Update and Recovery
It’s been a long couple of months. After getting out of the hospital, many of my symptoms continued. I’m not sure how things will finally shake out, but I’m living with daily pain.
Following that experience, I went to a cardiologist for chest pain, and was sent for an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, and blood labs. They then scheduled a nuclear stress test, which revealed some ischemia (heart muscle damage) in my left anterior descending artery. From there, I went under the knife for a cardiac catheterization, which is basically a tube inserted into your artery (radial, in my arm, for me), which is then fed up into your heart, where dye is released so that doctors can see what is going on. The catheterization revealed that I had a myocardial bridge, which is a heart defect.
From there, I went to a surgical consult to discuss the prognosis and options for treatment. The surgical solution is something called a myectomy, which is where they remove a portion of the heart. Specifically, the arteries would be “deroofed” to increase blood flow.
The doctor and I decided to use a medication-based approach rather than a surgical approach. We’re going to try beta blockers or a slow-release nitro. All-in-all, we’re feeling like this will solve the symptoms and allow me to return to my normal exercise routine. Overall, good news.
I’m resuming my normal work schedule (which is to say that I’ll be working most of the time I’m awake — LOL). I’m going to concentrate on fewer clients and give each one more hours. I will probably put the blog on hold for right now, and resume when I’m through everything that’s going on.
Until then! -Dom
