I guess that this blog is not cathartic nor stress-relieving enough.
I had a heart attack on Monday.
No, I’m not joking, but I am pretty freakin’ stunned.
It was 8pm, a cool evening, and I started to mow and rake the front yard. Halfway through, I found myself hyperventilating; I sat down and relaxed for a bit until it went away, and then went back to raking.
Only minutes later, the rapid shallow breathing was supplemented by a tightness in my chest, dizziness, and nausea.
This afternoon, after an emergency room, a transfer to a different hospital, and a visit to the Cardiac Cath Lab, the two blockages in my heart have been cleared and I now sport three stents to keep everything flowing.
When I lay in a hospital bed the other night, I contemplated what kind of long, rambling, tongue-in-cheek entry I’d write here, but now… I dunno.
I’ll have to think about what happened for a little while, about how I let it get to this point and what I have to do next.
Other than take 5 pills every day.
For now, I am home and okay, although sore all over. More later; but here is some humor from my cousin Kirk that made me laugh — thank goodness I didn’t open up the angioscopy wound…
Top Ten Reasons Gene Had A Heart Attack-
- Just One More Thing To Fret About
- Said To Dick Cheney “Anything you can do I can to better”
- Chance To Meet Cute Doctors
- Had Mid-Life Crisis at 20, Didn’t Want To Over-Extend The Plan
- What Better Way To Fill Mother With Guilt
- Just One More Thing To Blame On The Republicans
- Was Hoping Sara’s Next Album Would Have A Sweet Dedication “In Memory Of”
- A New Avenue For The Melodramatic
- Monthly Payments On Health Plan Are Pricey, Wanted It To Earn Its Keep
- Ran Out Of Things To Blog About
That isn’t the kind of wakeup call any of us want but I’m glad to hear you’re ok.
Feel better soon!
Gene, my god! You shouldn’t have been so smug about being carded twice recently, I guess.
And Kirk’s list really is priceless.
On a more serious note, please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.
Um, yikes!
Well, I’m glad you got prompt medical attention, and it sounds like you’ll be ok! I bet you’re glad now that you’ve been paying for that health insurance.
So what do the doctors say?
TK
Geez, that makes your jaw drop…
Oh my God!
I have a thousand questions, starting with are you OK?
And ending with anything I can do?
I’m glad to hear you’re ok! Welcome to the club! Had my chest pains a few years ago and a few stents later I was good as new. Hopefully there wasn’t any significant damage… I was lucky that my trouble was caught before a full blockage with the attendant muscle damage. Trust me, you’ll go through a period of panicking at the first sign of any twinge in your chest, but just relax… Your heart will take a while to get used to the new metal in it, as well as having better blood flow than it’s had in years. And if you have had high cholesterol, you may feel strange feelings in there that are probably some gall stones… so don’t panic like I did when one was rattling around too much…
Ping me if you’d like to chat… I know this road.
Be well old friend…
Best,
-Ray
Wow… do get better! And when you do, could you please post your diet/lifestyle so that there are lessons learned from this!