Breathlessness

No i have not seen a 1960s Sophia Loren movie (get your head out of the gutter). Since about March, I have been increasingly unable to walk any great distance without getting so out of breath that I have to stop.  1000 feet is about it.  My cardiologist ran an echocardiogram that showed a 51% ejection fraction from my equine aortic valve.  This is leas than optimal but not yet at the cut ne open and replace it level.

Next a nuclear stress test which I mentioned gave me a gamma source for testing my survey meter (me).  When I kept asking whst to do to solve the problem (formally known as dyspnea) the PA's response was, "Mr. Cramer, you have heart disease."  This was not a helpful answer.  I am not ready to spend the rest of my life on a couch waiting to die.

My PCP got me a referral to another cardiologist for a second opinion.   In the meantime,  I realized that there was some overlap with the symptoms of pneumonia so I went into Urgent Care.  They listened for snap, crackle, pop, and did an X-rsy.  Not pneumonia  but they encouraged me to see my PCP.

I think the cardiologist saw no cardiac cause and instead of considering other causes or sending me to my PCP, they just lazed out.  This is a common problem with specialists; they are looking at their piece of the patient.   They still should have directed me to my PCP.

My PCP ordered a CT scan to eliminate pulmonary embolism as a cause and a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT). The pulmonogist saw the CT scan order and asked for a copy as well.  The PFT will be in a hospital in case they find something else thst needs to be tested.   There is a pulmonary equivalent to an angiogram to look for embolisms (basically clots in a pulmonary artery).  

My PCP thinks it is possible although unlikely because the blood thinners have not been completely consistent in keeping my INR levels where they should be.

The second cardiologist appointment is tomorrow and I will be calling back t h e scheduling department for those other tests.

I cannot even roll my telescope out comfortably anymore.  I can write articles, declarations and rebuttals.   These are important but there is, or should be, more to life.