Submitted by Dr T on April 19, 2014 – 10:47am in Cardiac Risks Question: 2 years ago my husband had quad CABG. (No heart attack). During a colonoscopy 3 years ago they noticed PVCc on his ECG, he wasn’t even aware of them. However, in the last year they have increased noticably, he says they “wear him out”. He is …
Treating Esophageal Cancer
Submitted by Dr T on April 4, 2014 – 7:21pm in Other Question: I was very interested to read about your patient Bill who survived 27 years after you operated on his oesophagus. You mentioned that you used unconventional theraphy combined with Chemo and radiotheraphy. I have been diagnosed with Oesophagus cancer and am seeing the oncologist tomorrow to get …
Aortic Valve Surgery in High Risk Patients
Submitted by Dr T on April 4, 2014 – 6:50pm in Cardiac Risks Question: TAVR vs. SAVR. My 85 mother has severe AS. Went to one hospital where tey have done 140 TAVR’s andthey said she is a high risk patient and they would do theTAVR. Hospital has a good reputation. Went to oneof the top 5 cardiachospitals in he …
Surviving a heart attack
Submitted by Dr T on April 4, 2014 – 6:36pm Question: I’m 42 and had a cardiac infarction two months ago. My LDA was 99% blocked with what seemed mostly like clots from ruptured plaque. I was able to get to the ER within an hour of my attack and it looks like I didn’t suffer any damage to the …
Cardiac Syndrome X
Submitted by Dr T on March 28, 2014 – 4:52pm Question: I was diagnosed with cardiac x syndrome 2 years ago but now the cardiologist says I have no cardiac problem apart from 4 positive ECGs have no further test he has taken me off the medication after a year and now I have breathlessness, the palpitations have changed a …
Cardiac Syndrome X
(Image from Medscape) Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is anginal chest pain with coronary artery disease involving the smallest arteries, but with normal large coronary arteries. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as “microvascular angina”. Syndrome X is difficult to diagnose; usually it is done by exclusion of other illnesses. The most common type of angina is usually caused by …
Recovery after bypass surgery
Submitted by Dr T on March 22, 2014 – 1:02pm in Other Question: My father (85yrs old) had a bypass three weeks ago. He has recovered very well, but comments that he is passing much more urine than before the op. (he had his bladder removed 5 years ago as he had Ca Bladder and now wears a urostomy bag). …
Cholesterol Medicine Side Effects
Submitted by Dr T on March 20, 2014 – 8:47am Question: Dear Doctor, My dad has high cholesterol problems and his doctor prescribed Atorvastatin, but the side effects were quite strong: strong pain and skin discomfort in the ribs area. His doctor switched then to Fluvastatin, but he suffered from the same kind of side effects. I have to say …
Clarification following CABG
Submitted by Dr T on March 16, 2014 – 10:19am Question: Dear Dr T, I underwent CABG x3 in Sept 2012 and have recently had access to my medical reports and I was wondering if I could trouble you to explain some of the medical terms to me. 1. Result of catheterisation pre-op showed ‘right coronary artery had no obstructive …
Atrial Fibrillation, PVCs and Viagra?
Submitted by Dr T on March 7, 2014 – 1:19pm Question: Hello Doctor, Thanks for taking my question. I deeply appreciate whatever info you can tell me. History: Three bouts of Atrial Fibrillation since 1992. PVCs began in 2002. My EKG’s come back Abnormal from the arrythmias. Nothing else. No pain or shortness of breath. Lab work, thyroid, etc is normal. Had …