My parents are both 60. Mom has early onset Alz and 95% physically unable to do for herself. Requires help standing, can barely move feet to transfer and lately can barely even feed herself. Dad still works full time, we have aide and myself watching mom while he works. Dad had open heart surgery with triple bypass 13yr ago, a stent aprox 5yr ago. Last week he got his lab results from his cardiologist and they were actually PERFECT!! Better than in last 25yr! Yesterday he had a stress test and 2hours later they called saying PA wants him to have heart cath, but with no explanation why. He told them he can't right now. I understand he wants to know more before possibly having an unnecessary test that will have him out of commission, but I refuse to let him not do if it needs to be done. Have any of you had experience with yourself or someone you know needing heart cath following stress test and the reasons it was requested? One side of me wonders was the stress test fine so they're being extra cautious with his history. The other side of me that loves my daddy dearly & worries about him thinks they had to see something making them request this. Also, what would be his down time assuming no open heart surgery, just the cath or if stent is placed? I am willing to stay with mom round the clock as long as it takes but daddy is stubborn and wants to take care of her himself. I'm not sure about the physical aspect of standing her up, holding her when she's leaning during transfer ect post heart cath. Just looking for all info I can to pass on to my daddy to help him make the right decisions. We have no other help. I have a brother but he won't help with my mom. The only thing he's done in past year is help daddy build wheelchair ramp and visited for holiday dinners(prepared by me).
But you have a right to know more; call the cardiologist's office and ask for a further explanation, to which you're entitled (assuming you have HIPAA authorization). Or have your father call.
Your father has a history of cardiac issues; it's not necessarily surprising that something else has arisen.
I'd address this immediately; a similar thing happened to a relative, but his cardiologist couldn't schedule the cath immediately.
Recovery time is different for every person; this is really a question for the cardiologist or his/her nurse practitioner.
I agree though best to check with them. Generally, this is not something you want to mess around with at all. Follow-up asap.