I am asking for some prayers here, my dh has to go in for a heart catheterization, due to decreased blood flow to the front of the heart. I am so darn worried and scared it is driving me crazy. He had a treadmill stress test before this and the doctor said that sometimes these tests will create a false positive, but his dad was medically retired with heart issues so they want to be sure. His dad's heart issues were apparently caused by colds and flu viruses damaging the heart, but it got so bad that he couldn't work anymore, ( he was a tile and floor installer) I am speaking about him in a past tense because he did eventually pass away. We'll be at the hospital for about ten hours total, two hours before the procedure, then 2-6 hours after the procedure. I just don't know what to do, it is driving me crazy. They said that there are a few things that they can do such as a stent, balloon angioplasty, and I guess clearing out the arteries by doing a roto rooting procedure of some type. There are several things we need to change, his diet, alcohol consumption, and getting him to exercise, we were doing really well with working out at the Y and walking, then we slacked off. His work is not physical he sits at a desk, I was wondering if anyone else has any experience with this test with a family member, what they did for them, and how it turned out. The test is Tuesday, I hope that I get some sleep until then. Thanks for listening.

By Rayelle on Saturday, August 2, 2008 - 08:21 pm:

I will have you in my thoughts and prayers. Heart disease is rampant in my family and I know of the stress this test can bring. I don't know all the details since it hasn't been a spouse or parent(as an adult) for me. All 4 of my grandparents had a catherization following chest pain, two of them ended up needing bypass surgery. I think this is the test that shows if any arteries are blocked. I think your dh's case sounds different though, since you said it could be because of a false postive on a test versus someone having chest pain. My grandfather was a heavy drinker and they took their bar out of the house. I know they were all put on low fat/ low cholesterol diets. My dad had a catherization when I was 13 due to chest pain, but his was fine and he was sent home that day. My living grandmother has had more than one and hers were usually fine, once she needed a stent. That seemed to be really minor compared to the bypass surgery. After the bypass surgery my grandparents were back to usual activity levels within months, my grandmother had some other issues and for her it was more like a year. Sorry I don't know things more officially I just had information handed down to me as opposed to being as involved as you are. I do hope things go well and I will be thinking of you.

By Debbie on Saturday, August 2, 2008 - 09:50 pm:

My Dad had this test done, and ended up having 2 or 3(I can't remember which)stents put in. The procedure didn't take long, and it seemed like he wasn't in the hospital long. He was already in good shape as far as healthy eating and exercise. So, he didn't have to change much there. He has not had any heart issues since, and this was 5 years ago. {{{HUGS}}}} I was very stressed when my Dad went in the hospital. He was actually having chest pains, etc, and went to the ER in the middle of the night. They took him in for the procedure, found out he had about 70% blockage in a few arteries, and put the stents in right then and there. I was lucky, that I didn't have a lot of time to worry about it.

I will keep you and your dh in my thoughts and prayers.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, August 2, 2008 - 10:07 pm:

Will keep you in my prayers.

By Karen~admin on Sunday, August 3, 2008 - 09:29 am:

My DH had a heart attack 8 years ago, and he had an angioplasty and had a stent implanted. A few years after that he had to go back for another angioplasty but what they thought was another blockage was actually scar tissue.

This is a very common, life saving procedure now. The good news is, your DH is having this done BEFORE he gets to the point where he has a heart attack. And that's what you want.

Good luck on Tuesday! Let us know how it goes.

By Mom2three1968 on Sunday, August 3, 2008 - 11:11 am:

Thank you all that took the time to write I appreciate it. I am worrying less now and am glad that we are going in for this procedure now instead of later to have this done to see what the problem could be. I will let you all know how it turns out, we go in at 6am, the procedure is at 8am and whenever we are able to come home and as soon as we're settled in I will email an update. I have limited friends and family to talk to so having this outlet means alot.

By Annie2 on Sunday, August 3, 2008 - 12:35 pm:

Your dh and you are in my thoughts and prayers. I agree with Karen that addressing this problem before he has complications is the right way to go. Plus, now thanks to research and medical advances, he will have a great outcome.
Still scary but he's making a good decision.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, August 3, 2008 - 06:11 pm:

Prayers, for dh and all of you. And thank the Lord that he went to the doctor and the doctor followed up. Too many men don't, and the first "warning" isn't a warning, it's a full-blown heart attack and all too often fatal. A friend of my oldest son, in his middle 40's, had a heart attack after shoveling snow, a couple of years ago (high cholesterol). He now takes very good care of himself and will be eternally grateful that he had read about heart attack symptoms and was smart enough to call 911 when he started feeling ill (he lives alone). He looks on every day as a gift.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Sunday, August 3, 2008 - 11:28 pm:

You and your DH are in my thoughts and prayers...