Caregiver spouse needs heart cath. Anyone have experience with this?

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HelpnGa Asked October 2015

Caregiver spouse needs heart cath. Anyone have experience with this?

My parents are both 60. Mom has early onset Alz and 95% physically unable to do for herself. Requires help standing, can barely move feet to transfer and lately can barely even feed herself. Dad still works full time, we have aide and myself watching mom while he works. Dad had open heart surgery with triple bypass 13yr ago, a stent aprox 5yr ago. Last week he got his lab results from his cardiologist and they were actually PERFECT!! Better than in last 25yr! Yesterday he had a stress test and 2hours later they called saying PA wants him to have heart cath, but with no explanation why. He told them he can't right now. I understand he wants to know more before possibly having an unnecessary test that will have him out of commission, but I refuse to let him not do if it needs to be done. Have any of you had experience with yourself or someone you know needing heart cath following stress test and the reasons it was requested? One side of me wonders was the stress test fine so they're being extra cautious with his history. The other side of me that loves my daddy dearly & worries about him thinks they had to see something making them request this. Also, what would be his down time assuming no open heart surgery, just the cath or if stent is placed? I am willing to stay with mom round the clock as long as it takes but daddy is stubborn and wants to take care of her himself. I'm not sure about the physical aspect of standing her up, holding her when she's leaning during transfer ect post heart cath. Just looking for all info I can to pass on to my daddy to help him make the right decisions. We have no other help. I have a brother but he won't help with my mom. The only thing he's done in past year is help daddy build wheelchair ramp and visited for holiday dinners(prepared by me).

Heart Disease

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score 1 · Answer 1

This was from October. I wonder what they decided to do.

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score 0 · Answer 2

Labs can be fine, and you want to keep them that way; by labs I am assuming just basic one and maybe lipids and/or things like pro-BNP and CRP, which would not be out of whack if his heart muscle, liver and kidneys are functioning OK - so there was probably something on that stress test of concern for a blocked blood vessel. I would not assume it was routine or unnecessary.

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score 0 · Answer 3

It is my understanding from talking with my cardiologist in the past that a stress test could indicate a possible blockage and that is why they would order the cardiac cath. If a blockage is found when they do the cardiac cath they might put in a stent. You certainly have a right to ask and get answers to any questions you may have as to why they wish to do a cardiac cath and I suggest you make an appointment with your cardiologist and get all of your questions answered before making any decision. Several of my friends have had similar situations where a stress test warranted a cardiac cath. When I had my stress test I was told that there was only a 5% blockage. Blockages are certainly important enough to take care of as soon as you can. Your cardiologist would be the person to ask about this and any other procedures involving your heat.

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score 1 · Answer 4

It is my understanding from talking with my cardiologist in the past that a stress test could indicate a possible blockage and that is why they would order the cardiac cath. If a blockage is found when they do the cardiac cath they might put in a stent. You certainly have a right to ask and get answers to any questions you may have as to why they wish to do a cardiac cath and I suggest you make an appointment with your cardiologist and get all of your questions answered before making any decision. Several of my friends have had similar situations where a stress test warranted a cardiac cath. When I had my stress test I was told that there was only a 5% blockage. Blockages are certainly important enough to take care of as soon as you can. Your cardiologist would be the person to ask about this and any other procedures involving your heat.

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score 0 · Answer 5

My mom had a heart cath following a stress test last year. They told me they wanted to do it because they thought she had blockages which she did. Unfortunately they were too numerous and in bad locations. Given her age and other health issues it would require more than what's advised. However, they did prescribe a heart med and she has responded well to that on her follow-ups with the doctor. That, along with her treadmill walking, allowed her to grow new blood vessels to carry blood where it needed to go and that's allowed her to be here still...amongst other reasons.

I agree though best to check with them. Generally, this is not something you want to mess around with at all. Follow-up asap.

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score 1 · Answer 6

I'm not as knowledgeable about this as I could be, but I believe the stress test may have shown issues which weren't otherwise detectable. If a cath was recommended, and you trust this cardiologist, I would consider it seriously.

But you have a right to know more; call the cardiologist's office and ask for a further explanation, to which you're entitled (assuming you have HIPAA authorization). Or have your father call.

Your father has a history of cardiac issues; it's not necessarily surprising that something else has arisen.

I'd address this immediately; a similar thing happened to a relative, but his cardiologist couldn't schedule the cath immediately.

Recovery time is different for every person; this is really a question for the cardiologist or his/her nurse practitioner.

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Caregiver spouse needs heart cath. Anyone have experience with this?

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