My surgery has been postponed!!!

CallieKitten · 12-20-2005, 04:37 PM

I just got the call today that my surgery has been postponed. The doctors' got the results of the Holter monitor on my heart, and they were abnormal. Apparently I have something called PVC - premature ventricular contraction. I guess it's fairly common, but it can be a sign of heart disease. They don't want to put me under anesthesia until they know what the problem is, if any, with my ticker. So next week I have to take a stress test and echocardiogram and then the cardiologist will see if he will clear me for surgery. Then we go through the scheduling fun again, and then the waiting game again. I was at the spa, having a facial and massage, pampering myself before I went to the castle on Thursday when I found this all out. I burst into tears and just came home. I'm so frustrated, I just want to take a baseball bat and hit something!!! But I guess there is a reason for this, but I'm not sure what it is. Now I'm going to have to get the surgery pre-authorized under a whole different insurance company (my employer is changing insurance carriers at the beginning of 2006) and I will have to start with a new deductible. I am so frustrated. I think I will indulge in some comfort food.

Bizet Woman · 12-20-2005, 05:00 PM

Hi Julie!

I'm sorry to hear you are disappointed about the news of your surgery postponement. I hope that, in the long run, things turn out for the best. It's often the way these types of situations tend to work out.

Many

s to you,

AmIdreaming · 12-20-2005, 05:13 PM

I am soooooo sorry to hear that!!
I pray that they will find an easy fix for your heart and get your surgery underway so your pain is gone forever!!
BIG BIG HUGS!!!!!!!!

cabininthewoods · 12-20-2005, 05:22 PM

Hi, CallieKitten!
I was diagnosed with PVCs a number of years ago and had my TAH last summer. The hospital required a letter from my primary physician stating it was okay for me to have surgery. Also, he had to fax my latest EKG to the hospital as I was laying on the gurney! Talk about last minute stress... They just wanted to be absolutely sure I was okay. I'm sure this is the same with you - better safe than sorry!
After researching PVC, I'm satisfied it's more of a nuisance than a major problem. I take medication (Atenolol) twice a day and that has completely stopped the symptoms.
I'm sure they will find nothing serious with you, and by this time next year, you'll be turning backflips because you'll feel great! I know it's a long journey, jumping through hoops for insurance companies, doctor, etc. I figure if I've made it, ANYBODY can make it.
I wish you the very best with your tests, surgery, and recovery.

CallieKitten · 12-20-2005, 05:43 PM

Thanks everyone for your support!

Cabin-
I kind of figured this was not a showstopper, but it's good to hear that you went through this surgery with this kind of heart problem. I've had heart palpitations for years and just never said anything about it. Just thought it was a part of being "me". But with the stress of the surgery and everything else going on (you don't want to hear the list, believe me), the symptoms were relatively signficant. I know I have been under a LOT of stress - my doc actually put me on medical leave 3 weeks BEFORE my surgery to try to get some rest. Now it looks like that is going to be extended, I guess.

Here are some really funny parts of this: the stress test is supposed to be a treadmill test. I can't DO a treadmill test because of torn cartilage in my knee which I can't get repaired until I get cleared to have surgery. It's a catch-22. So they are going to do some kind of nuclear test to simulate the stress on my heart. Pretty funny.

The other funny thing is one of my cats takes Atenolol. Maybe I should borrow some just to get through the surgery!!!

Julie