Tuesday, October 17, 2017

ECG

Normal ECG  "cannot rule out septal infarct" (due to my age and other risk factors).  As a precautionary measure, I am going in for a nuclear stress test next week - should make for a good YouTube video.  Apparently I will be radioactive for a short time and have been instructed to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between myself and any children or pregnant women for 24 hours following the test.  You have been warned.  83,88,47,0,C

20 comments:

rj said...

Good excuse for more AC is the heat of the summer

intermittent marathonian 00 said...

Hopefully no symptoms. Did any EKG abnormalities show up on any of your pre-op workups ? Please take it easy out there, sir. Sometimes God taps one on the shoulder (based on personal experience).

Dale said...

Welcome to the downhill side of life.

David Johnson said...

hope all goes well.

rj said...

A nuclear stress test can find heart coronary artery restrictions with real-time imaging of the heart's blood flow that a normal stress test can't pinpoint. If there is significant blockage it can be fixed before you are down for the count. If it's minor, it can be monitored over time. If a coronary artery restriction/blockage is found, it is usually opened with a stent installed via a groin vein. Often that procedure will restore endurance as well.

John Wells said...

Sam...I seemed to have been in much better shape before I broke my leg....there were absolutely no pre-op issues. I think my accident must have aged me. As a nurse practitioner told me a few years ago...I am now at the age where all my youthful indiscretions will start catching up with me.

JudithK said...

Ever had a stress test before? In spite of being old, I did the treadmill one, which.
included a nuclar scan. Next time, I'll just go for the nuclear only. There's a reason they use the word stress, and it's harder when you're standing up. So go for it. And I will be wishing you the best results....I've been reading you since you started this thing.

Margery Billd said...

Serious.

Margery Billd said...

I probably should go to the doctor and not just his helpers. One never knows.

Margery Billd said...

So what were your symptoms that brought this out?

Margery Billd said...

I had symptoms, so the helpers cleaned some wax out of one ear and gave me some nosedrops for liquid in the other ear. (Still not perfect but functional). I never saw such a mess. The girl sprayed water in one ear but the water sprayed all over everything. Then she left. I looked around and could not believer water and medical pads everywhere. Then another girl came in and asked if I was done and I said, "no". So she did the job even with her nosebleed and paper stuffed in her nose. That is what angry doctors who do not get rich quick with Obama Care do when running their office - sit down on the job (but I pay a fortune for my insurance).

Margery Billd said...

Then they sent me to get nosedrops with my insurance. The nosedrops cost $60.00 but with my insurance, I only had to pay $11.00. (I could have a doughnut or not). But then I learned that the same nosedrops over the counter cost $20.00.

Unknown said...



"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.'
(Psalm 27:14)

Ronald Mahan said...

I have been on my Heart Doctor's treadmill twice before - when I was younger & stronger. This last time - I told the technician I could not walk farther than 200 yards & normally then had to sit & take a breather - so he let me skip that torture machine and go directly to the nuclear device. Much better - that is done laying flat on your back - which we 81 year old men like to do. I believe the bill is the same - but I I do not feel cheated at all - as long as I do not have to get back on that treadmill.

John Wells said...

The nuclear test still involves a treadmill if able. The "nuclear" part of the test name means they inject a radioactive dye into your bloodstream to facilitate imaging of blood flow through the heart. There is no "nuclear device". The test that does not involve the treadmill is called a chemical or pharmacological stress test. In a chemical stress test, the patient receives medications that either speed up the heart rate or dilate the arteries. The body responds in a similar way it would to exercise. I have the option of either test due to my recent leg injury. Hopefully I will be able to hit the target heart rate naturally.

Michael D. Berry said...

And stay away from border patrol checkpoints for a couple of weeks without a doctor's note. I set one off about 10 days after my test.

Unknown said...

If that image is correct, we share a birthday and I never realized that in all those years of following TFL.

John Wells said...

happy same birthday Unknown...

John Wells said...

Michael Berry....hmmm - looking forward to see it I get stopped at my local border inspection station after the procedure.

Anonymous said...

Border Patrol does NOT do secondary Inspections to sound mentally healthy dudes, only if the "smell" a bad dude like this crap John guy , (They go for Drugs and hispanic dudes, and this crap John no look like hispanic, if stopped, means the other stuff triggered their alert by the dog there .