Now What???

[fiona3637]

I posted a question the day before yesterday, about my husband's chest pain on exertion, radiating to his rt arm.  I finally got him to call his cardiologist and was astonished that they told him if he was acute, to go to the emergency room, otherwise they would see him in a month.  Should I call them and try to argue to get him in sooner?  This is the biggest cardiologist's office in town, with ALL the bells and whistles and the best known doc as well.  I am afraid something terrible will happen before a month is up.....here is the original post.  

"My husband aged 56 had a heart attack five years ago, LMCA, stented, good result.  Two years agohe had a pulmonary embolus, has been on Warfarin since, PT and PTT checked monthly with varying results and dosage changes.  He recently lost 40 pounds and got his cholesterol down to 140, (It was 399 at it's worst)

Over the last two weeks he has been having chest pain, worse on exertion, radiating to the left shoulder.  He says it is exactly the same as the time he had a heart attack five years ago.  I have been pleading with him to go to the hospital, but he wants to wait until the middle of next week to call his cardiologist, and says he hopes he just needs a new stent, and is worried he will have to have his chest cracked.  (He is an O.R. nurse).....what is the likelihood it is the old stent that has closed off as opposed to his needing a new stent in a different vessel?  Or that he will need a CABG?  When he had his pulmonary embolus two years ago they cathed him and said the stent was clear.....TIA"

Any suggestions on how to nudge the doctor's office into getting him in sooner would be appreciated....

[Darcy Green Conaway, MD]

I think if you are dealing with that sort of situation you need to take him to the emergency room.  Chest pain that is escalating in nature in someone with known coronary disease is very serious.

[fiona3637]

Sorry, I meant it was radiating to his LEFT arm and shoulder, not the right.