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May 19, 2008
Wow, it has been a long
time since I've visited this site with an update. - My Little sister
is still with us, cancer free and still fighting heart issues.
I have my PSA level checked
regularly and I am still cancer free. As we get older other issues
seem to follow - High Blood pressure now under control - Had a
couple Kidney stones "Hated It!". - Hand surgery a couple times for
Trigger finger ( Finger locks open or closed) - Restless Leg
Syndrome, better known as River Dance disease - Acid reflux - and
the Big one a couple mild Heart attacks followed up with a stint in
my heart about three weeks ago.
Ever since my Dad had his
heart transplant I have been paranoid about Heart issues. I've had a
cardiac physical every year since I was in my late 30's. Never
showed any signs of a problem even when I took a stress test last
year. If you never had one all you can do is go by the commercials
or friends experiences. One of my close friend had the classic
Elephant on his chest pain and pressure. - I thought I was having
major acid reflux. Bare in mind I've never been accused of being the
sharpest pencil in the box and have been accused of being stubborn.
Over the last few weeks I
was eating Gas X like it was candy - Tuesday night April 22nd I had
what I thought was more gas pain , drank Club soda belched a couple
times and went to bed.
All day Wednesday I at Gas
X and Club soda, asked my friend who works for us what his heart
attack felt like - Nope no Elephant on my chest - I belch it goes
away. That night it got worse, both arms would ache like I had the
Flu, I had what I thought was Gas pains, shoulder would ache - I
drink club soda and belch and it would go way or lessen. I was
up all night - went to work - Doctor at 3:00 - EKG showed nothing,
blood tests and chest X-ray which both would take a couple days to
get results gave me new Acid Reflux medicine, scheduled a stress
test for the next day and sent me on my merry way. Two hours
later on the way home with pain again - Long story made longer had
my wife take me to the emergency room around 6pm - EKG normal -
Blood work up not normal.
Stayed all night - no
pain - Next morning the Cardiologist stated based on the on going
blood workups all night she wanted to do a heart catherization
rather than a stress test.
The catherization is
not a big deal - They give you enough Valium type meds that you
don't care, then they run a tube up to your heart and dump a bit of
radioactive liquid in your system which causes a hot rush from the
top of your head down to your feet ( That is all I remember, I guess
I feel asleep.)
Some time later the doctor
comes in to give us the verdict, I have a blockage in a minor vessel
to the back of the heart. They transferred me by Ambulance to St
Vincent Heart Hospital and put a stint in my heart 2-3 hours
later. This was on Friday - I went home on Sunday - back to office
on Tuesday. Disney the following Monday for our Grand daughter's 5th
birthday.
I haven't felt this
good in months. I'm back to 12 different pills per day, I
bleed easy due to the blood thinners, I take Lipitor for Cholesterol
even though mine is really low etc. etc. etc.
With all this LIFE IS GOOD
The moral of this
story : Don't be a stubborn bastard go to the ER, deductible be
damned. The blood clout could just as easy gone into my heart and my
family would be writing this instead of me. Seriously heart attack
symptoms can be different for everyone male and female. Mine
was different from my friends , the pain going away when I would
belch thru me off, even though I hurt like hammered hell.
Mike |
