Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Abnormal? Moi?

So I just got back to my room yesterday from a long day at the Institute, when I get this call from the cardiologist – a very pleasant man with a daughter in Boise. He didn’t want to alarm me I think, but he said my heart exam with the gamma camera was “mildly abnormal.” (Or did I hear “wildly abnormal.” No, no, it was mildly!)
The bottom line it seems is the doctors want to do an angiogram as a next step.
An angiogram is an X-ray test that uses a special dye and camera to take pictures of the blood flow in an artery or a vein.
During an angiogram, a thin tube called a catheter is placed into a blood vessel in the groin (femoral artery or vein) or just above the elbow (brachial artery or vein). (The doctor said he's been doing it through the arm for the last 15 years. Thanks be to God!) The catheter is guided to the area to be studied. Then an iodine dye is placed in the vessel to make the area show clearly on the X-ray pictures.
The thought of such a thing does not make me a happy camper. But I suppose it’s better to find out now, than to have some crisis hit me on the reclining bike at the gym.
Continue those prayers, please. Your support is a blessing to me!

4 comments:

  1. Father Day: I have had three "silent" heart attacks (I didn't know I had them) and had an angiogram a year ago. It was nothing! In an out in two hours.
    God bless you. You are in our prayers and we love you very much. Can't wait to have a martini or a lunch with you again.
    Marty Carr (and Marilyn)

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  2. I'm rooting for you and thinking of you every day. There will be a day when you will look back on old ways and all the physical stress from your weight and you you will think, 'What the heck was that all about?' Remember each day, as I have , that I am not alone. I keep in mind that there are others out there that are going through the same maybe with alcohol, or drugs or cigarettes or any destructive lifestyle. Thinking like that encourages me that I am not alone. Keep up the great work!!

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  3. The first time Ron was headed to have an angiogram he was white in the face with fear and anxiety......I kept telling him, hey, it will be just fine....guess what? It was just fine....it was NOT horrific like his mind envisioned....As many people as are praying for you, Father Day, you will go through this procedure just fine.....certainly, that is easy for me to say, but it really is true that at least half the pain we suffer from any procedure or operation is the anxiety before. Before I had Yvonne, I was terrified of giving birth and I knew there was no way I could get out of it....no making an excuse or putting it off....no, no.....well, it went well and I lived through it and all the other births....You are so loved and cared about....isn't that awesome and wonderful? What a gift!!
    Diane

    P.S. Remember when Ron had his first heart attack days before the birth of Mariam? Geesh! That was quite a time.....if he had done years before what you are doing now, he would be writing in this comment spot...not the old lady! So many people need you....God has many plans ahead for you.....you are a treasured priest...not many like you!

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  4. Dear Father Dennis, Bill had two angiograms and both were fine. Look at him, nearly 79 and still kicking around. Stick to that diet, do whatever exercise they allow you and we are all rooting for you. We are in NJ and if that isn't a stress test with that traffic! Lots of prayers for you. Nice elderly Irish priest at Mass Sunday said we are a blessed people and give thanks every minute for our blessings. You are a blessing we are thankful for and will be praying for you. Anne and Bill Tighe

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