Multiple Medical Problems

Hi and Welcome, Paxman, to HealingWell!! 

Hi again! Yes, I'm usually a late night person, Paxman. :) If her MI's (heart attacks) were mild then that is a great thing! That means they're getting to her on time-Diabetics have this propensity to have heart problems, too. I'm diabetic, but type II. I have GERD with Barrett's which means that you run the risk of having cancer of the esophagus. One year ago, I was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus and mild dysplasia which is sort of what they start looking for before the cancer starts. This year I had my endoscopy results back and the dysplasia is completely gone and they don't know why!-doesn't matter to me, it's gone, which means I've lessened my chances of cancer of the esophagus. :)
My lungs aren't so hot either, I have COPD with mild emphysema and asthma, along with some new disease that they haven't diagnosed yet. So I do know the steroid thing-yuck! I don't like it much either.

My husband told me the very same exact thing! He felt guilty. What?-you want to have a heart attack so you can feel the same?? Be healthy and enjoy it! I love healthy people!! I bet she does, too! :)

Teri :)

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

I am by far no diabetic insulin expert, paxman, as I mentioned I'm diabetic II-no insulin and at this point I'm controlled by exercise and diet alone. Yes, she's on a lot it would seem and that goes along with having heart disease. Does she smoke? Does she watch her diet carefully? Teri

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

She's an ex-smoker. Her diet is watched very carefully with the occasional cheat. 90% turkey and fish. Low fat, low carb, lots of protein, and the once a week Burger King chicken sandwich. Some candy when her sugar is low, but that's rare.

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Hey, great site with lots of imformative stuff. Thanks. I hope she's home tomorrow too, but I'd rather they DO something instead of giving her another blood thinner and nitro tabs that give killer headaches. On the other hand, I don't want them to crack her open either. I'm the healthy timebomb. I smoke unfiltered smokes, drink a tiny bit, 80 pounds overweight (carry it well), and do the couch potato thing on my day off from school and work. My blood pressure is usually 95/62. Go figure.

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 Hey all, hey Teri,  Well Tammy was admitted to the cardiac floor early this morning.  She's going to have cardiac cathertization #8 today to tell her that she's all clogged.  Blood pressure is still high, and blood sugar is down to 360.  Pain/pressure is down to 5.  I hope they DO something this time, but since she has Medicaid, docs are hesitant to to the real expensive stuff.    I miss her and worry.  I'm glad her boss is EXTREMELY understanding and is OK with all of her hospitalizations.

Hi Paxman!  Just wanted to say welcome to the board!  Tammy is very lucky to have someone as caring as you and your being there for her is worth more than anything else that anyone can do!  Hope they do something to help her this time!  God Bless, Pat

Hi Jim! 

Are they telling her/you that the blockage is in a small vessel?, or that her vessels are too small?

I've had 3 major left coronary arteries bypassed, but I still have several small arteries that are plain and simple, too small to get a stent in and the thought process is that they will grow their own natural bypasses.  I don't think I've ever had a Dr. tell me to wait til a part of my heart dies to feel better, though I suppose in reality that could happen, if the tiny blood vessels don't make their own bypasses.

One of the ways that they do this, is to give you statins to take. Then, Tammy watches her diet and keeps it low in cholesterol and fat, but she also needs to get up and move and exercise!!  When you force that blood to move around and back up through those small blood vessels, that's when they actually try to start making their own bypasses!!

So basically, her main coronary arteries are open??  If that's the case and she has small vessel disease, that could be what's causing her all this pain!  I have that as well.  I wear a .4 mg. nitro patch for the angina pain, and knock on wood, it seems to be helping.  But there is nothing that they can do.  She may be a candidate for a therapy called EECP "Enhanced External Counterpulsation".  It's where they put cuffs on your legs and (like blood pressure cuffs) as one cuff blows up and pushes on the leg to help the blood flow, the other goes down and so on...Take a look at the site below and it'll give you more details. 

Best wishes and tell her hello!!  Hugs, Teri

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/disease/cad/eecp.htm?index=10476

Well, I would think an appt. should be set up with a nutritionist. That doesn't sound very nutritious, Jim!? Did she already have a consultation while in the hospital??

Hugs, Teri :)

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Jim,

The positive of this cath is that she doesn't have any large main vessel blockage, which means the majority of her heart is receiving a good blood supply!! So please, though I know it's not an easy thing by far, try to get some good positive vibes flowing here with this situation-believe me neither of you need to invest in more stress! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please tell Tammy to come on board any time she'd like to, I'd love to meet her!! And you come and visit anytime!

Hugs, Teri :)

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Hi Jim! I hope Tammy is doing okay??-and you, too?!

Thinking of you...

Hugs, Teri :)

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas

Jim, how is Tammy doing now that she's back at home?! Drop us a line and keep in touch!-give her our best!

Hugs, Teri :)

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"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas