So I had a heart attack - Democratic Underground

DainBramaged

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Mon Aug-13-07 09:09 PM
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So I had a heart attack

Actually, a few. The last week of July, I thought it was the heat and humidity. I live a very healthy life. No red meat, quit smoking, had a stress test with sonogram last August. I even just recently had a Lifeline screening!

(For those of you who want peace of mind regarding the potential for a stroke, peripheral artery disease, abdominal aneurysm, and bone density, for $129, it can't be beat. I passed with flying colors).

I thought I was bullet proof. Luckily, I had JUST been accepted into the health care plan we have at work Finally, health insurance after 5 years. But Then the pressure on my chest and the difficulty breathing started again on August 1. It was like I had a sandbag on my chest and I just couldn't catch my breath. The previous week, it went away after sitting down for a bit. This time it didn't. After resting for about an hour, I got up to go to the main building where I work, and bang, it hit hard. I couldn't walk another step. I asked one of our managers to take me to the hospital because I stubbornly thought it was the heat. he said, no I was white, and 911 was already called.

They took me to the closest hospital (St Clair's) where I sat in emergency for 6 and a half hours, waiting for the cardiologist and my doctor (who is on the board of the hospital) to show up. Did I mention it as Wednesday? I continued to have small attacks and I was reassured as soon as my blood teat came back, they'd know what to do. What they were looking for were the enzymes your heart throws during a heart attack. In spite of an absurdly low blood pressure of 114 over 65, the small attacks continued. FINALLY at 6:30 that night, the cardiologist and my doctor show up, agree I had a heart attack(s) and should be admitted. By the time I was admitted and put in a room, I had missed the dinner served, and had gone 12 hours without food and 10 hours without fluids. They put me on a fluid bag and I went the night without food or anything but ice chips.

Next morning, they told me I had a few small attacks (I knew that) and "probably" 2 large ones ON Wednesday. My reward was going to surgery for a dye test to check arterial flow.

This is the part that is important to everyone over 50, severely overweight, with high blood pressure, or who may not eat right. In ten painless minutes, running a tube into my femoral artery in my leg to my heart, they showed me one artery about 95% plugged. Me, Mr. healthy and Mr. Exercise, an artery clogged 95%. And multiple heart attacks. But surprise, St Clair's is no longer certified for stents (they put one in a clogged artery after compressing the plaque with a tiny balloon). I had to be transported to Morristown memorial for the stent the next morning and had to wait till Saturday to be released.

I take a bucket full of medicine, I am still tired, but I went back to work today. I look forward to the sunrise, my dogs at my feet, and kisses on my cheek from my beautiful daughter, who took care of the dogs while I was in the hospital.

I don't recommend having a heart attack to anyone.

Thanks for listening.