Category: Doctor

2-Year Angiogram Results

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I had my 2-year angiogram following procedure yesterday. I have to admit I was nervous because Dr. Kwan wasn’t doing the procedure, but I was soon put at ease when I found out the Dr. that WAS doing my angio, Dr. Thomas Dykes, was the Dr. who did my first angio back on Oct. 5th, 2006 to confirm it was an annie and a rupture prior to my coiling. I felt better after I found that out.

After what occurred during my last angiogram I made sure they did not attempt to use the angio seal/plug this time. They all concurred they would not do the seal. I was glad! So what if I had to lay around for four hours, I wouldn’t have to endure the pain again.

I was exceptionally dopey after this angio though. Perhaps it was just because I was just so tired after a long, long week getting final files to the printer for the catalog. Regardless, all I wanted to do was close my eyes.

Dave, as usual, was my angel and was by my side almost the entire time. I wasn’t nearly as peppy this time, but he helped feed me again, which is tough to do when you have to lay almost flat and he took me out for an M&M McFlurry at McDonalds afterwards, which hit the spot.

The great news is that about two hours after the procedure, Dr. Dykes came and informed me the nothing had changes since the last angiogram and everything looked good!! Just what I wanted to hear. So, now I know all those little annoying headaches I continue to get are just that….annoying headaches due to not eating well, not drinking enough fluids and just overworking my poor little brain.

Even two years later, I know I’m still healing. I’m the only one who knows what I’m still having difficulty with and what I’ve gotten back to full-strength. And, yes, there are still some things.

But this was great news and I’m thrilled. And, as usual, the staff at Maine Medical Center in Portland were fantastic.

I’m still pretty sore in the groin area today, but I knew it was going to be that way and I’m taking care of myself. Taking care of myself…that’s what it’s all about now.

Angiogram Scheduled

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I was called and told my 2-year angiogram is schedule for next Friday at 10:00 at Maine Medical.

I’m still not sure why I had to have the MRI, but I guess I’ll find out. I don’t know who is going to do the procedure which is making me a tad apprehensive. I knew that Dr. Kwan had saved my life and I felt great comfort in knowing he was going my 6-month angiogram. He also had a nice bedside manner and ease about him.

I’m also concerned about getting my point across about the difficulty Dr. Kwan had in using the angio-seal the last time. I’m not sure he mentioned it in his notes. I hope he did. I’ll continue to mention it and hope they either don’t try it again, or they’ll use a new incision. Dr. Kwan felt I had a lot of scar tissue in the one they used.

So, I’ll be getting final catalog files together next week and waiting all week for this angiogram. So much for a restful week!

MRI/MRA Results (?)

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I don’t know if it’s bad new or good news, or just simply no news, but apparently the MRI/MRA didn’t show Dr. D’Angelo what he “needed to see”….so I now have to have an angiogram.

I’m not too pleased with the reason I was given or the fact I have to endure the angiogram again. MRIs are just annoying, but angiograms are a bit more serious.

Of course, his receptionist is on vacation all next week, so it won’t be addressed again until after she’s back in two weeks. Then I don’t know if I’ll be having the angiogram here in Maine or I’ll have to go to Boston. Dr. Kwan performed my last angio.

We’ll see.

What’s Next

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I’ve been too busy and tired to post again, but better late than never if anyone out there is still reading this.

I had my appointment with Dr. D’Angelo a couple of weeks ago. I had all my questions ready to go and written down and I even tasked Dave with taking notes because my hand writing is so horrible, I didn’t want to miss anything.

We no sooner go into the appointment, when the Dr. got a phone call and cut our appointment very short. He was on-call and there was an emergency, so I certainly don’t expect him to drop everything for me and I completely understand that, but after driving all the way down there, I did feel a tad slighted. Not his fault, but still very disappointing. I wasn’t able to ask any of my questions.

He did shed a little light on where Dr. Kwan is and that they’re searching for a replacement, but that going to Boston to have any serious procedure isn’t a bad thing. He claimed he DID remember me, but I doubt it. LOL He’s seen so many people since then I highly doubt he’d remember little ‘ol me.

I took all of my Angiogram, MRI and CT scans on disk with me, but he said he needed to see more recent images, so I was told he wanted to me to have an MRA. Which is an MRI, but with contrast. His office called a week later and this coming Tuesday I’ll be going down to Maine Med for my MRA.

However, when pre-registration and radiology called tonight, they said it was for an MRI, so I need to call the Dr’s office back tomorrow to make sure everyone is on the same page on what it supposed to be done.

I’m obviously hoping everything looks good, but I’m hoping I get another opportunity to speak to Dr. D’Angelo and ask those questions I’ve been wanting answers to. With no one treating me locally anymore for my neuro issues, I’m feeling a tad lost and abandoned. I had high hopes for this one appointment with him, only to be in his office less than 10 minutes. Again…I know that wasn’t his fault.

As the 2nd anniversary of my annie creeps up, again, I’m recalling this time of year in 2006 still. I wonder how many years this will go on? It’s odd.

I’m feeling relatively good, so I’m having good thoughts about the MRA/MRI. And I’m hoping they’ll let me know the results sooner rather than later so I don’t have to wait it out.