Need a few prayers

[twinmaker]

I saw my internist today about my swollen arm which I wrote about in another thread in Heart Talk. Since a blood clot was ruled out and the defibrillator wires are still in place, my internist has scheduled me for a CT scan with an angiogram. He mentioned the possibilty of pooled blood or a mass in my arm which may be pressing on a vein or my lymph system. I think I'll take the pooled blood. The mass option really scares me. Anyway, the test is tomorrow morning at 9 and hopefully, we'll have the results in a day or so. My arm is still very swollen all the way from the top of the arm to the tips of my fingers. At this point, I just want to know what it is. LINDA

[Phyllis]

Hoping the diagnoses and solution is easy and successful for you!:)

[Karlynn]

You are in my prayers.

[Glenda]

Hugs & prayers are coming your way.

[Christina L]

LOTS of prayers and cyber hugs from me to you.

Christina L

[hpuehler]

you are in my prayers!!!!

Heather

[BDMc]

Linda, My prayers are on the way. Take care, Brian

[aussigal]

((((((((((((cyber-hugs)))))))))))))))

hope you get good news tomorrow..
well you know what I mean...
something easily fixed and boring...

[susieq14]

sending good thoughts your way for an easy problem to fix..

[hensylee]

Linda, I have sent mine along as well. I hope they find out what it is and that it is an easy fix. We don't want it to be a mass, either.

Please come back to tell us. I have a cousin who has a swollen leg the same as your arm and the dr can't seem to get it to go down at all. He has lots of other probls, tho.

I have been following your thread from the time you posted it.

[Cris N]

Linda,

Lots of prayers for you... Hopefully this will be an easy fix.

Cris

[terryj]

My prayers are going out along with everyone elses.

[JCDavis81]

Linda,

Hope all goes well -- I'll be thinking of you throughout the day.

Joe

[Mb]

Ddear Linda:

Best wishes for the test to go well today. I would bet it has something to do with your heart condition, and the "pooled blood" is most likely it. I've come to the conclusion in recent years, that almost everything is heart condition related. And, your problem just points out.....expect the unexpected.

Wishing you a good day, and a solid resolution to the problem. We all await the answer.

Marybeth

[Creed3]

My thoughts and prayers are definitely with you. Please let us know how things go. Hang in there. Many cyberhugs coming your way.

Take Care!
Gail

[bvdr]

You are in my heart and prayers today. I hope all is going well and that you soon have a clear answer.

[Nancy]

I'm hoping it's just some fluky thing that will eventually go away. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

[geebee]

Linda,

My very best coming your way. I will pray for the pooled blood also. Glad to know you will find out what is happening.

[Curtsmum]

Best of luck with the results, hope it gets better soon Paula x

[momshell7]

Sending prayers and good thoughts your way. Hope you get good news after the tests.

Michelle

[francie12]

Good luck, Linda. Prayers coming your way.
Jane (aka francie12)

[twinmaker]

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. It's been a long day. I had the CT scan at 9:00 this morning and while getting it done, my cardiologist called and wanted me to stop by his office when I was finished. He examined my arm and said he was sure that I was bleeding into the muscle or the area between a vein and the sheath of a vein. He said something about compartment syndrome.(?) Anyway, he wanted me seen by an orthopedic surgeon today and his office tried to get me in to see one but with no luck, so he sent me to the ER. He felt this was the quickest way to see an Orthopedist. Today I spent 7 hours there after spending most of the day there last Thursday. Long story short...the results of the CT scan were sent over to the ER and everything looked fine except they said my central veins in my arm were "not well specified" and the radiologist is recommending a venogram to evaluate the central veins. I never did see an orthopedist. Anyway, I have an appointment with my internist tomorrow at 2:15 and he is going to send me to a pulmonary surgeon from what they told me in the ER. I'm anxious to hear what my cardiologist thinks of this. He was so sure that I was bleeding somewhere in my arm and the Coumadin was probably making things worse. Anyway, the saga goes on. Hopefully, I'll find something out soon. I am thankful that they didn't see any masses in my arm. I'm certainly breathing easier about that. Thanks again for everyone's prayers and support. LINDA

[twinmaker]

CORRECTION: I'm seeing a vascular surgeon not a pulmonary surgeon. Sorry for the mixup. LINDA

[Karlynn]

Will keep the prayers going, Linda.

[cocoalab]

Sorry to read all this Linda. I will be praying for answers for you.

[T-Money]

Hi Linda.
Will certainly keep you in the thoughts and prayers. Best wishes.

[aussigal]

well thats one hurdle over...no lumps or anything weird like that...always good to write those sort of things off

shall keep up the prayers til this mystery is solved and your arm is all normal again

(((((((((HUGS))))))))))

[twinmaker]

I saw the vascular surgeon on Friday and she seems to think that one of my main veins is being shut off by my defibrillator pressing on it. She wants to run a venogram to be sure. Has anyone here ever had a venogram? I think I'm going to have to come off my Coumadin as I have to have this test the old fashioned way because of the defibrillator. The newer test uses an MRI machine and that's a no-no for me. I dread coming off my Coumadin because I don't do well with Lovenox. Any suggestions short of Heparin IV? Thanks for any imput. LINDA

[twinmaker]

Hey Guys, any thoughts on the above thread? LINDA

[Blanche]

I'm so sorry that you are having such difficulties and hope that they can be resolved very soon. I don't have any first hand information about a the procedure they will use, but I did find an article on the net that seems to explain it clearly. Also, I need to schedule a CT scan for myself today. I'll ask the tecnician about the venogram while I am there.
http://www.stanfordhospital.com/healthLib/greystone/heartCenter/heartProcedures/venogram

Also, one of our members, Marty is a radiologist. I don't think that he reads all of the boards, so he could have missed your post. You might want to PM him. He's helped me in the past.

