Hi all...

I finally had my TCD ultrasound the other day.  I was suppose to have it a few months ago, but I was still a little sensative around my incision area.  Good news...My neuro said he could see the 2 grafts "open" from my double bypass in May 2005.  ;  He tried looking on my other side (left, non-surgery side) but he said he couldn't see past the bone.  Like y'all said...it wasn't bad at all!  Just a little messy with the gel getting all in my hair.  But who's complaining!...7 months ago I had no hair!!!  

I also wanted to ask if anybody had an done on them?  I believe it's a blood test that tests how fast your blood clots.  

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/platelet_function/glance.html

Evidently, mine was "abnormal" so my neuro increased my 81 mg aspirin to 324 mg daily.  (I am also taking Aggrenox twice daily which also has some aspirin in it).  He was deciding on whether or not to either increase my aspirin or put me on Plavix in addition to the Aggrenox and 81 mg aspirin I am already taking.  I also did a Bleeding Time Test a few months back, and according to my neuro, it was "disturbingly normal."  Being that I am on aspirin, I guess I should've bled longer.

Well...I hope all is well with everyone.  I'm also getting ready for another CT-Angiogram in a couple of weeks.
 (I prefer an MRI/MRA...)  Me, like Greg, don't care for the IV part of it....

Please do let me know if you have also had the AGGREGATED PLATELET TEST done, and what your neuro/neurosurgeon suggested.

Happy New Year,
Shan

Shan,

I hate to say this, even though I can't stand needles and IV's...I still prefer the CT-angio over a MRI/MRA.  I get so claustrophobic in the MRI. Besides, other than 30 or 40 seconds of flushing (ok...entering the gates of Hell when they inject the iodine) the CT-angio is over and done in five minutes.

Wow, 324 mg of Asprin....must difficult to remove such a small piece of asprin from a 325 mg tablet (just kidding  ;). I had the same debate with my doctors last year when trying to figure out asprin vs. plavix vs ....  they all agreed that asprin theropy was the way to go, especially with the extra benefits of asprin.

Also, if it makes you feel any better, there was no snow in Kingston, New York for Christmas...it was acutally 45 degrees out....otherwise I was going to take a picture of snow for you.

Happy New Years,
Greg

Hi Greg,

I liked the way you described the dye when it is injected into the IV during the CT-A!  You're right on the money!    I do not like it at all!....

No, I didn't have the CO2.  I just had the TCD done.  Does the CO2 test make it difficult for you to breathe?  I had an adenosine test (stress test) done on my heart about a week after my surgery which made my chest feel like a ton of bricks fell on top of it, and my heart felt like it was racing.  It's similar to the treadmill test, but because I just had surgery and I couldn't physically do the treadmill test, I had this done.  Is that how the CO2 test feels?

Awe..no snow?  Well, is it still early? or would it have snowed already in Kingston?  No snow here either...  Our winter is usually a lot of rain.  Right now it's still in the 80's...but I'm sure it'll be rainy soon...

Ha ha!  I'm taking (4) 81 mg of aspirin, thus 324 mg.  I was initially thinking that Plavix would've been a better choice because isn't Plavix good for the heart?  If you don't mind, besides thinning your blood, what other benefits are there that come with aspirin?

Aloha,
Shan