Question:
HELP!!! My Doctors office just called me, escemia?
they said my ekg showed escemia (sp?) and they could not operate without a cardioligst saying it was ok. NOw I am really upset, I have had heart problems for quite awhile and made my surgeon aware of this LONG before this point. Has anyone else had this problem? Can you offer any suppoert? I am worried they will cancle my surgery!!!!! — christieanthum (posted on August 6, 2003)
August 6, 2003
Christie, it probably isn't as bad as it sounds. Ischemia means there are
some areas of the heart muscle that aren't getting enough blood supply, to
the point it is showing a problem with the elecrical conduction in your
heart. Make an appointment with your cardiologist and let them know you
need cardiac clearance for surgery. My husband had surgery to correct a
congenital heart problem when he was 17 (he had lap RNY at age 45) but he
had to go through cardiac clearance before he had surgery, The
cardilolgist will determine what tests you need to have done. This is
being prudent on your bariatric surgeon's part and not unusual, especially
if you have heart problems to begin with.
— koogy
August 6, 2003
Well, what does the cardiologist say? Will he/she give you the clearance?
Take a deep breath and make the call and see what they have to say. Good
Luck and keep us updated.
— Carol S.
August 6, 2003
Christie,
It is probably just one more hoop you have to jump through. 5 days before
my scheduled surgery, they didn't like the looks of my kidney sonogram and
I had to get a CT Scan. Turned out to be old scar tissue from an earlier
removed birth defect. DON'T LOSE HOPE-JUST KEEP JUMPING THROUGH THOSE
HOOPS, God knows, I had like 20 to jump through before last Monday! IT
WILL END AND BEFORE LONG, YOU'LL BE ON THE "LOSING SIDE"!
— teresaxxxx
August 6, 2003
I had CHF which required me to have a cardiac clearance. I believe that is
all the surgeon is asking for from you. It should not be anything
complicated. I simply went to a cardiologist. She checked me over and
discussed my past and present problems with me. I was given my clearance
that day. She wrote up the report and sent it to my surgeon. Everything
went forward as scheduled. Try to relax. I know a "wrench" has
been thrown at you, but I really do think it will be ok.
— amytravis
August 6, 2003
Ischemia means dead tissue - lack of blood. As you already have a cardiac
history, it's not too surprising that they found this, and it makes very
much sense for them to demand a cardiac clearance. They want to be sure
that you're OK for the surgery! I had to get more than the basic cardiac
clearance too because of previous use of Phen-fen and Redux; they found a
small murmur but nothing else to be concerned with, and cleared me. The
cardiologist told me that this was basically for the anesthesiologist so
that they knew exactly what was going on with my heart before they put me
under, so they would know what to expect and how to handle any problems.
Personally, I would rather be safe than sorry, and it all worked out for me
- I'm six months post op as of yesterday!
— johanniter
August 6, 2003
I had 2 mild heart attacks prior to surgery, so I talked WLS over with my
cardiologist while I was doing the research and making my decision. My
cardiologist was all for it, and said from the results of the stress test I
had a couple months prior, that he would give me clearance. When I saw my
surgeon, he wanted cardiac clearance done by a cardiologist at HIS medical
center. So, I had another stress test, which showed exactly what my
previous one had shown, and I was cleared for surgery! Your surgeon is
just looking out for your best interest--be happy that he's that kind of
surgeon! Best wishes to you.
— Linda S.
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