Hi Guys as i said how quick your day can go from bad to worse in a matter of hours.
I felt a tightness in my chest the other day after mowing the lawn and to cut a long story short went to the doctors who sent me to hospital than to the cardiology unit, and was transferred to the Geelong Cardiology ward awaiting Surgery.
They found i have three nearly blocked veins which cant be stinted, so By Pass surgery awaits me on Wednesday.
I didn't even know I had this problem which has probably been there for some time and only surfaced the other day.
The doctors said i could have dropped dead anytime, but i am still here and prepared to beat this with their help, and a fairly long recovery.
How scary is that, I thought I would just let you guys know.
Leon,
Truly sorry to hear your news.
I sincerely hope all goes well and you're back on your feet quickly.
A timely reminder to all - you never know what's coming up next.
Take care.
Ken
Not the end of the world, but life really can change in a blink....
I went from walking 10km for fun, to 10m at a struggle in ONE day. Second attack, I worked through the first, completely oblivious...
Ten years later, a bit slower, but doing okay.
This year, 21 weeks ago TODAY, I am planting trees on the last day of my holidays and thinking, "blue sky, sun shine, breeze... I really don't want to go back to work tomorrow..." I got my wish! I literally turned 90 degrees, slipped and exploded my ankle, also broke my fibula in two places. Surgery and 12 weeks in a cast. Yep, things change fast! Just starting to walk for real again now...
A good friend got the chest tightness while surfing he thought it was because of the cold , he told me the last recollection he had was after banging his fist on his board as he couldnt speak or breath was the only guy in the water near him turning and looking at him strangely as he slid into the water .
Defib on the beach and in the ambulance hes doing well these days with some positive lifestyle changes . his 50th birthday cake was an ocean
with a surfboard and him floating beside it .
You will get over this , the doctors and support we have here in aus are the best mate
Sorry to hear of the situation Leon, but look on the bright side: you were very lucky to get a warning, many don,t. Get better soon
Best
JA
PS..... Vitamin E (more correctly its active ingredient, d-alpha tocopherol??) has very recently in a study (on mice) been shown to help minimise damage post Infarct, presumably by minimising inflammation and is being or is being considered for use (believe it or not) in the the ambulance on the way to hospital and in the days prior to surgery, pre and post surgery. Like anything take your advice carefully from your health professional and not from some random guy on a forum.
Hi Leon..the hiccups....
Please please think or imagine a very positive outcome..see only a happy result.do not if even for a moment think about a poor result...the moment such a negative thought drifts in eliminate it....I will do the same and I hope others will "see" a happy outcome.
I know all will be as I imagine.
Alex
Thanks guys, yes i am in good hands and the people here are just brilliant and so professional, with it coming up on Wednesday has given me a chance to talk to many professionals and i go into this with such a positive attitude.
Welcome to the Club Leon, I had my heart attack in July last year, with three severely blocked arteries, one at 98%, two at over 70%, and a fourth at 50%. Luckily for me the bad ones could be fixed up with stents, and after two trips through the Cath Lab my life threatening situation was fixed, but i am still walking around with the 50% one that must be managed. But that is really just the beginning of your journey. Make Sure you go to Cardiac Rehab, it is important on easing your way back into activity and gives you important information about managing your disease. It is a chance to talk to other people going through exactly what you are. Many people don't go to rehab and wind up having another heart attack. Don't overlook the psychological changes taking place, you will be a different person after this near death experience, you will get emotional about stuff that never bothered you before, you will suffer from anxiety, all pretty normal in this situation. You will be on a medication regime for the rest of your life, stick to it religiously. Some people have side effects to the medication but work through those with your cardiologist.
Getting fit again will take time. Stick to your rehab exercise program and gradually expand on it. Best of luck, and if you need to chat to someone that has been through it, I have sent you my phone number.
You are luckier than some where the first symptom is sudden death.
As a warning to all, a lot of the time the first symptom can be
nothing more than mild breathlessness going up the steps.
Echo Glen's advice to do the cardio-rehab program and stick to it.
When you are recovered, ask your GP about having your carotid arteries
in your neck checked as well and possibly the vascular system associated
with your kidneys.
The arteries in your heart are not the only ones you can gum up, yet the
implications potentially just as dire.
Leon, I had a Myocardial Infarction and one stent ten years ago. I am okay now and do live well. Been back to hospital a few times but they were all false alarms or were Low Potassium levels -- potassium drink bought up my levels and was then sent home.
Have also been in an operating Theatre watching a Cardiac bypass operation. Had applied for a job operating the Heart lung machine.
So Leon, this is not the end of the world.
But as someone else said. do go to Cardiac Rehab afterwards. That is worth doing.
The best part of all this is coming down from the anesthetic ... gee that good s**t ... you feel like your ' floating ' in midair, took me about a day for it to wear off ...!! ( I tried to order some more, but they wouldn't have it )
Took a long vein from my right leg
Worst .... try not to laugh or cough ...it hurts
Pic ... me 4 1/2 years ago after Quadruple ByPass
Col
Last edited by FlashDrive; 24-09-2019 at 09:13 AM.
I'm glad you've survived the bugga. Unfortunately my brother last week wasn't that lucky but it was quick, dead before he hit the floor according to the parras. Not quite 63 as well.
Sobering events like this remind us all that tomorrow is promised to no one.
Hope it goes well and sincerely wish you a speedy recovery Leon.
I had a brush with the big C, a couple of years ago now, ended my career but thankfully
not much else. It tends to make you cautious about planning too far into the future.
That said, don't sweat the small stuff and.... Carpe Diem! and Noctem too!