This post was written mostly so that I can refer back to it in the future. It’s about cardiology tests I recently had so if you want to read it go ahead on!
I have felt fatigued, short of breath and just not well in recent months so I made an appointment with a new cardiologist, Dr James Parker with North Oaks in Hammond. The appointment was made in January but he didn’t have an opening until September. He is that much in demand. When I finally saw Dr. Parker, he ordered a CT Angiogram with contrast, a heart echocardiogram and a carotid artery ultrasound.
Last Friday was the day that was taken care of. There was not much opportunity to take photos but it was all quite interesting!
CAROTID ARTERY ULTRASOUND: This is what the Carotid artery ultrasound looks like. The results from that show I have a 50 to 70% blockage on the left. A blockage of over 80% or over is considered significant and would require a stent. The right side is normal! Yay for something being normal! So for now I am all good there!
This is an inside look at the area a Carotid artery ultrasound checks out.
CT ANGIOGRAM: This is what it looks like having a CT Angiogram. It’s less invasive than a regular angiogram and you aren’t put under anesthesia. I received two metroprolol pills to be taken before the procedure. One four hours before and one one hour before if my heart rate was not below 60. They need it slowed down to take clearer pictures.
My scan showed a calcium score of 54 and no significant blockages. This indicates only a moderate risk for coronary artery blockages in the future. Cardiac chamber sizes, structures and great vessels appear normal.
One cool thing I now know is that my Ejection Fraction is 60-65%. That means my heart is functioning at nearly full capacity. Unfortunately I know about this number because my son Chip’s Ejection Fraction was 15% when it was discovered that he has a serious heart condition. It is now up to 25% but with 65% being normal that is still not good at all. If you’ve been praying for Chip about this, please continue!
ECHOCARDIOGRAM 2D: They have you lay mostly on your side while they run the thing that sees inside you all over your chest area and sides where your heart is. My Cardioechogram 2D shows good heart function with normal relaxation for age. No significant valvular abnormalities. Essentially normal echo for age.
Well that’s it for my heart tests. There’s a lot of detailed information about each test in my MyChart account. They were all easy tests to have performed and the only uncomfortable minute was when the contrast hit my heart during the CT Angiogram and I started to feel a little smothered! Certainly not bad enough to ever avoid having that test.
My favorite drink this summer has been McDonald’s Pineapple Mango Refresher. At least 2-3 times each week I’ve been enjoying one. What I love about it is the tiny strawberry popping boba in every sip. It’s actually lemonade with mango and pineapple flavoring with the tiny boba floating in the bottom!
This is what tiny boba balls look like. Obviously I am fascinated with them and really enjoy them being in different drinks.
Ya’ll come back now, ya’ hear!
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