If anyone has read my stories then they may have noticed I mention my heart condition as having been acting up and all. Those that don't well I have a heart condition and sometimes it makes me have to be kept in the hospital because my bp jumps sky high, and chest pains, I had a heart attack in may'09, I am pretty young only 36, and well this isn't the first issues, they just missed what my actual problem was about 6 years ago. The cardiologist I see, told me today he wants me to have a procedure called alcohol septal ablation, in which he will inject 100% absolute ethanol alcohol directly into my heart to trigger and minor heart attack to fix the problem. I was like wtf, uh no, then he continues on to tell me not only is going to trigger a heart attack I will be awake for the procedure and should only feel mild discomfort but pain meds will be available. To which I am not to proud to say I laughed in his face said not in this or any other lifetime find another way and walked out. He has since been trying to talk me into this, and even has my hubby talked into it. When I had a cardiac catheterization I had to be completely knocked out for it because I was panicking, I dont like hospitals on the best of days. Now he told my Orthopedist that I can't have my knee surgery because I won't go through with this and I am not stable enough. So I freaked out and called my best friend whose uncle happens to be one of the best cardiologist's in VA and her Uncle is like come visit home and I will check you out sweetheart, on me. Hubby told the nurse when he called to rescheduled my appt that i was getting a second opinion in va and the dr flipped out.

Hubby thinks if they knock me out I would go through with it, oh hell no, had one heart attack not looking forward to another. I also don't think I could handle being in the hospital for up to a week, away from my kids. Yes I freely admit that this scares the hell out of me, but well there is no guarantee that this will work and not kill me anyway. What do you guys think? I am sick about it, my friend thinks if her uncle tells me yes then i would do it, and i think i would only if he came down to help i trust him to do what is right for me because he knows and loves me, i am just another face to my dr here.

Honestly, I think that if you have doubts as to what your options are, you do have the right to request a second opinion and any respectful doctor who cares for your well-being will be more than happy to arrange that second opinion with another doctor. I work in an orthopedics practice and when a patient is not fully sure of whether or not the procedure of replacing a joint is necessary, our doctors have all come to the agreement that our office will help set up an appointment with a orthopedist in another practice for a second opinion. This way, the other orthopedist is not influenced by our orthopedist and the patient can get further information as to if the procedure is necessary or not. If your physician is not accommodating in this respect, run like hell. As I said, no respectful doctor will ever deny you the chance for a piece of mind and will support your decision to get a second opinion.

That's what I thought, and mentioned to hubby, and my friend.She said what you said about running away, not walking away. Her uncle called back a little while ago to talk to me and he said if he thinks it would help to have it would I go through with it, I told him I honestly don't know, I am afraid, he is trying to find out if we can permission for him to do the surgery if needed and I just go back home to Va for a month or so to recover and find a new cardiologist here at home. So hopefully things work out and my orthopedist called back and said he will wait until I get back from seeing the other dr . I had ligament reconstruction in 96 and the screw that held the ligament in place came out of the bone and is wedged under my knee cap, so I have to have that fixed. I like this new orthopedist, though, he is really nice and he immediately contacted me about my cardiologist calling him. That and his main nurse is my best friend, from down here in Fl,so they take care of me very well.Thanks for the input, and helping me out, it made me feel like I am not being paranoid.

Wow. The doctor flipped out?! One, any doctor should understand someone wanting 2nd / 3rd opinions. I'd get one in that case.

I understand your worry regaurdig the proceger. But it might work. BUT I'd also ask more questions, and research the effects of it. It also might make you feel better on it IF you do go through with it. DEFINITELY get the second opinion. It's your life.

Either way I wish you the best of luck.

Yes, please get the second opinion. I understand what you are going through as I too have heart problems. Not as severe as yours, but we are in the same boat.

Go see this guy who's sounds like a real nice doctor, but most importantly of all, don't feel pressured to do this procedure that truly sounds absolutely dangerous. My god, if my doctor said I had to have that procedure, I would have flipped out too!

I also have a brain tumor and I actually chose long ago not to have the procedure done on me and actually I am still living a very normal life. I don't know if you can do that because of your knee. But, honey just don't feel pressured to do anything you don't want to. We are all here for you.

Thank you everyone, for all the input, It helped me to see that maybe it wasn't just me. However all of this is now moot, I found out today via 6 , yes I said 6 home pregnancy tests that I might be preg, so first thing monday I have to find out with a blood test and we go from there.Knee surgery, everything will take a backseat to what the dr and my ob says. I already know I am going to get reamed by family, but in our defense hubby got fixed 10 yrs ago, but instead of snip and burn, as I call it, he got clipped and we think the clip slipped, lol. So this buys me time to find a new cardiologist and I will have to be referred to a specialist ob as well. Which means when you live in bfe, at least an hour to an hour and half away. Thanks again and I will keep everyone posted.