Had a PET stress test this past Thursday. Not the results I was hoping for
Showed reduced blood flow to part of my heart. No blockage, but 12% ischemic burden in their lingo. Seeing a cardiologist Wednesday and hopefully an angioplasty soon after. I had been experiencing low stamina for quite a while and then an intermittent weird pain across my shoulders and arms starting about a month ago, so my primary doctor scheduled the test. I'm somewhat puzzled in that there has never been any coronary artery disease anywhere in my family, my cholesterol has been below 200 consistently, and I quit smoking 36 years ago.
The good news is that this explains my lack of stamina and energy and the report said the ischemic burden was partially reversable so hopefully I'll get some of my energy back after this is over.
I'm curious if any Lizards out there have had this procedure done, if so, how soon were you able to return to normal activities, in my case, golf.
11 Replies
2mo
...after experiencing similar symptoms, and she's doing great. Thankfully she did not ignore her chest pains, because imagery indicated that her "widowmaker" artery was over 90% blocked. She is the picture of health and eats an extremely healthy diet, so like you, she was quite puzzled by the diagnosis. It turns out that she has the genetic predisposition for a high concentration of Lipoprotein A in her blood, which often leads to atherosclerosis. Did your cardiologist happen to mention this or test you for it? Below is a link with more information.
I'm glad you went to get checked out! You should definitely feel better after your procedure. What a blessing to live in a day when doctors can not only detect problems like this, but actually treat them in a minimally-invasive way. Godspeed, Galenahokie!
Link:
Lipoprotein A
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2mo
wrist. Immediate improvement and played golf 8 days later.
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2mo
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2mo
a seesaw PSA for 20 years and was cleared of cancer via an MRI. Point being is that when I first explained to my personal physician that there had never been any cancer in my family back at least four generations, his response was, “Well, you could always be the first.”
A urologist I was seeing before he retired two years ago told me that at my age, given the very low expectations of prostate cancer, it was almost certain that something else would kill me long before cancer got going.
Hope all proceeds well for you.
** Edited by PhotoHokieNC at 5/9/2026, 2:08:43 PM
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2mo
If you have a vagina, you will be just fine (:>).
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2mo
transitioning.
** Edited by PhotoHokieNC at 5/10/2026, 8:28:31 AM
(In response to this post by VaTechie)
2mo
you back on track. It may require an angioplasty (stent procedure), meds, and more cardio activity, or no surgery at all if sufficient, what they call collaterals have formed, which happened in my case. I never had a heart attack, but in my late forties, due to discomfort similar to what you described, I had a triple bypass and one stent procedure ten years later. I have been on BP and cholesterol meds ever since for maintenance, visiting my cardiologist routinely every year. I am now 74 yo. I was never a smoker and drink moderately just on social occasions. Heart disease doesn't seem to run in my family, but the thing is, many are walking around not knowing they should be seeing a cardiologist for a check-up, which includes a stress test, especially if obese, inactive, eating unhealthily, have a family heart disease history, and aging. Heart attacks and strokes (a heart attack of the brain) are preventable.
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
V
Va AandM
2mo
My cousin had AP and stents on an emergency basis. They both felt immediately better with regard to breathing and stamina but both said groin pain took some time to pass.
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2mo
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