The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: billt on May 24, 2010, 10:19:36 PM
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My doctor scheduled me for the dreaded Cardiovascular Nuclear Test this morning. You go in and they shoot this nuclear dye into your veins, then run you ragged on a tread mill. After that they photograph all of your coronary arteries. They do it again after you rested to determine what kind of shape your plumbing is in.
My doctor called a while ago and said on a 1 to 10 scale mine came out a 10! I was talking to the nurse who administered the thing to me because I didn't think I did that great. She told me it's not uncommon to see guys 10 years younger who can't go 4 minutes on the treadmill without damn near collapsing. Some can't go on period, so they use drugs to dilate their arteries instead of exercise. It's a good test to get because they can see things they ordinarily can't.
She was telling me if that guy Billy Mays had gotten one done, they most likely could have saved him with bypass surgery. A lot of plumbing problems can't be felt. Not all give symptoms of chest or upper body pain. It just builds up until you get "the big one". At least now I have one less thing to worry about. For you guys in your 50's, it's not a bad idea to talk to your doctor about getting one. It's better than having a blow out. Better BP than you. ;D Bill T.
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Congrats on the good outcome, Bill. I had that dang stress test a couple of years back--I guess I was about 60 at the time. Got the nuke juice shoved in a vein and did everything they asked, got my pictures took, and was told to wait in the lobby while they took a look at the results. I sat there for about an hour before the nurse came out and said they were sending for a cardiologist to have a look. "Am I safe to drive home?" I asked. "That's what we're going to find out," she said.
Now, if I hadn't had a heart issue before, that just about stopped the pump for sure.
Cardio guy finally came for a look-see and pronounced all was well. I asked him what the problem was and he told me the techs don't see all that many good hearts and don't know what to make of them when they do. I still don't know if he was just trying to calm me down so I didn't die in his waiting room, or if I really am alright. But, it's been better than two years and I'm still able to chase my 16-month-old grandson, so I guess it was good news.
Anyway, glad to hear you're a 10. And I heartily concur on the recommendation. Get it checked. It's a nuisance, but it just might save you life.
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billt, very good news! Just one thing though...ask your Dr. if there was any irregularities at all during the test. My wife passed the Stress Test but had irregularities they didn't mention and almost died from a HA. Had to have double bypass after having a heart cath. We are lucky I am more stubborn than she is because she didn't want to go to emergency!
FWIW
Richard
PS: A heart cath. would have picked up the blockages!
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Good to hear that you came out so good there Bill.
I will add that I will agree with ellis, sometimes you have to know what to ask, and to be persistent. My wife recently began being very persistent with her doctor to have a colon check done. Since she is 40, they told her she did not need it for at least 15 more years. She insisted and got her way. Long story short she had 6 of the growths, 4 were cancerous. All taken care of now and she is good. I still believe that she would have been long gone by the time they decided she had a problem.
-Bidah
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My wife recently began being very persistent with her doctor to have a colon check done. -Bidah
I had the dreaded colonoscopy done about 4 years ago. I was clean and green, and he told me he didn't want to see me for at least 8 years. The worst part was drinking 5 liters of what tasted like salt water. But it sure as hell cleans you out! I couldn't believe what came out of me. After I was finally "done", and took a shower, I have to admit I felt really good. Weak, but good. Having that stuff stuck to the walls of your colon can't be very good. I almost think it would be good to drink that stuff once a year just to "clean out the pipes". Bill T.
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Glad it went well Bill
My wife recently began being very persistent with her doctor to have a colon check done.
Go on Take it like a Man
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Bill, good news on your test, but I have a question. Usually there is a reason for conducting those nuclear tests. Your doctor did one just to see what the results would be?
I had one done too, as I was having neck pains, almost like a sore throat but on the sides of the neck, not in the back of the throat. My tests came back negative too, and my GF who used to be a nurse, was told they are 95% accurate.
But luckily my long-time doctor pressed the issue, and I went in for an angiogram some weeks later. That was the point they would not even let me leave the hospital, I had a quad bypass the next day - 4 blockages with 2 of them 90% or more that the nuclear test missed. Turns out the "95% accurate" is really more like 25%.
So if there was any reason for your test other than "just looking", do the follow-up tests too.
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So if there was any reason for your test other than "just looking", do the follow-up tests too.
About 5 years ago I had a stent put in. It was kind of a blessing in disguise. I've had these done every 2 years since. My doctor told me after the results of this one I don't need another for at least 3 years, maybe 4. Bill T.