Had my heart catheterization on Friday

[Cherry Picker]

Obviously, I'm still kicking LOL. I have been dealing with the problem of shortness of breath for several years now. I have been diagnosed with COPD (emphysema). I smoked for many years but I really believe it stems from all my years roofing, and running a hot tar kettle. I breathed in that tar smoke for many years as well. My shortness of breath (SOB) has really put a stop to my ability to metal detect for any length of time. I've always had my doubts that my diagnosis was spot on as I have none of the symptoms other with COPD have. No coughing, no mucus, no really low oxygen levels. I was told I'm stage 4, the final stage, with a 28% lung function, yet I go metal detecting and do many things, while most in my stage are housebound and on oxygen.

My cardiologist now says I have a 70%-75% blockage in my right heart artery which can also cause SOB. I'm getting enough oxygen in my blood, but not enough blood getting to my heart to give it the proper amount of oxygen, so I get SOB when I exert myself. He did a heart cath on me Friday and found the blockage. I think the plan now is to go back in and put in a stent, a mesh to hold my artery open, and I'm hoping it will help with my SOB so I can get back to detecting as normal. I don't understand why he didn't put in a stent while he was in there. I hear that is usually the plan, but I was still woozy when he told me what was going on so I guess I'll find out on my next office visit.

Has any of you had a heart cath that can enlighten me on what to expect?

 

[MasonDixonMding]

I have not. Good luck! Hope you can get back out soon.

 

[Cupajo]

Good luck with your stent and hope you're "out there" asap!!

CJ

 

[too_pointer]

I understand , I have 1 stint, and had a quadruple bypass, don't know how many caths I have had, probably at least 4+. That was many years ago. I run short of breath easily, but I smoked for many years, but quit at least 10 years ago, so that helped, wish you the best of luck, nowadays surgery( if needed) is much easier for them to do.
too_

 

[Cherry Picker]

I understand , I have 1 stint, and had a quadruple bypass, don't know how many caths I have had, probably at least 4+. That was many years ago. I run short of breath easily, but I smoked for many years, but quit at least 10 years ago, so that helped, wish you the best of luck, nowadays surgery( if needed) is much easier for them to do.
too_

I quit 15 years ago. Did the stints help at all with your shortness of breath?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I've had the procedure three times since I had a heart attack in 2020. The first two times, they put two stents in my heart arteries (total of 4). The third time, they found nothing seriously wrong, so no stents. I never smoked, but I still did a lot of huffing and puffing whenever I climbed a steep hill while detecting. I can go up the steepest hill now and my breathing is perfectly normal.

The risk for a heart attack or stroke is very low during the procedure, so you should definitely get it done. Good luck to you.

 

[Beachhunter]

Recently I’ve been experiencing SOB and when I walk my legs feel like lead. Doc thinks I have adult asthma but I don’t know. Have to make an appointment with a cardiologist and a pulmonologist.
Best of luck!

 

[Cherry Picker]

I've had the procedure three times since I had a heart attack in 2020. The first two times, they put two stents in my heart arteries (total of 4). The third time, they found nothing seriously wrong, so no stents. I never smoked, but I still did a lot of huffing and puffing whenever I climbed a steep hill while detecting. I can go up the steepest hill now and my breathing is perfectly normal.

The risk for a heart attack or stroke is very low during the procedure, so you should definitely get it done. Good luck to you.

I'm hoping that will be the case for me.

You know how it feels to get a great signal in a great site and can't recover it. Probably the best coins yet to come from our city park are just waiting to be recovered, and the technology of detectors has never been better, but I can't physically recover them. So frustrating.

 

[too_pointer]

I quit 15 years ago. Did the stints help at all with your shortness of breath?

