Well, I’m scheduled for another Cardiac Catheterization tomorrow. With luck, the doctors will be able to find the reason for a problem I have been having in the last seven months. The problem is that I can’t do normal any physical activities. It is very frustrating to have one’s physical movements constrained due to an unexplained condition. It is a situation I find myself in and it has my team of doctors stumped. I cannot pick up heavy things, I cannot walk at my normal pace, I cannot throw a ball or have upper body movements and I cannot go up stairs at a normal pace and have to climb stairs in very slow motion. At rest, my heart functions well (EKG and heart rate), and my blood pressure and all other medical measures are perfect. But with any physical activity, however light, results in a total breakdown of key body functions.
For example, a simple activity of touching my toes four times (in about 15 seconds) elevated my blood pressure from 115/65 to 218/97, I developed pain in my chest and neck, my neck and the back of my head felt like they were going to explode, my knees and legs became weak, and I could not remain standing. This also happens if I walk for more than 30 feet at a normal pace, or if I throw the ball for the dog three or four times, etc. If I am not near a chair or bed, I have to lie on the ground until the feeling passes in about 10 to 20 minutes. My heart rate does not seem to change that much, it might go from about 65 bpm to maybe 80 bpm. I don’t think my cardiologist believed me when I told him about my symptoms, but we did this experiment in his office with me touching my toes four times and he became a believer.
I suspect that I may still have blocked artery that is triggering the condition. The cardiologist did not see a link between the almost “instant” elevated blood pressure with slight physical exertion and a blocked artery. Therefore, he has been reluctant to perform a Cardiac Catheterization to explore that possibility. Although I did have blocked arteries, they were corrected with a bypass three- and one-half years ago and the insertion of four stents in the past year and one half. I, however, still believe that there is at least one blocked artery, that was not detected in previous Cardiac Catheterizations, and that blocked artery is the source of my problem. The cardiologist thought that the condition could have been caused by the adrenal gland and suggested I consult with a Nephrologist. I did not believe it because the symptoms did not seem consistent with a chemical response from the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones, including adrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and cortisol. They are located above the kidneys and in a way, do control the blood pressure. I am now being examined by a Nephrologist, but I am almost certain that he will conclude that my adrenal glands are functioning properly and that their function is not related to my symptoms.
It has been over six months since I started having these symptoms of chest pains and high blood pressure “spikes” whenever I do any type of physical activity. I have consulting with a cardiologist and instead of exploring the reasons for the problem, we have tried a variety of medications and at different dosages to see if that corrected the symptoms. However, I am currently taking the maximum of two or three of the ten-plus medications and none of them seems to alleviate the condition. Although two of the medicines, Metropolol and Isosorbide Mononitrate, seem to the principal ones in keeping the problems in check, they are not curing the problem. I went in to consult with the cardiologist last week determined to insist that he do a Cardiac Catheterization to determine if there is a blocked artery. I described my most recent episodes of chest pain, high pressure and the feeling of imminent explosion in my upper neck and the back of my head while resting in bed. Before I had a chance to request the procedure, he recommended and scheduled the Cardiac Catheterization. I am hopeful that he will be able to identify the problem, and if it is a blocked artery, that he will be able to correct it with a stent. Moreover, I hope that if they find a blockage, it will not require bypass surgery to correct. A bypass is a much more serious procedure and I prefer not to go through that again.
The procedure I will be having tomorrow involves inserting a thin tube through a small artery in the wrist and or groin and guiding it to the heart. This method is less intrusive and less risky than the traditional method of inserting the catheter through the groin (the femoral artery). It also allows patients to move around, eat, and leave the hospital sooner. I hope the surgeons will be able to perform the procedure through the wrist instead of the groin.
Having any surgical procedure is concerning to me and this one is no different. I trust the doctors and nurses to know what they are doing and minimizing potential accidents. However, aside from the possibility of contracting an infection by simply being in a hospital, there is always the possibility of contracting infection from the procedure. I guess we just have to trust the process, the medical people and hope for the best.
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