[Magdalen] heart catherization

Sat Aug 22 19:21:58 UTC 2020

Thanks, Christopher and Rick.  I am feeling much better as the day has
moved on.  One thing I do know about all this going into further
exploration of cause, etc., it is not relative to me being an anxious
person.  I am accustomed over the years to my blood pressure reaching great
heights.  I have survived the hundreds of episodes to date and expect to
survive any others that come without complications.  The speech and vision
problems yesterday did indeed bring me some anxiety but they passes quickly
enough.  It is so important for medical professionals not to immediately
put a white haired old woman in the 'nervous nellie' box and approach our
presenting issues with 'ageism.'  I ran into both in the past two days.  I
addressed that directly with the ER doc yesterday - "Please do not see me
as a nervous old woman.  I've dealt with very high blood pressure for 52
years...it no longer scares me.  And also, I am quite well educated about
my diagnoses."  Her attitude changed.  When someone goes immediately to the
labels, rather than the symptoms, they are treating a person as an object,
a thing to put into a particular box.  Not good.

So, of course I was anxious, but that was not the cause of my condition or
the elevation in the moment.
Ginga

On Sat, Aug 22, 2020 at 3:03 PM Rick Mashburn <ricklmashburn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Wow! That's scary but I'm glad you are better and obviously are being well
> cared for all around!
>
> Thanks, Rick
> 210-618-5096
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 22, 2020, 11:05 AM Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Well, things got interesting yesterday.  My bp continued over 200 all day
> > and I had a horrible headache.  Long story short, in mid afternoon, I
> lost
> > part of my vision in my right eye and became aphasic. Scary! That cleared
> > by the time we could get to the ER.  I was not having a stroke.  All
> good!
> > My heart arrhythmia was quite evident and my BP did not easily come
> > down...2 mg of catapres required.  My headache lifted a while after the
> > medication and my blood pressure got to a reasonable level.  I will see
> > both my internist and cardiologist in next week.  I expect someone will
> > want to explore migraine syndrome.  This is akin to blood pressure
> > breakthroughs and headaches I had for over 20 years but not in the past
> > 9-10.  I am greatly hungover today and sleepy but feeling much better, in
> > spite of a medium headache.  I am thankful it is today and I know more
> > about what it is not.  Plus, John Wilder is a trooper.  The covid
> > restrictions are so difficult on those who have to wait outside.
> >
> > Just catching you up!  All is well.
> > Ginga
> >
> > On Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 4:18 PM Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Glad it's over with. And of course nothing like a little stress and
> worry
> > > to raise the BP. Hope it soon starts behaving.
> > >
> > > On Thu, Aug 20, 2020 at 11:43 PM Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > So glad it's over.  Now to get that BP back in line. Prayers for that
> > > > continue.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Ann
> > > > The Reverend Ann Markle
> > > > Buffalo,  NY
> > > > ann.markle at aya.yale.edu
> > > >
> > > > On Thu, Aug 20, 2020, 8:22 PM Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > My heart cath was today.  Lots of calcifications in my heart but
> > > arteries
> > > > > are open.  YAY.  There was trouble with high blood pressure inside
> > the
> > > > > heart during the procedure.  (Over 200.)  They gave me medication
> and
> > > > > finished the job.  Blood pressure is still not behaving...systolic
> is
> > > 162
> > > > > tonight.  The guy who did the cath said they think of several
> > maladies
> > > > when
> > > > > pressure goes high inside the heart.  I will see my cardiologist
> next
> > > > week
> > > > > or the next, depending on her appointment schedule.   And, the good
> > > news
> > > > is
> > > > > that I am fine and will keep checking this out with professionals.
> > > > >
> > > > > Blessings all,
> > > > > Ginga
> > > > >
> > > > > On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 11:28 AM Ginga Wilder <
> gingawilder at gmail.com
> > >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > I am 73 y.o. now.  Getting older comes with many new
> > > > experiences...like,
> > > > > I
> > > > > > will have a heart catheterization next Thursday (8-20).  I've had
> > > > > > cardiovascular issues since I was 20.  My internist has been
> > > brilliant
> > > > in
> > > > > > his care of me.  I've also seen a cardiologist regularly for ten
> > > years.
> > > > > I
> > > > > > had a routine check in with the cardiologist two weeks ago during
> > > > which I
> > > > > > reported one recent episode of noticeable shortness of breath.
> She
> > > > sent
> > > > > me
> > > > > > for a repeat coronary artery calcium scan...the first one was
> years
> > > ago
> > > > > and
> > > > > > was moderately 'off,' but not bad enough for intervention. This
> > > current
> > > > > > scan shows some 'severe' calcium build up in two of the heart
> > > arteries.
> > > > > > So, I will have a heart cath and, if needed, stenting.  I'm
> > trusting
> > > > all
> > > > > > will go well whatever needs doing.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Frankly, I am more concerned for John during the procedure, as he
> > > will
> > > > > not
> > > > > > be able to enter the hospital at all.  I know he would prefer to
> be
> > > > able
> > > > > to
> > > > > > be there with his ears and eyes on what is going on.  My post
> > > procedure
> > > > > > time will be extended as I will have to have a sandbag on the
> place
> > > > where
> > > > > > the catheter is placed for some time. He's going to be very warm
> in
> > > the
> > > > > car
> > > > > > for that length of time.  We're both very glad to hear that I
> will
> > > come
> > > > > > home the same day....they are not keeping people overnight unless
> > > > > something
> > > > > > goes awry...and I'm not counting on that.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Blood work today - check; Covid test tomorrow, cancel other
> > > engagements
> > > > > > and appointments, and wait.  I appreciate your prayers.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > All shall be well, so sez Sr. Julian.  She's been right so far!
> > > > > > Ginga
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>