I only have 1 stint, and it was put in the "Widow Maker" I was told if that artery ruptured, you would bleed to death right away. I still get short of breadth alot , with not much exercise. Wish you the best.
Mike, ( too_ )

 

[hoser]

I never smoked a day in my life and up until I actually had a heart attack I thought I had acid reflux until one day at work I couldn't walk 20 ft. without losing my breath. They took me to emergency and after several tests they said I had an attack. Well knock me down with a feather! I was on meds for a short period till I went in for a stint. Prior to the stint I was very limited as to what I could do. Right after my cath and stint I got yelled at as I couldn't stand still. I felt like a school boy once again and was loving it. That was in May of 2012 and haven't had any issues since. I still feel great. I'm 74 and wife and I walk at least two miles a day. You will feel awesome! If they can, ask them if they will go in through your wrist instead of the groin. Much better.

 

[SkiWhiz]

Obviously, I'm still kicking LOL. I have been dealing with the problem of shortness of breath for several years now. I have been diagnosed with COPD (emphysema). I smoked for many years but I really believe it stems from all my years roofing, and running a hot tar kettle. I breathed in that tar smoke for many years as well. My shortness of breath (SOB) has really put a stop to my ability to metal detect for any length of time. I've always had my doubts that my diagnosis was spot on as I have none of the symptoms other with COPD have. No coughing, no mucus, no really low oxygen levels. I was told I'm stage 4, the final stage, with a 28% lung function, yet I go metal detecting and do many things, while most in my stage are housebound and on oxygen.

My cardiologist now says I have a 70%-75% blockage in my right heart artery which can also cause SOB. I'm getting enough oxygen in my blood, but not enough blood getting to my heart to give it the proper amount of oxygen, so I get SOB when I exert myself. He did a heart cath on me Friday and found the blockage. I think the plan now is to go back in and put in a stent, a mesh to hold my artery open, and I'm hoping it will help with my SOB so I can get back to detecting as normal. I don't understand why he didn't put in a stent while he was in there. I hear that is usually the plan, but I was still woozy when he told me what was going on so I guess I'll find out on my next office visit.

Has any of you had a heart cath that can enlighten me on what to expect?

I have had two heart attacks and 4 stents, my heart was good just not getting enough blood to it (very high cholesterol). I will be 63 in December still working and feeling good, I know it can be scary but there are so many things now a days that can be done to keep us going. Best of luck.

 

[too_pointer]

I have had two heart attacks and 4 stents, my heart was good just not getting enough blood to it (very high cholesterol). I will be 63 in December still working and feeling good, I know it can be scary but there are so many things now a days that can be done to keep us going. Best of luck.

I had a quadruple bypass and 2 heart attacks, you will do fine, things these days are much better. Look, they are keeping the President alive "forever",
too_

 

[KingTotsalot]

KT and the Royal Family pray for your swift recovery and for the doctors expertise to be enough to pull you through!

 

[Cherry Picker]

My concern is that no top-tier doctor would ever move to Dodge City Kansas to practice. We get locally grown physicians and foreigners who are trying to start a practice in America. Any new doctor has to put in some time at a small facility before they can move to a big hospital. Scary when you realize some countries only require 2 years of practice to be called a doctor and come to America and practice.

My hope is that this procedure will help me spend more than 30 minutes out metal detecting at a time.

 

[hoser]

My hope is that this procedure will help me spend more than 30 minutes out metal detecting at a time.

Everyone I have seen or talked to after having this done have all said they feel like a kid again. I went from only being able to move or work for 15-20 minutes to going back to my normal twelve-hour shifts with no issues with my heart. I was break down maintenance, so we were on the move quite a bit and some of that time was quite strenuous. The procedure really worked for me. I wish you well.

 

[vmc1161]

My concern is that no top-tier doctor would ever move to Dodge City Kansas to practice. We get locally grown physicians and foreigners who are trying to start a practice in America. Any new doctor has to put in some time at a small facility before they can move to a big hospital. Scary when you realize some countries only require 2 years of practice to be called a doctor and come to America and practice.

My hope is that this procedure will help me spend more than 30 minutes out metal detecting at a time.

Good luck with everything. I’m sure there’s doctors there that are quite capable. I was going to say something funny in my reply, but not sure if you have that big a sense of humor. My wife had all this stuff done about 10 years ago and she’s doing OK. She has plenty of energy, at least when it comes to barking at me.

 

[KingTotsalot]

Post and let us know how you are now feeling!