What type(s) of cardiovascular disease do you live with?
There are so many types of cardiovascular disease; what condition(s) brought you to our community?
Unfortunately I have CAD and Emphysema (Boy, am I lucky!) I work hard at staying healthy - exercise, diet and support groups. I guess what bothers me the most is talking to patients that literally want to give up. WTH!!!!
I have a wife to take care of and three grand kids. I promised all three I would be at their college graduations - the youngest is 12.
I also read EVERYTHING I can find on my diseases. I want to be able to have an intelligent conversation with any of my caregivers, and I have and will question my doctors, nurses and therapists.
I have a CAC of 1288. I guess that means I have arterial cardiac disease.Thank you for sharing! How are you doing since your diagnosis? I found an article that gives an overview of Coronary Artery Disease that may be useful. Is your medical team helpful in answering questions? Warmly, Kathy (Team member)
Well, I was diagnosed with AFib in 2023 (I think). I've been on apixaban (2x's daily) since.
This past Dec and Jan, I had three visual episodes in my right eye. My ophthalmologist referred me to the Stroke Prevention Clinic. After CT Scan of my head and carotid arteries, MRI, carotid ultrasound, it was determined that the blood supply in my right arm and right side of my brain were compromised.
On March 6, I had Subclavian Carotid Artery Bypass and brachiocephalic stent graft. I'm doing 'okay'. I'm just so grateful for the care I've received.
I see my vascular surgeon on April 17 and I'm hoping I can gradually get back to what I was capable of doing before all of this. I'm 73. I used to do 20 min on the elliptical 3-4 days/week; stretching and light weights on the opposite days.
Anyway, that's what's up right now...wondering if anyone had similar vascular experiences?Thanks for this! It's all so new and I have to say I have good days and not so good days. I suppose these things take time. I had a complication though; on March 28, I saw my family dr who removed the stitch left over from the drain I had. On March 31, the incision site was so inflamed and red and hot. By the morning the redness spread along the entire right quadrant.
I went to ER and they did an ultrasound of the carotid and the stent graft. Thank goodness, my blood flow was good but dr saw a start of an abscess, which confirmed an infection of some sort. So I've been fighting an infection on top of recovering from surgery. I just finished the antibiotic course tonight and I believe that the area is ~95% better.
I'm sorry for the lengthy reply. I just want to feel more like myself.
Anyway, thanks for checking in with me, Kathy😀That's a crazy ordeal! I hope you have the support of family at home to help you through all this. Warmly, Kathy (Team member)
AFIB
Thank you for sharing. You aren't alone - many people in our community share your diagnosis. You may be interested in this article written by one of our health leaders about her afib experience. Warmly, kathy (Team member)
