Sue's Blog - Some assembly required.

Tests

Took this picture of Philip the other evening as two cats had decided he made an ideal snooze location.
Bubba, the tabby one,  was actually waiting for his subq fluids.
He is so good about it all and we are getting better at it, that if all goes according to plan it takes barely 10 minutes.
We do this twice a week, Mondays and Fridays.
Bubba seems to know when it is and gets himself comfy on a lap in preparation.  He also seems much more his old self.  I hope it continues.

Today, Monday, I went to see the heart specialist.
I have to admit to being very nervous, not just about what he might say, but about the medication he might give me and the thoughts of side effects that seem to doom any treatment I ever have for anything.

He was actually very nice.
After reading my notes, and listening very carefully to all I had to say (they don't all do this do they) he wants me to have more heart tests on Wednesday.  Stress tests and nuclear thingy.
I have had them before in 2008 so it might be a good idea to test again.
He also gave me different statins.  He thinks I might find less side effects with these....we shall see.
I usually take nitro quick pills when I have an angina attack but now he has given me extended release nitro pills that I must take every day.
This is an effort to stop the attacks happening at all.   I can still take the nitro quick if I have an attack.
At least I feel now that I am actively trying to prevent it.
I tend to put up with things ( I have been having these attacks since 2006) and I dislike taking pills.
I was brought up not to make a fuss...or as my mother would say...."Don't make a poppy show of it".   I don't know what a poppy show is but I do know that it meant not to go in for any drama.
So, although I don't want to be a nuisance, there comes a time when you have to take care of your health as it is the most precious thing we have.
Also, as I shall be travelling back to England in a couple of weeks, it will make me feel more comfortable on that long flight if I think I have things a little more under control.

The stress tests are horrid though.  They take you to the point of exhaustion to see how your heart holds up (or not which would be unfortunate).  I really didn't like it last time and I am not looking forward to it.
The nuclear thingy, if I remember rightly, was imaging your heart after injecting some sort of radioactive stuff....or some such.  I don't think that was too bad.
I have to go back to the specialist in a couple of weeks, just before my trip.  Hopefully there will be no side effects.......oh wouldn't that be great.

posted by Sue Banks @ 12:50 PM