Cautionary Tale--dodging the bullet
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:07 pm
With Medicare in the immediate future I have been doing everything I could to avoid the accouterments of old age. All objective measures have indicated that I have been in good shape for an old fart--Blood chem ok, bp ok, pulse low. To ensure good health I have been eating right (mostly) and getting lots of exercise. For example this past week's schedule included:
Sunday-- walk up Pilot butte (500 verical) with 22 lbs in pack
Monday--35 minutes on treadmill with 25 minutes at 3mph and 11% grade followed by 45 minutes of weight training, followed by 31/2 mile walk with Kathy.
Tuesday--11 mile ski with old farts, beer, yoga
Wednesday--27 minutes on treadmill with 20 minutes at 3 mph and 11% grade, 35 minutes of weight training then 5 mile ski, beer.
Thursday was scheduled to be an off day. But I had been feeling slight pressure in my chest during exercise and for the first time that feeling continued in the AM. So I made an appointment with my doc. at 3:45 My EKG was the same as last year but she did not feel comfortable setting me free. After consulting with a cardio doc I was admitted to the tellimetry/cardio ward where I soon consulted with 2 cardio docs. Both thought that given my diet and excercise regime, extremely low chlolesterol, good bp that I was not a good candidate for a cardio issue. But to be safe they would schedule a stress test for the next day. So I got to spend the night in an expensive hospital with a miniscule TV watching playoof BB instead of drinking good beer, listening to good music, and then spending the night in a nice hotel with my girl.
After an interminable wait I finally got to do the stress test (finally a little exercise!). Unfortunately the test indicate a decrease in perfusion in the front part of my heart. The next step was a cardiac catherization/angiogram. This is done by sticking a tool up an artery all the way to the heart. If blockage was found then a stent would be placed and I would be stuck in the hospital another night. The problem with all of this is that once the procedure starts I have no say in the matter. My mind was gone with the first dose of ativan. So I was at the mercy of Kathy and the docs! I do remember at one time carrying on a conversation with a most attractive blond nurse (which Kathy confirmed). But other than that I don't remember a thing until back in my room. I remember them showing pics of the before and after views of the artery, named the left anterior decending artery, aka the widowmaker. It was 90% blocked and a stent was inserted
The good news is that I did not have a heart attack and that my heart (if not my brain) remains fully functional. When released yesterday am they would not allow me to go split wood due to the wound caused by the entry for the catherization. So I can do anything now but use my right hand. (word processing was a specifically approved activity). I also think it is ok to lift a beer so I did meet up with the boys for beer and pizza (vegetarian).
The bottom line is that there is no limitation on my activity, I can chase Kathy around as much as I want, I can hike, I can fish (in a couple of days), I was actually ordered to drink a dark beer or red wine regularly. There are a couple of drugs I will have to take short time and another long term. But other than that it is play time!
Whether grandkids, kids, wife, or backpacking and skiing buds I will be keeping up my commitments!
Lessons learned:
1. You can do everything right and have all the signs of being in first rate condition but you may be at risk for something really bad.
2. Pay attention to your body! Mine was whispering to me. Generally I have such a loud mouth that I don't hear whispers! Had I not paid attention, and given my level of activity, It was just a matter of time.
Finally it was not until this morning that I realized how lucky I am. This morning has pretty emotional for me and if I can wake up just one person on this forum who has been feeling wierd, different or whatever not to write off that feeling and to get it checked out I will not be so embarrassed about sharing my experience.
Your resident Old Fart
Mike
Sunday-- walk up Pilot butte (500 verical) with 22 lbs in pack
Monday--35 minutes on treadmill with 25 minutes at 3mph and 11% grade followed by 45 minutes of weight training, followed by 31/2 mile walk with Kathy.
Tuesday--11 mile ski with old farts, beer, yoga
Wednesday--27 minutes on treadmill with 20 minutes at 3 mph and 11% grade, 35 minutes of weight training then 5 mile ski, beer.
Thursday was scheduled to be an off day. But I had been feeling slight pressure in my chest during exercise and for the first time that feeling continued in the AM. So I made an appointment with my doc. at 3:45 My EKG was the same as last year but she did not feel comfortable setting me free. After consulting with a cardio doc I was admitted to the tellimetry/cardio ward where I soon consulted with 2 cardio docs. Both thought that given my diet and excercise regime, extremely low chlolesterol, good bp that I was not a good candidate for a cardio issue. But to be safe they would schedule a stress test for the next day. So I got to spend the night in an expensive hospital with a miniscule TV watching playoof BB instead of drinking good beer, listening to good music, and then spending the night in a nice hotel with my girl.
After an interminable wait I finally got to do the stress test (finally a little exercise!). Unfortunately the test indicate a decrease in perfusion in the front part of my heart. The next step was a cardiac catherization/angiogram. This is done by sticking a tool up an artery all the way to the heart. If blockage was found then a stent would be placed and I would be stuck in the hospital another night. The problem with all of this is that once the procedure starts I have no say in the matter. My mind was gone with the first dose of ativan. So I was at the mercy of Kathy and the docs! I do remember at one time carrying on a conversation with a most attractive blond nurse (which Kathy confirmed). But other than that I don't remember a thing until back in my room. I remember them showing pics of the before and after views of the artery, named the left anterior decending artery, aka the widowmaker. It was 90% blocked and a stent was inserted
The good news is that I did not have a heart attack and that my heart (if not my brain) remains fully functional. When released yesterday am they would not allow me to go split wood due to the wound caused by the entry for the catherization. So I can do anything now but use my right hand. (word processing was a specifically approved activity). I also think it is ok to lift a beer so I did meet up with the boys for beer and pizza (vegetarian).
The bottom line is that there is no limitation on my activity, I can chase Kathy around as much as I want, I can hike, I can fish (in a couple of days), I was actually ordered to drink a dark beer or red wine regularly. There are a couple of drugs I will have to take short time and another long term. But other than that it is play time!
Whether grandkids, kids, wife, or backpacking and skiing buds I will be keeping up my commitments!
Lessons learned:
1. You can do everything right and have all the signs of being in first rate condition but you may be at risk for something really bad.
2. Pay attention to your body! Mine was whispering to me. Generally I have such a loud mouth that I don't hear whispers! Had I not paid attention, and given my level of activity, It was just a matter of time.
Finally it was not until this morning that I realized how lucky I am. This morning has pretty emotional for me and if I can wake up just one person on this forum who has been feeling wierd, different or whatever not to write off that feeling and to get it checked out I will not be so embarrassed about sharing my experience.
Your resident Old Fart
Mike