Hi everybody!

I know there has been discussions about this before on this board but I hope you forgive me for bringing it up once more.
How many of you have angio for follow up 3 months past surgery?
I know DJ started a topic on this and had suggestions about what kind of tests to ask for/demand for follow-up but again I do not understand the medical English that well. When I read the the comments for the last months I see that several of you have different tests as soon as three months past surgery??
Louise is 20 months past surgery and all they did was a MR (-I or -A, I don´t know the difference!) 10 months past surgery when she was having "sensations" in her head and her hands. It showed that everything was fine and no need for angio they said. Now I really don´t know what to think about the way the doctors are "following her up". What´s your opinion? Please??

Annica

(always something to worry about if you look hard enough and I always do!)

Hi Annica -

I have not had an angio for 3 month follow up.  However, I will have one for my 1year follow up.  The difference is most likely due to the different surgeries that Dr. Scott and Dr. Steinberg perform.  (Bypass vs. EDAS).  I'd be curious to hear what other Doctor's follow ups are?  Dr. Connolly?  Or any other doctor besides Dr. Scott and Dr. Steinberg.

-Shari

Annica,

Our daughter Natasha ( 6 years old ) will be going for her third annual check-up in October with Dr.Scott in Boston. Her surgery has gone well, and thus on the first and second annual check-ups he did not do any Angio, and he won't be scheduling one for this visit either. My understanding is that there are risks associated with doing an Angio that are not there for an MRI/MRA ( e.g. the risk of aneasthesia, whereas by 6-7 years of age they don't need it with an MRI/MRA as they can remain still by themselves etc) and thus they do not tend to do this test on a regular basis. They always have the option of doing one after if the MRI/MRA doesn't show what they expected.

With regard to tests after three months, given that we fly from Switzerland each time, we only had annual checks, and Dr.Scott was fine with that. In a couple of years we should be down to one every two years.

Whilst clearly each individual case is different, it sounds, from what you have written that things are going well with Louise and thus I don't think that you need to worry that no Angio has been done. I would suggest you try and schedule a check in a few months (i.e. 2 years after surgery) with another MRI/MRA and if that still shows everything as expected I think you can feel as confident as parents ever can be that everything is on track.

I hope knowing that your experience is no different from ours has helped.


All the Best


Steve

Shari, Steve and Sita,

Thank you for responding! And yes Steve it does help much to hear that your experience is similar to ours about follow-ups. Dr Scott was helpful to Louises doctors in valuing her tests  and actually described to her doctors how to perform surgery on her. He also sent me several personal mails during the awful period of time before surgery so I have the greatest respect for him. Never met him in person though, some day I wish both me and Louise could have the honour of meeting him. Please give him my and Louise´s regards when you see him next!
Thank you all for being there to calm my worries, I´ll try not to worry too much. As  I said ; Louise is fine and I should be happy with that!!

Take care

Annica