posted 06-09-2013 06:07 PM               

All the best for a speedy recovery.

posted 06-11-2013 12:08 PM               

On Friday, June 7, I was running a couple of errands before going to work and when leaving the last one started getting a pain in my left chest and left arm. I recognized it immediately (from the episode on May 26) but of course my first response was disbelief. Dammit this cannot be happening! I had just passed an echocardiogram, stress test and two days before met with my cardiologist.

I was about a mile from the house when I called Lynn to meet me in the driveway with the nitroglycerine and to call 911. I knew I had to get home because that's where my medicine was. I didn't want to stop on the side of the road because I felt less likely to get help in enough time.

When I arrived home, Lynn ran out and I took the nitro. She was on the phone giving 911 our info and answering questions. They also had me chew four baby aspirin immediately. I opened the car door but couldn't get out. It hurt A LOT and I was sweating more than I ever had before.

It seemed like a long time but the EMTs arrived and took over. They rushed me to the hospital and in the ambulance had trouble getting readings on their equipment because I was sweating so bad. They said I actually had the attack as we arrived at the hospital.

In the ER they began their procedures, they gave me morphine for the pain (didn't help), ran EKGs and prepped me for the catherization. When they got me into the Cath Lab, they discovered two arteries blocked. One at 100%, one branching off of that at 90%. They opened the branch first and when that oxygenated blood went to that part of my heart (lower front ventricle) it went nuts. I coded. Trish (my daughter who's an RN) and Lynn heard the call "Code 2 in the Cath Lab" on the overhead speaker and Trish knew what that was immediately. They rushed from the ICU waiting room going to the Cath Lab. As they arrived at the lab the Chaplain and an administrator met them outside the room. That's when Lynn lost it. I was gone for two minutes. It took chest compressions and four shocks from the defibrillator to revive me. I had no idea I crashed until I came to. Thank God they were successful.

The part of my heart that suffered the lack of blood is working at 45%. I'm on a couple of new Rx — one is a thinner that I will take for the next year or two. I have some lesser blockages that they believe the medicine will dissolve.

Right now the memory is fresh, I am super-motivated to eat right and exercise. But human nature being what it is, that can change. To make sure I never forget, I asked the hospital to give me a copy of my EKG when my heart stopped. It shows the shocks and return to sinus rhythm when they were successful. I am going to frame it along with my wrist bracelet and hang it over my desk.

Every moment after being revived is a gift and I don't ever want to forget that.

I'll be home from work for the next two weeks, won't drive for a few days, and I have a follow up with my cardiologist next week.

You all have no idea how much your emails, prayers and messages mean to me and my family. I'll never be able to thank you enough. God Bless all of you in the cS community.

posted 06-11-2013 12:33 PM               

And I didn't know that nitroglycerine was used as medication!

Take it easy.

posted 06-12-2013 10:16 AM               

Please try to stay on your diet and Rx.

posted 06-12-2013 11:06 AM               

Since my own "widowmaker" experience last October I have been diligent in keeping up with my daily walks, along with occasional bike rides or other activities, and maintaining a low-sodium, fresh & healthy diet.

Although they do a wonderful job at the Ottawa Heart Institute and I'm grateful that they saved my life, I have no desire to make more than the occasional short follow-up visit. That's what keeps me motivated.

posted 06-13-2013 12:23 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by cspg:
Phew, talking about a close call...

And I didn't know that nitroglycerine was used as medication!

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It's worth a quick recap for everyone on aspects of the American Heart Association's Chain-of-Survival.

If you or someone around you ever experiences one or more symptoms such as:
- sudden intense retrosternal chest pain
- left chest pain radiating into the left arm
- tingling in the lips and/or jawbone
- acute shortness of breath
- intense diaphoresis (sweating)
- epigastric discomfort like really bad indigestion
- feeling faint/dizzy/nausea
- feeling of impending doom
then call 911 and get EMS mobilised ASAP to your location.

Early recognition of symptoms, early EMS activation, early CPR, early defibrillation and early definitive care save lives. Time is heart muscle and every minute counts. Bystanders really can make a huge difference in the Platinum 10 minute period after onset of a cardiac episode just by calling 911 and knowing how to perform CPR and use an AED (Defibrillator) - bystanders buy critical time for EMS/ER professionals.

If you haven't taken an AHA CPR/AED class, it's well worth it. Bear in mind that the Father of CPR Dr. Peter Safar originally promoted Cardio-Pulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation CPCR because although the main objective is to keep the heart and lungs circulating blood and oxygen, preserving brain function is just as important for good clinical outcomes.

The nitroglycerine referred to forms part of the initial treatment protocol for acute coronary syndromes - Aspirin (antiplatelet - blood clot inhibitor) and Nitroglycerine (vasodilator - blood vessel expander) and Oxygen. Morphine is sometimes indicated as a pain reliever.

One last point to bear in mind is that Echo/Stress/12 Lead ECG tests may not always show up an impending myocardial hit. Very often it is not until a patient is actually in a Cardiac Cath Lab having an Angiogram that severe occlusions in the coronary tree become evident.

posted 06-25-2013 04:36 AM               

Here's an update:

Things are not quite the same as Lynn and I thought when I was discharged from the hospital. But it was a stressful few days so we could have misunderstood. I saw my cardiologist on the 19th. We had a nice long visit with my doctor and he stayed until we asked every question we had.

The one artery left untreated due to the way my heart responded to the stents, is 70% blocked. It will have to be dealt with but he doesn't want to risk it just yet. He wants me to recover from the heart attack first. The meds I'm on will not and can not "dissolve" the plaque.

Next month I will begin a Cardio Rehab exercise program. Two weeks after, I'll have another echocardiogram. At the end of July another follow up appointment. Then soon after I'll have a profusion stress test to see how well my blood is following to the entire heart. I'll be out of work until at least the end of July.

The good news is that since my physical last spring I have dropped 20 pounds. On June 20th my friend John and I were treated to a private walk through of the new Atlantis exhibit by retired astronaut Jon McBride, Captain USN (ret). It was awesome! It happened to coincide with a media day. So I had a chance to chat with Rob Pearlman. Robert was stunned to see me up and about so soon. I explained that space is the best medicine.