Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Brother Died Yesterday, Get a Heart Scan
Me & South Denver Cardiology Associates ^ | 7 June 2018 | CodeToad

Posted on 06/07/2018 2:14:13 PM PDT by CodeToad

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-104 next last
To: CodeToad

I’m so sorry. One of my sisters died on Mother’s day. I am still waiting to hear the result of an autopsy. She was 70.


61 posted on 06/07/2018 4:54:39 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad
If I may, I've had two minor heart attacks. I cannot possibly amplify what you're saying here anymore than you already have!

Folks, get yourself checked out, check your cholesterol, triglycerides and get the heart scan done! You don't just owe it to yourselves, you owe it to your families!

We men are notorious for neglecting ourselves thinking we need to run ourselves into the ground to take care of our families. Truth is, our families want us ALIVE and WELL more than anything else! Take CodeToad's advice and just DO IT!

62 posted on 06/07/2018 4:55:31 PM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

how do you get your doctor to order a heart scan?....you can’t order one for youself....and I find the $99 amount suspicious...


63 posted on 06/07/2018 4:55:35 PM PDT by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

I recently had two tests on my heart and since heart disease is my family’s most likely cause of death, it was a welcome surprise that I do not appear to be at risk.


64 posted on 06/07/2018 4:57:39 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: steve86

if the carotid artery scan was not normal, what would you have the drs do?...operate on her?.....at age 101?


65 posted on 06/07/2018 4:58:05 PM PDT by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad
My condolences for your sudden loss. I lost my son in February and I know how difficult it is to lose a family member.

"....He had no known heart issues and was under doctor's care at the time. He thought he had taken care of himself. He obviously hadn't...."

I wouldn't be so quick to judge your brother about not taking care of himself.

These medical issues in humans are mainly hereditary. Heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, orthopedic woes, cancer are mainly issues you're more prone to have because of the genes you're born with, not the lifestyle you live.

I was an athlete in school and continued to workout daily my entire adult life. I was a 10k and marathon runner, I did some strength training and yoga every week. I was lean and watched my diet. I didn't smoke or drink alcohol or coffee. I didn't do drugs.

And yet at age 63 my annual physical showed a loud murmur in my heart. My atrial valve was damaged and needed repair or replacement. As a mechanic would do a complete overhaul if he has to break open the engine case to replace the rings, my cardiologist had me do a heart dye test before surgery and found four coronary arteries that were 80% blocked. A heart attack waiting to happen. So this went from a valve repair to coronary bypass surgery just like that.

So within two weeks, I had a quadruple bypass and valve repair in open heart surgery and almost died two days later. Heart stopped and I quit breathing when I threw a pulmonary embolus. After cutting me back open again, the surgeon hand-massaged my heart back into a normal sinus rhythm and I survived. Took three years to get back to normal so I could workout again and work on my farm.

I asked the doctor why I got this heart disease if I took care of myself my entire life? He said it didn't matter. It was in the genes. It was hereditary. Both my parents had heart disease and high blood pressure. All of my siblings have the same problems. I was going to get it too.

I thought I took great care of myself and would avoid these issues later in life. But it was a fool's journey. I could not avoid the inevitable Mother Nature had programmed me for, even if I tried.

So don't be too hard on your brother about not taking care of himself. And having heart problems in your genes too. Make sure you get those tests done on yourself too.

Good luck and again, so sorry for the loss of your brother.

66 posted on 06/07/2018 5:01:32 PM PDT by HotHunt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HotHunt

Well said. Take care, friend.


67 posted on 06/07/2018 5:03:30 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: trisham

Thanks. You too.


68 posted on 06/07/2018 5:07:06 PM PDT by HotHunt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad
Very sorry for your loss,"Toad".However,at the risk of sounding unkind and argumentative....I'm in my mid 60s and have several major risk factors for heart disease.My Cardiologist is a senior staff member at three of the world's most famous hospitals (in Boston) and he's never recommended the "heart scan" you mention.

I wonder if this test just might be a gimmick.

