Jeri

I went with Jeri to her appointment to see the Cardiologist yesterday.  They suspect a blockage due to the results of her previous tests.  She is scheduled to have an angiogram on Monday morning at 6:15am.

Here's an explanation of the procedure as taken from the Heart Center website:

An angiogram is a catheter-based diagnostic test that uses a contrast medium and an x-ray to visualize the size, shape and location of the heart and/or blood vessels (e.g., aorta, coronary arteries, or cerebral arteries). Angiography may also be called an arteriogram or angiograph.

Coronary angiograms (coronary angiography or coronary arteriogram) are an x-ray of the arteries located on the surface of the heart (the coronary arteries). The angiogram is used to pinpoint the location and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). For example, it could reveal blockage in an artery due to either a build-up of plaque or abnormalities in the heart wall. Angiography uses a technique called cardiac catheterization and is often done in conjunction with other catheter based tests and procedures such as atherectomy or balloon angioplasty.

If a blockage is found that can be cleared then she will be admitted immediately for an overnight stay in the hospital, and a balloon angioplasty will be performed.  If the blockage is in an area that they can't reach using this method, she may have to have bypass surgery.

Either way is upset and scared to death (no pun intended).  I will go with her and try to be as much moral support as I can in a situation like this.  I don't know how I'd feel if I were her, but I'm sure that I'd be a bit frightened too. 

Please keep her in your prayers.