Speaking of hearts...
I had a little episode a few weeks back.
Early morning on January 13th (about 12:30), I started experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath that did not go away or dissipate. I woke my wife at 2 am, and told her that I thought I needed to go to the hospital. So we went to a highly rated emergency room. EKG showed OK, but my BP was through the roof and blood work indicated a possible heart attack. I was admitted and continued testing.
By about 8 that morning the pain had subsided, but an angiogram performed the next day showed significant blockage in the main heart arteries. It was more than could be addressed by stent procedures. My valves were OK, aorta was good, heart was beating normally.
Doctors recommended bypass surgery, and I said go ahead. On Tuesday the 16th I received a quadruple bypass. I hit my post operative benchmarks and was released from the hospital on the 20th.
I have been at home since with a new regimen. I also found out that I have type 2 diabetes. I do not require insulin, but do need medication, and I am monitoring my blood sugar and blood pressure daily. So far, so good. My follow up appointments are going well.
I just want to say that I have wonderful neighbors, family, and friends, who have been helpful with good wishes, advice, calls, hugs, visits, and prepared meals.
I especially want to express my love and gratitude to my wife and my two daughters (18 & 15). They have rallied around me and each other to keep meeting the day to day of school, work, running a business, and making a home while protecting my wellness and recovery.
Remember to take care of yourselves. Go get a check up.
Now is forever, and forever is now.
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You are so lucky to have such expert and immediate care. Here is my wish for a rapid and complete recovery.
Not a fun recovery, but at least they got to you in time. I trust you are going to do the cardio rehab. I t's a good program to get in the swing of things again.
I actually never had any symptoms like you did. I went to the cardiologist because I was having A-fib and didn't know what it was. They did the tests and like you, a stent wasn't indicated. A quintuple bypass later I was on the road to getting over the surgery. It's been almost 6 years for me, my cardio doc thinks I'm in good enough shape that it won't be a heart attack that eventually gets me.
BTW, the A-fib was dealt with later with the electro-cardio doc. I've had some ablations and so far they seem to be staying away.
When you get over the abuse your body took during the operation, you're going to feel like a new man.
Keep on keeping on. Eat right and get as much exercise as you can stand.
