That's scary stuff, Doydie!!! When is your appointment with the cardiologist? I hope they get your heart issues taken care of soon. Please keep us posted and let us know what happens after your appointment. You know us, we will worry about you.

I am a bad girl. I didn't post when I got home from appointment this morning but my priority was getting back to bed!

Charlie did go with me but I think for the wrong reason. He has this one thing he always says' logic and common sense dictates'. He didn't like it at all when they said I had to get my heart rate up over 130 the other day when it was starting at 46. He says common sense just says it would cause undo stress. So that was why he wanted to go, to confront her with that since she was the one who did the stress test. I told him that I didn't want her on the defensive and not treating ME right if he went in with that attitude. So he let her examine me and then went off on her. She then asked him if he was saying that he didn't think she didn't have common sense. So she explained the reasoning for having to raise the rate that high.

She said I have 2 options. 1, go off of my beta blocker and get my heart rate up and then re-evaluate. 2, do a cardiac cath. I opted for 2 and we will also do the beta blocker thing . So for now I am off my beta blocker. so far I haven't seen any problem but I did take the half dose yesterday at noon so it hasn't been long. But it will be difficult. I have been on it since the mid 70's. The cath will be done next Monday.

doydie,

Thank you for the info. Is the cardiac cath similar to an Angiogram???

doydie, if you reread my previous post about Charlie going with you; I also mentioned Charlie being calm, and not add to any stress...., etc. I had pretty much figured out from past posts the possibility of his having a bit of an attitude. "What a guy"; but I'm sure he is really adorable.

Actually it is a bit concerning with the type of stress test using medication which really gets your heart pumping. I remember thinking with the way my heart was pumping; "can this test actually bring on a heart attack"?

Are there any withdrawal side effects; other than increasing your heart rate, going off beta blocker without decreasing your dose gradually?



Gerry

gerri, actually my husband is a nice guy quite a bit. He loves his family, just was never taught by his own family how to show it. From the way he talks about his family it was every person for themselves, must be extremely equal portions at equal times, etc. His way of showing love for our girls is to provide financially even though I have told him that it is enabling.

I am concerned about going cold turkey on this Tenormin. From what I am reading and it is old internet stuff, it can cause a lot of anxiety and even heart attack, must be tapered off. I know the way I am feeling now there is no way I will be bale to sleep laying down. We went out and bought one of those nice lounge pillows that a lot of people use to read in bed. I had been doing something like that to ease my breathing and heart down anyway but then once my my breathing was settled would take my pillow from against headboard and lay it flat. So now I may have to sleep against this thing. I have been off of it now since yesterday at lunch and my heart rate is still only 46. But it is just pounding away so hard. Not comfortable at all. And worst of all I will have to miss my choir practice tomorrow night when we get to listen to our Christmas cantata. If I feel safe enough to drive I may go late just to sit with the choir and listen.

I feel a call to the Heart Group office is in my future.

doydie,

You did notice I wrote I'm sure he is adorable. That showed thru as well. To be honest; I think I know this kinda adorable type very well.

Take care. A heart rate of only 46 and still pounding hard. I think a call to the Heart Group office might be a good idea.


Gerry

doydie,

just evaluate as you go. i know you are. call the office by the end of the wk if you think you need to. don't we all just hate wk/ends?

why do they want your heart rate so much higher? 130? you'd think from 48 to even 100 would be acceptable. i think i'm missing something here.

Thanks for the update! I've been keeping you in my prayers. I hope the tapering goes well. Does salt help with your heart rate at all? And could the decreased hear rate be due to one of your other medicines?

Doydie, I'm worried about you. Please take it easy until you have the cath done.

I know Charlie is worried about you, too, and probably a little scared. I think the doctors deal with family members that are anxious and she should know that he's just trying to protect you. I hope you'll accept help from others to make your life easier.

Judy, the heart rate of 130 was only for the stress test. I think my husband is about to knock out anyone who thinks it makes good sense to have some one who normally has a heart rate in the 40's to have to get up to 130 for a stress test. But that was last week, it is over. I am feeling better, heart still pounding a little hard with activity but at rest feels pretty good. But still pumping along in the 40's B/P is my usual 150/80 or so. I am to call the office tomorrow with an update. I have no idea what they will say. I would think the anxiety I am having over the upcoming cardiac cath would be enough to bring this heart rate up. Maybe I should start reading some racy books????

Bless his heart. We have this habit that I can be really involved in something and he can come up behind me and speak and I about jump out of my skin. He also has always had a habit that he is unable to approach the bed when wanting to speak. When waking the girls for school, he would stand in the doorway and say their name instead of sitting on their bed and gently waking them up. We sleep in separate beds because of our different sleeping habits. So last night he came to check on me and just spoke the words 'are you OK?'. I almost flew out of the bed. So next time I could feel him trying to find my wrist so he could check my pulse. I think he is scared and doesn't know how to handle it. I told him he is getting just a little bit of the taste of how I have lived my life with him the last 4 years between all of his times in the hospital. If the results are really serious next week I have no idea how he will react. When she talked to us about the cath, and I could tell it was her usual instructions, she told us about possibility of just cath or stent or immediate surgery.

doydie,
I know it's easier said than done; but please try not to go there with your mind taking you to where you might not have to go. I know your not looking forward to having the cath done; but it just may show you are not going to need a stent or surgery.

Prayers for both you and Charlie. Poor guy, he is so worried.


Gerry