After about 5 week I had my initial visit with a cardiologist, last week, and as I expected would not get any specifics as more testing needs to be done to determine the source of the issue. As I have mentioned before the main thing to figure out is if the issue is: Electrical, Valve related or something else. The treatment/s change depending on the nature of the issue.
The cardiologists's initial thought was that it was not an electrical issue but may be linked to something else, maybe lipid related. As my Total Cholesterol is considered high and my CAC (Coronary Artery Calcium) score was 103 ( LAD 70, Cx 30 ), over 99 they tend to look in that direction, so leaning towards other than being electrical was where he went and sort of expected that. The good point in that while he mentioned statins he did say they may not be good for me being athletic – that was good to hear. He did mention some new drugs out that currently that show no side effects – too new to know long term – but they take jumping through hoops if you need them to get insurance to pay for them but it can be done. All that said he stressed, again, we needed to figure out the issue before any plan is put in place – good to hear that. The next step right now is a CT-Angiogram as they can get a 3D model of my heart and arteries so see what is there and then maybe an FRR which is a flow diagram made from the scan.
In watching a video on the scan it looks to be very accurate in showing any physical issues. Also, in reading up on it, and in the video, it is a scan that while a great tool to deal with issues early is not often paid for by insurance unless you are deemed to already have issues so may be why the doctor also went the direction he did since if he went the electrical way it may not have been as easy to get the scan. The frustrating part is I had my appointment on July 8th and can’t get in for the scan till August 10th. Seems like a long wait but am guessing the doctor is not worried so that is a good sign.
In reference to my episodes where my heart has gone to rates that are not normal for the effort and even for a hard effort gone higher than is anywhere near close to where it should be he said it is called Exercise Induced Tachycardia (EIT). Now in one sense this is normal as when one works out the HR goes up. The issue with mine it went up abnormally high and stayed there longer than normal. So it may be more and indeed may still be AFIB but will have to see. I can say while most all my rides have been easy I have done a few harder efforts and also rowed and not seen an increase like before since but just have to watch it. He did say we need to see why it does not go down quickly as normal but again the hard part is figuring out the issue to provide the correct action.
While I wait for the scan, and am sure there will be other tests, what am I doing? Well, I am keeping my workouts mostly in Zone 1-2 but do put in a few harder efforts just to see how things go but not too push it too much. For now I am sticking to riding my indoor trainer so I can stop if my HR gets too high. I am not just watching for the super high numbers like 198 and 206 I saw a month ago but also just watching for an abnormal number for the effort as I saw a month ago when I was on a ride where I was at 100-130 watts and HR was at 135 and not going down, so stopped as that was far from normal. It is frustrating as I I like to ride hard but just not smart right now. I also have to realize depending on how things go this may be the way it is from now on. While I would like to race if it is not to be so be it. In reading The Haywire Heart Lennard Zinn talks about how he had to realize while he could ride the days of going for PRs and such were gone but just found enjoyment in riding for riding sake. For me I will have to adjust but will work to see how this works for running as well as for me it is much easier to control things riding than it is for running.
In all of this I am learning patience as while I have more patience than I once did I do struggle with wanting answers and wanting them now. What I need to focus on is as James speaks to in 1:3-4 and trust in God for His timing:
“knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
It is in times like these, where you do not have all the answers or in some ways any answers, that I have to rely on the gift of faith given by God. A faith when tested brings about perseverance which is key to growing in Christ. We live in a world where everyone has an answer – even if wrong – and with all the sources of information we expect those answers right away. Part of the issue here is learning to live with a medical system that often does not make sense. Like how does it take a month to get into have a CT-Angiogram unless there are hundreds of people getting them. Then even more absurd was when I was asked about making another appointment, I had not seen the doctors notes yet, they said it was in November and I was WOW but then I heard her say November 2027 – yes 2027. That said she said if things come up on the tests then they would get me in – that’s nice. Then when I got home I saw that the Doctor said to have a follow up in 6 months so I put in a request for that since he was the one that said it but have not heard back yet. While I do not want to just sit back I do have to realize this is the system we have and my God is greater than the system so things will go as HE plans. Thus, I have two places teaching me to trust in God – Finding out what is wrong and also dealing with what might be a change in what I do.
My main goal in this series is to first of all Glorify God and then to share my journey so others than avoid the errors I have made. Not to void doing hard things but doing them with wisdom and looking to how it all fits in with the future. It seems people tend to swing to one extreme or the other but I also don’t want to promote mediocrity. But, instead learn from mine, and others mistakes, and work to be the best you can be. If you are a Christian my encouragement is to live out your faith such that in all things God gets the Glory.
More to come after my test in early August – well unless things change before them.
Past Posts in Series
Click on images for more information and if you want more info on OFM check out this post:
To order Vespa you can go here and use coupon code - tkonvalin15 - for 15% off.
No comments:
Post a Comment