I know I have been writing a lot about my health issues lately. But writers often write about something in the realm of their personal experience. Health issues have been an unexpected part of my personal experience lately, first orthopedic and then cardiac. I have enjoyed a remarkable lack of serious health issues my whole life, until now, so this is all new to me.
For three weeks I waited for a cardiology appointment form a large provider in Knoxville, our nearest city. Last Tuesday, I suggested to my primary care provider that we switch to another group that could actually follow through and make a phone call.
Thursday, I got the call, which caused me to jump for joy and begin to worry in a different way, having no idea of what a visit there might entail, an interview, an EKG, a stress test, heart cath, and angioplasty, or surgery. Patty suggested I pack an overnight bag.
We arrived early at a medical facility with an army of cariologists. I got an EKG, a chat with the doc, and an increase in my new blood pressure medicine. That’s it!
It turns that I am kind of weird; no surprise I know. I have a low resting heart rate in the 50’s – 60’s, like an athlete. However, as my wife reminds me, I am not an athlete by any reach of the imagination. For some unknow reason my blood pressure went up but that can be controlled by medication. Since April I have had a lot of stress with moving and a whole lot of muscle and joint pain with old injuries flaring up.
My EKG is also weird which alarmed my PA. I have a hard beat and thickening of the left ventricle, called hypertrophy. All of this weirdness that decided to make itself known might cause a problem in the future, but most likely, it is just the way I am. It was something that alarmed my PA because it looks bad on an EKG but did not alarm the cardiologist at all since I have no symptoms whatever.
Here are his conclusions:
Stop the Ibuprofen altogether. I had been taking 800mg 3x/day for 3-4 months for joint pain. It can cause some of these problems.
Increase the blood pressure medicine.
Wear a Holter monitor for three days.
Get a cardiac echo.
Go about my regular activities.
It’s hard to overstate how relieved and thankful I am! This entire episode has been surreal.
Thank you much for your concern and prayers.
Great news