Kind regards,
Blanche

[Kathleen]

Hi
Odd I have had the echogram, the cardiogram, the angiogram and a brainogram but not the veinogram. Plus my granddaughters call me grams. Can I ask a little more about the symptoms you have or had. I had pacer explanted and defib implanted a couple of months ago and for about 10 days a sharp burning stabbing pain on the left side of the defib. Also a rather liquid feeling in the area and I have of course self diagnosed some sort of vein pop and it is leaking. No swelling at all but it does seem to make my left wrist hot and burning. I see my cardio on Thursday and my EP is in the same office so I am sure we will pull him in. I guess I should not have helped lift that darn tv to the stand. I will be watching to see your reports. I trust that darn heparin even though it does make a week long stay. Better to use what works.
Kathy

[catwoman]

Linda:

I'm keeping you in my prayers.

[twinmaker]

Thanks for the replies and prayers. I just heard from the nurse in the vascular surgeon's office and they have spoken with the nurse in the vascular lab at the hospital and I have to come off my Coumadin five days before the procedure. The procedure is next Tuesday. I really hate to use the Lovenox but I also hate to think about a Christmas vacation in the hospital on Heparin. It's too late to call my cardiologist today, so I'll call them first thing in the morning and let them know what's going on. I wish I had some other choices concerning bridging. The hematomas that I got in my abdomen the last time I used Lovenox were soooo PAINFUL that I could barely walk or sit. I still have the hard knots in my abdomen over a year later. I swore then that I'd never use the stuff again. Oh well...thanks for letting me vent. LINDA

[Karlynn]

Linda,
You poor dear, having to deal with this at all, let alone during the holidays. Let's hope that your Lovenox experience will not be repeated. Maybe you should start a thread asking about administering Lovenox. Explain what happened to you and see if anyone has any helpful tips.

I'll keep you close in prayer.

[twinmaker]

That's a great idea Karlynn. I'll probably do that. And thanks so much for your prayers. They mean more than you know. LINDA

[twinmaker]

Good news...I think. I called my cardiologist yesterday to discuss being off my Coumadin for the venogram and he wanted to see me this morning. I went in and after looking at my arm and the defibrillator site, he said that in his opinion, I didn't need the venogram. He said if they found an occluded vein, they would just put me on Coumadin and since I'm already on Coumadin, what's the point in doing the test. He is convinced that the box of Christmas ornaments hitting the defib. site plus the stretching of my arm afterwards is what caused some damage to the veins. He said he was convinced it would resolve on it's own. After having the ultrasound and the CT scan, he just wasn't convinced that having to take me off the coumadin and bridge me was worth it. He sounded very sure of himself and I'm so tired of running to the ER, going to different doctors, and having tests done, that I'm happy with his opinion. I called the vascular surgeon to cancel the venogram and the nurse wanted my cardiologist's name (which I had already given them) but I think she may be giving him a call. When it comes down to it, my cardiologists have always had the final say. Thanks for everyone's prayers. LINDA

[Blanche]

Linda:
Today I went for ultrasounds. I promised that I would ask the radiology tech about venograms for you. The tech that I usually ask for is also a registered nurse. She told me more than I ever wanted to know about venograms, and I am glad that I don't have to repeat that here because your problem seems to be solved. But, you might like the reassurance that I can provide. I have this written in my notes. The RN Tech said, " You know, if they do a venogram and find an occulded vein, they'll just put him on Coumadin anyway. If he's already on Coumadin, I don't know why they want to do the procedure."

My husband had his first stroke on December 15, 2000 and the second one a week later. It is not fun to be in the hospital for tests or any other reason over the holidays. I am so glad that you will not have to do that.
Best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy New Year,
Blanche

[KathyH]

Linda, Sorry to hear that you didn't get an answer to your problem today. Good Luck tomorrow at the vascular surgeons.
Kathy H

[Karlynn]

Linda, how is your arm doing now. Has the swelling gone down.

Sounds like your cardiologist is a keeper. I love doctors that trust their own diagnostic abilities, and not just keep ordering test after test, at the patients physical and financial well-being.

I hope you can relax a little now and enjoy the season.

[Kathy Canistro]

Hope all goes well.
Kathy

[ERIKASMOM]

Linda,
Praying that the problem does resolve on it's own and for your peace of mind!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas,
Judie

[twinmaker]

Thanks for all the replies and prayers. Karlynn, the swelling is better but still there. The vericose veins that have developed over the defib. site and the inside of my arm are still there but the doctor said they may always be there. He said if I damaged a main vein, the blood has to go somewhere and collateral veins form to move the blood, hence the vericose veins. I'm trying to keep my arm elevated when I can (doctor's advice). I'm just so thankful that I don't have to have the venogram done. I am trusting my cardiologist's advice (it does make sense to me) and planning on having a wonderful Christmas! This is my prayer for all of my friends here...a wonderful holiday and a GREAT 2006!