More Meh. The Cardiologist said keep on doing what you have been doing. Everything looks about the same. A shadow in the back of the heart and the scribe read back the results of a 2015 CTA where there is some blockage in the LAN area. Still not enough to change anything.
Blood pressure was good. So he was happy. Ran me out of the office. Schedule another visit six months from now. So I will see him next March just a few days before my birthday.
I wonder if he will have me do another stress test.
I asked why there was no treadmill, just the chemical stress test. He said he did not know why. But I surmised it was good enough for him and a lot less stressful to me.
So I will be keeping on keeping on.
Friday, August 31, 2018
Monday, August 20, 2018
Stress Test - Meh . . .
I had another stress test today, a nuclear stress test. I expected to trot on the treadmill, etc.
Nope none of that. I had an IV inserted in right hand. Then the shot me up with stuff and followed that with a saline shot to clean out the IV (or so I was told). Then I was covered with sensors on my chest. I did not have to put on a gown as I was prepared to trot and was in a T shirt and shorts.
After that I was "scanned." I am supposing it is something akin to a CAT scan. Then I was run out of the scan room to the lobby and told to drink a cup of water. I am sure the water was to add to the blood supply or something like that. To make the solution to flow around the system easier. Of course, I really do not know why.
After a wait was ushered into the treadmill room and told to sit in the big chair. They then took my Blood Pressure and shot me up with something new. And then a second shot was administered. That was the stressor. The nurse said I would feel weak, shortness of breath, etc. and that would go away in a minute or two. I had no particular sensation at all.
While the stressor was going on they were taking an EKG. She took my Blood Pressure again and entered that data into the machine.
Then I was run out again to the lobby and told to drink a cup of coffee or drink a Coke, something with caffeine in it. So I had a cup of coffee. I also ate a packet of crackers and peanut butter. After about 15 minutes it was back into the scan room.
After the scan it was out the door with an appointment to see the Cardiologist later. I am sure the data has to be absorbed and scrubbed and then the prognosis has to be drawn up. There were would be a report of sorts, I would get a copy and my primary physician would get a copy.
If something shows up I am sure the alarm bells will go off and some procedure would be done. I think I am in good shape so I figure nothing will show up. Just a nice conversation with the Cardiologist.
Nope none of that. I had an IV inserted in right hand. Then the shot me up with stuff and followed that with a saline shot to clean out the IV (or so I was told). Then I was covered with sensors on my chest. I did not have to put on a gown as I was prepared to trot and was in a T shirt and shorts.
After that I was "scanned." I am supposing it is something akin to a CAT scan. Then I was run out of the scan room to the lobby and told to drink a cup of water. I am sure the water was to add to the blood supply or something like that. To make the solution to flow around the system easier. Of course, I really do not know why.
After a wait was ushered into the treadmill room and told to sit in the big chair. They then took my Blood Pressure and shot me up with something new. And then a second shot was administered. That was the stressor. The nurse said I would feel weak, shortness of breath, etc. and that would go away in a minute or two. I had no particular sensation at all.
While the stressor was going on they were taking an EKG. She took my Blood Pressure again and entered that data into the machine.
Then I was run out again to the lobby and told to drink a cup of coffee or drink a Coke, something with caffeine in it. So I had a cup of coffee. I also ate a packet of crackers and peanut butter. After about 15 minutes it was back into the scan room.
After the scan it was out the door with an appointment to see the Cardiologist later. I am sure the data has to be absorbed and scrubbed and then the prognosis has to be drawn up. There were would be a report of sorts, I would get a copy and my primary physician would get a copy.
If something shows up I am sure the alarm bells will go off and some procedure would be done. I think I am in good shape so I figure nothing will show up. Just a nice conversation with the Cardiologist.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Left Shoulder . . .
My left shoulder was giving me fits, a great deal of pain. At first I would take a Naproxen Sodium pill (Aleve) that kinda made it livable. Then my personal doctor said no NSAIDs other than your baby aspirin. Finally, she relented and said do not take more than four a day.
She had an X-ray done and referred me to a Orthopedic Surgeon and also had an MRI done.
I made to the Orthopedic Surgeon. He looked at my MRI (and I do mean my MRI, it is in my possession). He lifted me arm and moved about a little bit and said, "You need a shoulder replacement, you are bone on bone at the moment." He also gave me Cortisone shot and said that it would not do much for me.
And the shot did not do much for me. He then referred me to another Orthopedic Surgeon who does shoulder operations.
I got to see the second doctor, found out he went to LSU med school. And that he was indeed from New Orleans. He was a much younger man that the first Orthopedic Surgeon (who informed me he no longer did operations). And he also said the new doctor was the best one in the Fort Worth region.
I was impressed with the second doctor. Like the first doctor, he said bone on bone and no relief until the joint was replaced. He also said I may not recover all my range of motion but I would get pain relief. It is my left shoulder, not my primary use arm so yes, I can tolerate a good bit of loss of range of motion and not worry about. He said often the range improves with time.
He showed me on the joint displayed on his lap top computer what we were going to do. Basically, it is a total replacement of the rotator cuff with a new synthetic/plastic material that will not wear out. I will not have to come and get a grease job every so often, it is once and done. The big recovery he said was the reattachment of ligament that had to be removed for the operation. That and stitches were the big issue. And there would be some soreness for a while.
He was intent upon selling me to do the operation. I said I was ready right now to have it done. Pain relief was paramount to me.
He said recovery is about six weeks. I am sure in that time is some rehab also. But that I would get paid relief immediately. And I could quit taking Aleve or getting Cortisone shots.
My biggest issue is getting the grass cut while I am recuperating. I am pretty sure I can survive that. I do have to get clearance from my Cardiologist but I get to see in just a couple of days for a Nuclear Stress Test. So that is easy. Now it is just a matter of getting the operation scheduled.
She had an X-ray done and referred me to a Orthopedic Surgeon and also had an MRI done.
I made to the Orthopedic Surgeon. He looked at my MRI (and I do mean my MRI, it is in my possession). He lifted me arm and moved about a little bit and said, "You need a shoulder replacement, you are bone on bone at the moment." He also gave me Cortisone shot and said that it would not do much for me.
And the shot did not do much for me. He then referred me to another Orthopedic Surgeon who does shoulder operations.
I got to see the second doctor, found out he went to LSU med school. And that he was indeed from New Orleans. He was a much younger man that the first Orthopedic Surgeon (who informed me he no longer did operations). And he also said the new doctor was the best one in the Fort Worth region.
I was impressed with the second doctor. Like the first doctor, he said bone on bone and no relief until the joint was replaced. He also said I may not recover all my range of motion but I would get pain relief. It is my left shoulder, not my primary use arm so yes, I can tolerate a good bit of loss of range of motion and not worry about. He said often the range improves with time.
He showed me on the joint displayed on his lap top computer what we were going to do. Basically, it is a total replacement of the rotator cuff with a new synthetic/plastic material that will not wear out. I will not have to come and get a grease job every so often, it is once and done. The big recovery he said was the reattachment of ligament that had to be removed for the operation. That and stitches were the big issue. And there would be some soreness for a while.
He was intent upon selling me to do the operation. I said I was ready right now to have it done. Pain relief was paramount to me.
He said recovery is about six weeks. I am sure in that time is some rehab also. But that I would get paid relief immediately. And I could quit taking Aleve or getting Cortisone shots.
My biggest issue is getting the grass cut while I am recuperating. I am pretty sure I can survive that. I do have to get clearance from my Cardiologist but I get to see in just a couple of days for a Nuclear Stress Test. So that is easy. Now it is just a matter of getting the operation scheduled.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Oncologist . . .
A while back while at my Cardiologist I commented about the bruise blotches on my arms and the easy bleeding I have been experiencing from my lower arms. So my Cardiologist referred me to the Oncologist to do a platelet study of sorts.
Well I had the appointment with the Oncologist and the first thing she said was, "You are old and have had a life time of sun exposure and your skin is reflecting that experience. The splotches or bruises are perfectly normal of a person of your age." In other words, you do not have a problem with your skin.
But her expertise was in Hematology - blood. So she had me bled, that is did a series of blood tests one of which one was platelet oriented. And one of the tests could only be read at their big lab in downtown Fort Worth. So the tech said go to this address, I will forward the request and they will do all the blood work. So I charged off to Fort Worth medical district and to their lab/central office for the Oncology Group. I found the place easily and parked.
Up to the second floor I went and at the desk, the attendant said, "Yes, we got the request. Have a seat and we will call you for the blood drawing." That took about 20 minutes. I saw at least five of six people go into the area where they were doing the blood drawing. And in I went and they took four vials of blood out of me. Sort of a continuing operation.
I had a follow up appointment with the Oncologist and got the results. She said you are "extraordinarily normal." There were no platelet issues to worry about. She smiled and said, "Out you go, no need for further testing."
So I trooped out to the front desk and they did something I thought was strange. They took a picture of me. The clerk alleged it was done to be able to remember who I was. I am sure they do that to all their patients that go into remission except I did not have any remission to worry about. I had no signs of cancer.
That is a big thing with me. My father and my grandmother both died of breast cancer. My father alone had four different bouts with cancer. In his middle ages he had skin cancer on his lip and on his cheek, both were treated with radiation. He had smoked but only cigars and a pipe. He of course quite smoking.
Many years later he had the bain of all men, Prostate cancer. That was taken care off and he had no more problems in that area. Then in his mid 70's he developed a sore on his left arm and examination confirmed it was Melanoma. Of course this is his third go round with cancer and second time with Melanoma. They dug out all the cancer cells in that area and remove a couple of lymph nodes which were negative. That incision healed, big scar but healed over.
Later when he was 80 they doctor repaired a hernia, hiatal hernia, common in older men. But while examining him, found a lump in his breast. That lump turned out to be breast cancer. And he had a radial mastectomy removing his breast.
