A Unique heart....

[bakerjw]

For a few years I've been dealing with some PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) and lately a form of SVT (supra ventricular tachycardia). In the last week or so the tachycardia had gotten worse and my regular doctor sent me to a cardiologist. I'm only 48 and I ride my bicycle whenever I get the chance. I can easily ride 30+ miles at a hard pace and not have a bit of chest pain. I'm not is bad shape.

Anyway, my last stress test showed a shadow area on my heart, which can be indicative of having had a heart attack in the past. so I met with the cardiologist and we decided that the best way for him to get a full picture and to see what is going on would be to do an angiogram. An angiogram is where they feed a catheter up into your aorta and inject a dye that is detectable on XRays. The entire process was quite interesting. Anyway, my doctor and I were talking while he was working the catheter into place and I was watching the video as he injected the dye. He was a bit confused at first because he couldn't find the coronary arteries quite where they were supposed to be at. He did find hem but told me that I have a unique heart. One that he'd never seen before.

The good news was no blockages at all.
The bad news? The uniqueness of my heart might present a problem. I'll be getting a CT scan this week and we'll proceed from there.

But... I have a unique heart!

 

[redhen]

Oh boy..well glad that their are no blockages. ..
Crossing fingers that the CT scan comes out okay..

 

[bakerjw]

Still waiting on the CT scan, but I go in to see the doctor tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I've been researching Coronary Artery Anomalies. It seems that there is quite a bit of variance between hearts. I've also bee studying cardiac structures so I've getting to know the human heart quite well. The long and the short of it is a coin toss as to whether or not it is a benign condition. If it is benign then all will be well. If it is not, then I'll be undergoing surgery very soon. Heck of a way to spend a Summer.

 

[redhen]

Ugh..I'd be very nervous right now..
My thoughts are with you...crossing fingers and toes!!!

 

[rrrmamma]

Good luck. I sure hope you don't have to have surgery. As a kid I had always been told I had a heart murmur. At age 24 I had an angiogram done for another reason and discovered that the problem was that my aorta did not branch normally. Both branches go to the left then the right branch goes behind my esophagus to serve the right side of my body. The murmur all the doctors were hearing was due to the odd placement. They did not hear what they expected. I have to take antibiotics before dental work and be very careful when I have a sore throat. They worry that I could get an infection in the heart because of the proximity to the esophagus. Hugs and prayers
Deb

 

[dewey]

Hoping the very best for you.

 

[bakerjw]

Whatever happens will happen. I resigned myself to the fact that I'll have surgery and have made the mental preparations. IMHO it is better to expect the worst and come to grips with how to deal with it. Always be prepared.

I exercise a lot (bicycling) and my cardio health is very good with all things considered.

rrrmamma, I've been reading up on all of the different cardiac anomalies. Suffice to say, not all plumbing is the same.

 

[bakerjw]

Well, I had the CT scan on Monday morning and I go to the doctor this afternoon. Fortunately a good friend of mine told me that I could go to the hospital and get a copy of my CTA scan after 24 hours. I wasn't going to do it but finally decided to go yesterday afternoon.

You have to understand. I work as a system test engineer. Part of my work is to take a specification that defines a product and come up with ways of testing every functional aspect of the product. To do so means that I have to understand the operation completely. With a health issue, it is the same way. So for the last week and a half I've been studying heart anatomy, coronary artery anomalies, and case studies of people that that had a CAA.

So, I get the printed report from the hospital and I understood all of the medical terminology as it relates to arterial courses and other significant concerns. It ends up that I actually don't have any anomalies of the heart. The structure and arteries are fine. My left ventricle is only operating at 65% for some reason but it was not noted as an item of significance.

So, no blockages and no anomalies.
Good news all around.

 

[rrrmamma]

Great news. I hope your Dr. can find out why the left ventricle is not functioning properly. Prayers and best wishes.

 

[redhen]

Good news!!