Family Visit

My brother came to visit me today. He hasn't been over for a long time. We had a really good visit and he told me all about two heart tests that he has had this week. One was an echocardiograph and it was very interesting to hear how they go about it. You hear about people having these tests but no one ever sits down with you and really tells you what happens during the test.

He also had a chemical treadmill test. He had 5 nurses, each in charge of a different monitor or ultra sound or giving him the shot of chemicals. Each time they gave him a bit more, it would speed up his heart and it wasn't long until he could feel it beating in his chest. They give you enough to get your heart beats up to 125 per minute and at the same time they take pictures of your heart as it is beating. They also look at the ultrasound at the same time. It was very interesting to me

He has two leaking valves and one they found has a small hole in it that he was born with. The doctor said these holes usually close within 2 or 3 days of birth, but it isn't unusual for them to stay open. Luckily he is on blood thinner or he probably would have had a bad stroke by now. He does remember passing out twice when he was probably in his 20's and 30's and he couldn't move for a few minutes. Apparently those were little stroke that passed without leaving damage or paralysis. He will find out in a few days the results of both of these tests. We are anxious to learn the condition of his heart valves now as it had been two years since he had the last tests.