69 posted on 06/07/2018 5:10:15 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (You Say "White Privilege"...I Say "Protestant Work Ethic")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

Bfl


70 posted on 06/07/2018 5:12:31 PM PDT by Skooz (Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cherry

“how do you get your doctor to order a heart scan?....you can’t order one for youself....and I find the $99 amount suspicious...”

Check the link I provided. No doc order needed. And it is $99. It is a very quick scan. 3 minutes. There is no need for thousands of dollars.


71 posted on 06/07/2018 5:13:04 PM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

“he’s never recommended the “heart scan” you men”

Just because they have the word “Doctor” next to their name doesn’t mean they know all and see all.

I only heard about it for the first time last year and I have several doctors in my family. We’re also friends with several cardiologists. None had heard of it.

With all the technology discovered and invented very year, it is nearly impossible to know everything.

Take our very own FReeper Jeff Head. His cancer was a death call, but he found better doctors at MD Anderson who saved his life.


72 posted on 06/07/2018 5:16:14 PM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: HotHunt

I knew a guy that was born a vegan, never had meat, ran marathons, preached health...and dropped dead of a heart attack at 40.

Part of staying alive is eating well, exercising, taking care of yourself, and the rest is seeing doctors that know how to measure your health and take preventative and corrective care.


73 posted on 06/07/2018 5:18:01 PM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Safetgiver

Just remind me never to get into an airplane if you’re the pilot,. I hate for your attitude of resignation to get us all killed if anything goes wrong. “Oh, well, the engine quit. If God wants us to stay alive, he’ll fix it.”


74 posted on 06/07/2018 5:19:15 PM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Radix
"An EKG can determine if you have a normal rhythm (referred to as normal sinus rhythm) but it cannot detect valve problems. The ventricles and atriums may be in fine working order but an Echo cardiogram is the preferred tool for determining the function as a whole. "

Recently, after not going to a doctor only 3-times over a 50-year span (85-years old), had a dizzy spell that convinced my wife to make me get both of the above as well as a stress test...Everything looked excellent and dehydration was determined to be the cause of the incident...I've since gone on the wagon (for coffee) and am in my 45th coffee-less day. Withdrawal was a bitch...

75 posted on 06/07/2018 5:24:32 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Radix
"An EKG can determine if you have a normal rhythm (referred to as normal sinus rhythm) but it cannot detect valve problems. The ventricles and atriums may be in fine working order but an Echo cardiogram is the preferred tool for determining the function as a whole. "

Recently, after not going to a doctor only 3-times over a 50-year span (85-years old), had a dizzy spell that convinced my wife to make me get both of the above as well as a stress test...Everything looked excellent and dehydration was determined to be the cause of the incident...I've since gone on the wagon (for coffee) and am in my 45th coffee-less day. Withdrawal was a bitch...

76 posted on 06/07/2018 5:24:32 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: cherry

The cost is accurate,and mentioned in this recent article.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/02/well/live/the-value-and-limitations-of-a-cardiac-calcium-scan.html

.


77 posted on 06/07/2018 5:25:47 PM PDT by Mears
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

Always good to stay on top of things and take good care of yourself, as much as you’re able.

My brother suddenly had a heart attack and died when he was 45, playing on the floor with his four very young children. They watched him die. He had a terrible diet — his choice, and nobody could talk him out of it.


78 posted on 06/07/2018 5:26:54 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (Have an A-1 day.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cherry

No, of course not. This was part of an imaging study to determine 1) What the source of an embolism was, and 2) Whether statin therapy would be useful. No invasive procedures were contemplated at any time. Didn’t even use contrast dye w/ the MRI to protect her kidneys.


79 posted on 06/07/2018 5:28:05 PM PDT by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

Majority of docs do not believe in body scans as preventitive information. But for those of us who get these done from time to time it is reassurring to learn your calcium score as well as the radiologists findings. Having said that, it is no guarantee that you wont suffer a sudden heart attack. But it does prvide you valuable information that can be followed up on as needed.


80 posted on 06/07/2018 5:36:19 PM PDT by Okeydoker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-104 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson