Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 I have what is to me a very interesting question. I am going to ask the Cardiologist on Monday, but I want your input first. Here we go. I had a heart attack 3 ½ years ago and had no heart damage from the attack. I had two clogged arteries either in the heart or beside the heart. They were very small. I got stents in them. 1 and ½ years later I had a stress test with the dye. The Dr. said I had one of the best hearts he had ever seen and was amazed. 1 and ½ years after that, I had another stress test and he said my heart looked fine. I guess I was just stupid, because I thought everything was fine. Then about 1 years ago started having very bad pain in my legs. Well just got an MRA and they want to see me because my arteries in the legs or the abdominal aorta is clogged. Isn’t it called the cardiovascular system? Why did they let me go over 3 years and never test my arteries. I thought when they said my heart was fine, that covered it. Does anyone know why they didn’t test me or what this means? Phyllis N > _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 At 02:07 PM 2/5/2003, Phyllis wrote: >1 and ½ years after that, I had another stress test and he said my heart >looked fine. > >I guess I was just stupid, because I thought everything was fine. Then about >1 years ago started having very bad pain in my legs. Well just got an MRA >and they want to see me because my arteries in the legs or the abdominal >aorta is clogged. > >Isn’t it called the cardiovascular system? Why did they let me go over 3 >years and never test my arteries. I thought when they said my heart was >fine, that covered it. > >Does anyone know why they didn’t test me or what this means? > >Phyllis N Hi Phyllis, Yes, it is called the cardiovascular system, but it's a lot like the national highway system - congestion in a major hub does not necessarily indicate that the other highways or hubs are having problems. Coronary artery blockage is a very commonly seen in people who have no blockages in any other major artery. While it is certainly common for people (especially diabetics) to have blockage in the other arteries, there is no way to predict who will have blockage in another area, in the absence of overt symptoms. A person who has all the right risks for Coronary Artery Disease would be well advised to keep a close eye out for early symptoms, but few people are tested with an " all-body " version of the cardiac catheterization, ie. full body scan with dye. Another thing to consider is what percentage of blockage would they have found 1.5 or 3 years ago? No way to tell now. But even a person with minor to mild blockage can suddenly have an event if the right embolus comes along. It is entirely possible to have no pre-existing blockage and still have a cardiovascular event because of clots or plaque that has broken loose from elsewhere. What did they tell about your blockage? How severe? Do they want to clear it out, or cut it out? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 << >What did they tell about your blockage? How severe? Do they want to clear >it out, or cut it out? >> > >Rick The dopler test that I had showed partial blockage. All I know about the MRA is that the doctor told the nurse on this Monday that I should come in next Monday and see what my options are. This really upset me that I have to wait a week. I told her how upset and worried I was and she said it can't be that bad or he would immediately put you in the hospital. He also said on exam it might be the abdominal aorta. I would go for the angioplasty. He also cuts people's legs open and fixes the arteries. I would also agree with this. My legs ache day and night. I did put the foot massager on them tonight and they are so much better. So it might fix me. I am scared of the Plavix because it can kill you in two weeks. I think all diabetics should be tested. Thanks for all your help and let me know if you have more info. Phyllis N > > _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 5, 2003 Report Share Posted February 5, 2003 At 10:53 PM 2/5/2003, Phyllis wrote: >The dopler test that I had showed partial blockage. All I know about the MRA >is that the doctor told the nurse on this Monday that I should come in next >Monday and see what my options are. This really upset me that I have to wait >a week. I told her how upset and worried I was and she said it can't be that >bad or he would immediately put you in the hospital. > >He also said on exam it might be the abdominal aorta. I would go for the >angioplasty. He also cuts people's legs open and fixes the arteries. I would >also agree with this. My legs ache day and night. I did put the foot >massager on them tonight and they are so much better. So it might fix me. I >am scared of the Plavix because it can kill you in two weeks. > >I think all diabetics should be tested. >Thanks for all your help and let me know if you have more info. > >Phyllis N I'm sure glad they found out what has been causing your pain! I'm with you - I would take the angioplasty, or surgery, whatever! Glad the foot massager helped! I was diagnosed with diabetes as a result of having Dopplers run on my legs twice in one week. I was having swelling to my right leg, with lots of pain. The docs had me go to the ER where they ran the Doppler. Everything came back normal. Still major pain a few days later and the docs had me go back again - 2nd Doppler. Still normal (gee, surprise!). On a follow-up appointment a few days later, an eagle-eyed doc told me, " Son (he's younger than me), you have diabetes. Did you know that? " I told him I didn't. He explained that each time I went to the ER my bg's were in the mid 200's. It's funny that no one at the ER thought it important enough to mention, or ask about. Anyway, turns out my high carb consumption over the holidays was just too much for my poor diabetic bod and I got leg swelling as a result! I cut back on the carbs right away and things improved. i was able to control with low carb for quite a while. Anyway, the Doppler is a great diagnostic tool. In your case it sounds like the restricted flow is high enough on your leg(s) that it could be abdominal. If the readings were similar in both legs, that could indicate a common blockage - ie.. higher up the arterial tree. You have mentioned your leg pain before. Has it worsened recently, or did you just reach a " no more of this " point? Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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