Some years later he complained of not having enough energy to complete a round of golf even though he used an electric golf cart in his play. The doctor did a biopsy on his arm thinking he may have bone cancer. That turned out to be negative but they discover cancer cells going in to do the biopsy. They were breast cancer cells. The diagnosis was terminal breast cancer. He passed away seven or eight months later.
The scary part is that the lower Mississippi River Valley from Natchez to the Gulf of Mexico has the highest incidence of cancer in the US. It is common in that area. I am sure of two things, the first is all the exercise I did in the military and later in my life forestalled any serious heart disease. Yes, I have heart disease probably part hereditary and probably part exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam. But all the exercise kept in good shape. The other is that after the age of 21 years I moved away from Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley. At first it was only to Alexandria, LA but I was really there for less than a year, the other time spent in Viet Nam. After that I was Germany, then Virginia, Korea, California, Ohio, back to Germany and finally I retired in California. After I retired, it was California, New Mexico and Texas. All I have done since then is visit Louisiana briefly.
So I was confident I would not show up in this recent span of time with cancer and I am well beyond when my father started having cancer issues. I guess there is something good about left home on career jaunts well away from the source what ever it is. And I have been all over Europe, Asia and Africa. But no cancer as of now, 78 years of age.
Ultimately it is healthy living and exercising that has protected me so far. Yes, diet changes, better medicine and host of scientific improvements have all helped. But no cancer - hooray!
Well I had the appointment with the Oncologist and the first thing she said was, "You are old and have had a life time of sun exposure and your skin is reflecting that experience. The splotches or bruises are perfectly normal of a person of your age." In other words, you do not have a problem with your skin.
But her expertise was in Hematology - blood. So she had me bled, that is did a series of blood tests one of which one was platelet oriented. And one of the tests could only be read at their big lab in downtown Fort Worth. So the tech said go to this address, I will forward the request and they will do all the blood work. So I charged off to Fort Worth medical district and to their lab/central office for the Oncology Group. I found the place easily and parked.
Up to the second floor I went and at the desk, the attendant said, "Yes, we got the request. Have a seat and we will call you for the blood drawing." That took about 20 minutes. I saw at least five of six people go into the area where they were doing the blood drawing. And in I went and they took four vials of blood out of me. Sort of a continuing operation.
I had a follow up appointment with the Oncologist and got the results. She said you are "extraordinarily normal." There were no platelet issues to worry about. She smiled and said, "Out you go, no need for further testing."
So I trooped out to the front desk and they did something I thought was strange. They took a picture of me. The clerk alleged it was done to be able to remember who I was. I am sure they do that to all their patients that go into remission except I did not have any remission to worry about. I had no signs of cancer.
That is a big thing with me. My father and my grandmother both died of breast cancer. My father alone had four different bouts with cancer. In his middle ages he had skin cancer on his lip and on his cheek, both were treated with radiation. He had smoked but only cigars and a pipe. He of course quite smoking.
Many years later he had the bain of all men, Prostate cancer. That was taken care off and he had no more problems in that area. Then in his mid 70's he developed a sore on his left arm and examination confirmed it was Melanoma. Of course this is his third go round with cancer and second time with Melanoma. They dug out all the cancer cells in that area and remove a couple of lymph nodes which were negative. That incision healed, big scar but healed over.
Later when he was 80 they doctor repaired a hernia, hiatal hernia, common in older men. But while examining him, found a lump in his breast. That lump turned out to be breast cancer. And he had a radial mastectomy removing his breast.
Some years later he complained of not having enough energy to complete a round of golf even though he used an electric golf cart in his play. The doctor did a biopsy on his arm thinking he may have bone cancer. That turned out to be negative but they discover cancer cells going in to do the biopsy. They were breast cancer cells. The diagnosis was terminal breast cancer. He passed away seven or eight months later.
The scary part is that the lower Mississippi River Valley from Natchez to the Gulf of Mexico has the highest incidence of cancer in the US. It is common in that area. I am sure of two things, the first is all the exercise I did in the military and later in my life forestalled any serious heart disease. Yes, I have heart disease probably part hereditary and probably part exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam. But all the exercise kept in good shape. The other is that after the age of 21 years I moved away from Louisiana and the Mississippi Valley. At first it was only to Alexandria, LA but I was really there for less than a year, the other time spent in Viet Nam. After that I was Germany, then Virginia, Korea, California, Ohio, back to Germany and finally I retired in California. After I retired, it was California, New Mexico and Texas. All I have done since then is visit Louisiana briefly.
So I was confident I would not show up in this recent span of time with cancer and I am well beyond when my father started having cancer issues. I guess there is something good about left home on career jaunts well away from the source what ever it is. And I have been all over Europe, Asia and Africa. But no cancer as of now, 78 years of age.
Ultimately it is healthy living and exercising that has protected me so far. Yes, diet changes, better medicine and host of scientific improvements have all helped. But no cancer - hooray!
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