So now Dr wants me to get an implantable defibrillator

[JDS]

I hear they are the size of an egg and weigh about 70 grams, Do you feel like you have abnormal heart rhythms slow or fast ? I guess that is what the doctor is detecting.

 

[djefferis]

Yea - not big at all.

I don’t think it’s a rhythm issue - just fact left side is below 35% function per most recent echo. Granted it was like 20% in August right before surgery - maybe I’m crazy but seems like we should wait and see if things improve over next 6 months before doing anything else. Not a Dr - but also not a fan of unnecessary surgery no matter how minor.

WebMD says 35% or below the threshold to consider - I was estimated 30-35% recently. Maybe meds and getting off my ass boost me back to the 40s (where I was a few years ago before all this when a cardiologist said I was fine - just follow-up every year for an EKG). Who knows - guess I just see what 2nd opinion thinks and move from there.

 

[JDS]

Yea - not big at all.

I don’t think it’s a rhythm issue - just fact left side is below 35% function per most recent echo. Granted it was like 20% in August right before surgery - maybe I’m crazy but seems like we should wait and see if things improve over next 6 months before doing anything else. Not a Dr - but also not a fan of unnecessary surgery no matter how minor.

WebMD says 35% or below the threshold to consider - I was estimated 30-35% recently. Maybe meds and getting off my ass boost me back to the 40s (where I was a few years ago before all this when a cardiologist said I was fine - just follow-up every year for an EKG). Who knows - guess I just see what 2nd opinion thinks and move from there.

Yeah like you said get a second or even a third opinion I have read some complications with these things like random inappropriate shocks, damage surrounding tissues and nerves to name a couple. What % is your lean right now to get it or not ?

 

[djefferis]

Wait and see - im working on getting a new cardiologist and will meet with the surgeon who I was referred to to get their take.

These damn cardiologist - I get they are a high demand specialty - but the 2 I have seen - first was completely unprepared (obviously never looked at my chart prior to walking into the room to talk with me and even then didn’t while holding it) second one was better - but just sent a referral without telling me they were doing it or anything.

I’m trying to get into the one I met in hospital - as liked him and has solid reviews.

 

[Tanko]

Wait and see - im working on getting a new cardiologist and will meet with the surgeon who I was referred to to get their take.

These damn cardiologist - I get they are a high demand specialty - but the 2 I have seen - first was completely unprepared (obviously never looked at my chart prior to walking into the room to talk with me and even then didn’t while holding it) second one was better - but just sent a referral without telling me they were doing it or anything.

I’m trying to get into the one I met in hospital - as liked him and has solid reviews.

It's unfortunate about the shortage of doctors.
I got referred to cardiologist by my PCP and had to wait 4 months to get in....

Keep looking until you find one you can trust.
Try not to stress about it.
GL buddy.

 

[edawg]

Back in the day The Cleveland Clinic used to be one of the top places for Hearts don't know if their still considered that now or not?

 

[phillyflyers]

Do it, Jeff.

It will save your life if you ever need it.

Listen to the Doc.

 

[Archie]

Back in the day The Cleveland Clinic used to be one of the top places for Hearts don't know if their still considered that now or not?

yes it's still the gold standard , especially with more holistic stuff AND more innovative surgery and

Mayo still up there. lots of NYC hospitals , Penn Preabyterian . Down in Texas , Baylor is doing some really innovative stuff with biological implants. Stanford is working on bioprinting organs including hearts... soon to start implanting them in other animals to test. lots of fun stuff happening for the surgeons of 2060

 

[djefferis]

Back in the day The Cleveland Clinic used to be one of the top places for Hearts don't know if they’re still considered that now or not?

They are - but also keep in mind the Cleveland Clinic is a HUGE network - a lot of dr’s.

Had my surgery done at one of their facilities - could have went to main campus - but the wait times are ridiculous and the thought of making the wife drive down to the shittiest part of Cleveland and driving him at night was enough to make me so no. Decided to make her drive to nice safe and crime free Akron instead

Originally seen by someone there and the one I am trying to get into with is also with them. Like all hospitals - they have good and average doctors. Clearly not hiring any low grade docs anywhere - but some are just better with the soft skills than others.

Keep in mind saw a very well educated cardiologist from Duke less than 2 years ago as my PCP at the time saw something he didn’t like. That doc said I was fine - nothing to worry about after doing an echo - didn’t even see the need for a stress test. So yea - either he missed something or the covid vaccine caused 95% blockages to develop in 3 arteries in the course of a year. Not that I trust the shot - but I’m saying those blockages didn’t just happen overnight.

 

[djefferis]

It's unfortunate about the shortage of doctors.
I got referred to cardiologist by my PCP and had to wait 4 months to get in....

Keep looking until you find one you can trust.
Try not to stress about it.
GL buddy.

Yea - the stress is my big thing right now honestly.

Diet and activity I can and have changed as needed.

Stress though - that’s a biggie for me. Very hard to turn off the stress - it’s a constant and has me thinking of making some changes with work to get away from it. I mean it’s not like I’m working 12 hour shifts at air traffic control - but it’s always there and most of the uncontrollable comes from work (internally).

At a point - I think just say screw it - find a lower stress role at less money. But then I keep remembering trying that in the past and all it leads to is lower pay and stressing because I’m working around entry level morons and not well compensated morons who know as much as the entry level morons. Comes from starting out running my own business - I take way too much on personally and can’t just step back and say “it’s someone else problem - let them fix it”.

Keep thinking I’d rather be back in a role where I’d be basically 100% on my own - but there are cons to that too.

 

[patrickbateman]

Good luck getting through TSA with that thing.

 

[nasios]

As other posters said, try to get many diagnosis from different doctors.
And try to get unbiased opinions from them - don't provoke the results from one doctor to an other.

I don't have much experience with doctors luckily, thus I am talking theoritically.
In an other aspect - house renovation - this works. I try to take opinions from many craftmen on what to do, how to do it, I detect then what the market price is, etc.

The idea is to create some liquidity of professional opinions around your problem.

I wish you trully good luck with this!

 

[djefferis]

Good luck getting through TSA with that thing.

Pre check

Only way I travel

Actually probably couldn’t even do it now without additional screening though with hardware used to wire my sternum back together.

They give you a card to show though saying you have an implant and that no xray.

 

[thefix]

Stop gambling, eat non-processed food, and spend more time than on message boards and you will be on your way to a healthier life.

 

[djefferis]

I’m ready to check out on the online thing for a while - dropped FB a while back - other than a few forums - LinkedIn is the only social media I even have.

I’ve been getting out and doing the gym at least 3 times weekly.

Gambling isn’t stressful - gives me something to do - moment it becomes a stressor I quit.

 

[Wagerallsports]

DJ I sent you a pm

 

[MinnesotaFats]

Send us a picture of yourself

 

[BigJay]

Send us a picture of yourself

 

[Archie]

check in DJ. let us know you are ok