sure that some of this is not surprising to you, but nonetheless, your plate is already quite full at home. I hope the tests are soon. Waiting just causes more consternation. I'm glad they have a plan in mind but sorry for how this affects your peace of mind. We all know that disease progresses but hope for a crawl speed not a fast decline. 
 

How wise of you to request the radial route and to remind them of what happened when they used the femoral route in your case. You're a well informed patient who certainly can be counted on to consult intelligently with your medical team. 
 

hugs!  We will wait with you...patiently. Lol what choice is there but to be calm and wait?! 😘

I feel a little more relaxed

by Gemita - 2024-06-12 19:47:24

Thank you Athena, New to Pace and Lavender, I wasn’t a well informed patient today because I didn’t have sight of my echo results before my telephone consultation with my EP which should have been a face to face appointment.  And I learned about the radial route through AgentX86 (thank you Agent) and made sure I asked for it this time.

In some ways I am relieved I have a partial diagnosis.  Even if I have no severe blockages, I am glad I am getting an angiogram that will give so much information.  I have been reading my Echo report and I do have a few other things going on too that I didn’t know about including a sclerotic aortic valve, common apparently in the elderly and mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy.

The EP was so optimistic that my heart was in good shape (no signs of heart failure).  He spoke softly and confidently throughout the consultation about my pacing in general and arrhythmias.  My Atrial Fibrillation episodes have increased over the last few months and they also saw some non sustained VT.  Anyway, I am not going to worry.  I will just think about your lovely warm hugs instead.

Yes what a world we are living in.  My hospital is having to cancel many procedures, even for cancer and heart patients, or transfer them to other hospitals in a different borough.

Results

by piglet22 - 2024-06-13 05:00:28

Gemita 

Good to be getting things done.

It sounds quite stressful.

Nothing is off limits when it comes to hacking. I must have had getting on for a dozen warnings from large companies that they have been hacked and my personal data has been compromised.

It takes considerable expertise to penetrate computer systems and we have seen on this forum how a small  error results in useful code going public.

We have made an enemy out of the Russian state through our involvement in Ukraine.

Hackers are aware of how duressed the NHS is which can lead to mistakes being made.

It's a great shame that real talent is spent on harming others.

Slow Progress

by SeenBetterDays - 2024-06-13 06:52:03

Hi Gemita

I am glad that you are slowly getting some answers to your chest pain.  I hope that you have an appointment for your angiogram soon as it will be nice to get it over with and to have more definitive answers as to what is going on.  This will also help you and your medical team to formulate a clear plan to address the oxygen deficit.  I know all this must be very stressful but please know we are all thinking of you and willing you well.  I always find the waiting difficult so I know you must be anxious to get things moving.  How awful that this hack has had such a profound effect on the ability of the NHS to deliver its services.  As Piglet said, isn't it a shame these highly intelligent people can't put their talents to positive use rather than creating unnecessary pain and suffering for innocent people who already have enough to contend with.

Thanks for keeping us updated with your progress.  I really hope that you have some answers soon and an effective treatment plan to get you feeling good again.  Sending you love and hugs.  Rebecca x

Next steps...

by Andiek11 - 2024-06-13 09:00:54

Glad you've got some answers as well as some clarity as to what you have to do next.  Waiting is often the worst part of any medical experience.  And good for you for using your voice.  One of the (many) benefits of this forum is the ability to get info from others who've "been there, done that."  Strength comes from using the information you have to further your cause.  As you do for so many others, let us be here for you.  

Piglet, SeenBetterDays, Andiek11

by Gemita - 2024-06-13 15:05:54

Piglet, SeenBetterDays, Andie, thank you all for your continued support.  I am not looking forward to the angiogram, but I know it is the gold standard investigation to tell me whether or not I have a blocked or diseased artery that needs treating, so I have to go through with it.

Yes it is “slow progress” but this gives me time to learn a bit more about what might be causing the chest pain and what I can do about it?  The sclerotic aortic valve for example and other calcified valves are all concerning because my mother had serious arteriosclerosis and needed an amputation during the last years of her life, bless her.  I am prepared to wait which will give me more time to look into possible pharmacological treatments before I am presented with such a list. 

Although the stress echo has really given some useful new information, I can understand why my EP wants to go one step further.  If there are any substantial blockages, they can fix them during the angiogram study but the feeling is that this could be microvascular angina and the main treatments would then be pharmacological - nitrates, statins, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers or beta blockers, the latter I am already on  -  and of course lifestyle changes.  I am inclined to go heavily on the latter.  I am not a good candidate for medication. 

Don’t laugh, but I might even try asking for an Estrogen patch even at my age, since things have gone downhill fast since I hit the menopause!  Estrogen has anti inflammatory/antioxidative properties. Vitamin D3 supplement too shows promise and I have a Vitamin D deficiency.  Then there are anti anginal meds like Ranolazine, Ivabradine.  Of course I also need to get an opinion about my gastric issues which may be contributing to my chest pain.  Omega 3 may help manage microvascular angina too.  Lots to consider.

estrogen patch do not laugh

by new to pace.... - 2024-06-13 16:33:24

Once i discovered i been having fractures in my spine.  Remembered when i was young, Was using progesterne cream and one day rubbed some on my fractured ribs, Bone healed but not cartilege.  So i thought why not try something on my spine.  Been using Wild Yam cream and other botanicals on my lower spine.  Do not fracture nor do my disc's rub against each other.  Will see how after my next  quartely remote tranmission  later this month.  if it has effected my A fib and the occasionaly ventricular  high rate episodes.

new to pace

Oh the things you get up to New to Pace!

by Gemita - 2024-06-14 05:39:53

I am not laughing because I will try anything too if I feel it might do some good.  I will speak to my doctors about oestrogen low dose patches.  I am sure they will say no at my age.  

As you know I have developed osteoporosis from an early menopause and I feel oestrogen would definitely help and could be largely heart protective too. 

Oestrogen has a protective effect on the heart. It helps control cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of fat building up in arteries. It also helps keep blood vessels healthy. When oestrogen levels fall, fat can build up in arteries causing them to become narrower.

Of course there will always be downsides to taking oestrogen 

Venogram area

by Amyelynn - 2024-06-14 12:46:53

Hi im sorry to hear you have been dealing with so many serious issues/concerns.

i am happy to hear you are staying on top of things and it seems like you have a good team trying to help figure it all out for you and to help you feel better.

just one thing I wanted to note with the angiogram/venogram.

i have had a bilateral one in the past and the radiologist went through the Basilic vein I believe (it was one of the main veins on the inside of your elbow/bicep area.  they did not have to go through femoral artery.  maybe this is an option for you?

I wish you the best of luck! Take care and keep pushing forward 

Amy 

Amyelynn

by Gemita - 2024-06-14 18:14:19

Amy, thank you so much for your help and support. 

I think they need to use an artery, either the femoral artery in the groin or the radial artery in the wrist but I am not sure how many catheters they will use.  Last time I believe I had a 4 wire catheter study and they entered both the right femoral artery and the right femoral vein.  

I will be well prepared with your additional comments.  Perhaps they will use the radial artery in the wrist and one of the veins in the area as well, like the basilic vein.  I will definitely ask about the "access" sites well before they carry out the procedure since I don't want the femoral artery again.  The bruising was horrendous, too awful to post in the gallery! 

News

by Aberdeen - 2024-06-16 17:49:33

So sorry to hear that the computer systems were hacked! There was an incident involving a health region in Scotland also.

I hope you get answers soon and they don't need to use the femoral artery again. 
Hoping to hear how you get on and have answers.

Aberdeen

by Gemita - 2024-06-17 04:24:02

Hi Aberdeen,  they have sent me a Pre-Operative Assessment Triage Questionnaire already, but no firm date yet for the angiogram. I have to say I am not looking forward to this at all after my last one was so brutal.

Hope you had a wonderful time!

You know you're wired when...

“Batteries not included” takes on a new meaning.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.