My Heart Attack Story

I woke up Tuesday morning not thinking of anything but wasting some time  on the computer before I had to get ready for work.But while waiting for it to boot up,that all changed.

Without warning my head felt somewhat dazed;like it was spinning quarter turns counter-clockwise again and again and again.

It felt right to stand up,so I did.

My body felt heavy and numb.

Like when your leg falls asleep.My whole body felt that way.

There was no pain.I wasn't incoherent.

My thoughts were clear..almost supremely so.

In my mind,I thought that I would walk with a drunkenly stagger,but I didn't.I walked straight and with purpose.

Still,my body was wrong...too heavy...head,back of my neck,chest(lung areas),small of my back,thighs.

I coughed..somewhere,I read that could get your heart back to beating correctly.

No good.

Stroke?

I moved my mouth back in forth.Opened and closed my hands,Walked.Talked out loud.

Aspirin.I went to the bathroom cabinet.Took two.

Somethings not right.

Worry.Not fear.Deep concern.

I went up stairs,"Robyn,I am not feeling right."

"What?What's wrong?"

"I don't know.I feel wrong."

"You feel clammy."

"Sure it's not you,"I joked.

"Hush."

Back down stairs.

"Here,let's lower your head below your feet."

"What's this gonna do?"

"Might help.Let's take you to the hospital."

"I know a guy at work with diabetes.He says when his sugar is low,he feels funny."

"Here,"Robyn said,returning from the kitchen,"Eat this power bar,then let's go to the hospital."

My Heart Attack Part 2

Though I never mentioned having a heart attack,or even chest pressure,I found that if you want quick service in a emergency room,if they think you are having heart problems,the service becomes amazingly quick.


"Welcome to MRH's Emergency Room.Can I help you?"


"I'm beyond help,"I said with a slightly nervous smile.


A smile returned,"Me,too."


"I was at the computer and my head felt dizzy."


"Have you been here before?"


"Yes."


"Well,take a seat.We'll get to you as soon as we can."


"Thank you,"said the wife.


Two minutes-maybe three-later:"Geez,if this was a real heart attack,I'd be dead,now."


"I agree."


Immediately a lady called my name,and we walked into her room.


"Why are you here?"


"When I woke up,I went to the computer.While I was waiting for it to boot up.My head started feeling heavy/dizzy-ish.I stood up.My chest felt heavy."


!"Did you say you had chest pressure?"


"Well..more like a heaviness-"


Suddenly she snapped to life.Things went quickly from then on.


I was whisked into a wheel chair-rushed into a room.Buttons were pushed.I was EKG'd.Blood pressure was administered.Blood was taken.Shots given.It was a mad hurry to to give me the best and fastest treatments possible.


I had what I consider the best care for any E.R.Efficient;effective,compassionate...the whole ship and caboodle.


I had a  slow erratic extra beat heart rhythm.


Blood tests showed that my blood contained an enzyme(Creatine kinase???) that is only given off(most probably) if there has been damage to the heart.


The E.R. doctor told me that I had slight traces of this enzyme in my blood.That they needed to monitor me for 2 four hour periods(at least) to see were my enzyme levels would go.


So it was off from the E.R. up to room 4123A for monitoring,questioning,poking,prodding,waiting...and MORE.


Both Robyn and I had a lunch.Watched 'The Price Is Right'.Thinking,ahh,hopefully just a treatable mild heart arthymia.


Then the heart specialist came in,"Your enzyme levels went up.It appears that you have had a mild heart attack."

My Heart Attack Story Part 3

"While we do do heart catheterizations,here,at MRH,we don't do stints,so we would like to transfer you immediately to OSU hospital in Columbus."

This was Robyn's worse nightmare.

"We are lucky that we found this early.Your x-rays show possible damage to the bottom of your heart.You'll probably need a stint.But they'll know better once they do the procedure.

"In a heart catheterization,"the doctor continued,"They inject a dye and then take a scope,usually up through a vein in your groin,to check your heart."

"Its a fairly common procedure.OSU does over twenty a day.Very safe," The doctor finished.

I guess that it was...except that both Robyn and I had a sister-in-law whose mother died surprisingly from this around fifteen years ago.They had nicked and artery and she had bled to death in the hospital.My Dad,whom had both a triple by-pass and a heart valve replacement said that he hated the heart cath worst of all.


Gulp.

But also surprisingly,I found my metal.I wasn't afraid at all.Maybe it was the blood thinner.Or the bad ticker.I don't know.But I wasn't worried.


It all just didn't matter.This had put life into perspective.I had taken life and health for granted.I shrugged my shoulders,"Gotta do what ya gotta do."

"The doctor went on,"We will have to wait until OSU has an open bed...probably a couple hours."

So,we waited.It was good time together.Robyn had been texting all morning.The E.R. had pretty much wiped out her battery.I started using mine.I texted everyone.My sons,Nikolas(who was taking Robyn's parents to doctor appointments in Columbus),Adam(working as summer help at my ODOT garage),and still attending college,Tyler.I contacted my Dad,Ted Cathy,Carl Tammie,Greg,Nora,Robyn's family,friends,etc.

I called work(I called them before going to the hospital telling them I would be taking a sick day).

I called my Dad,and talked to numerous others on the phone.

I repeated the story over and over and over(a reoccurring theme).Everyone was so concerned...so nice.

Robyn and I had lunch(at MRH,Robyn could-for five dollars- order herself a hospital meal and even eat right next to me).

I would like to say that time flew,but it dragged.At four o'clock,we were still waiting for a bed to open at a seemingly very busy OSU.

Nikolas,Adam and Adam's girlfriend,Marissa,came to visit.While they were there,worried Tyler called.Tyler wanted to come to Columbus from Nelsonville.We told him that we didn't even know when we would be leaving and that we would let him know.

Since Nikolas,had already driven to Columbus once today,we decided,Adam could drive Robyn over(this decision was made while Adam was still at work and Nikolas still in Columbus).

So,the boys went home .

And,Still we waited.

Finally,at around eight o'clock,we were told that OSU had a bed.

Over her objections,I told Robyn,that I could see no reason for her to come to Columbus tonight.(Just before it was time to go they told us the results of my third blood test.My enzyme levels were down.I was not having continuing heart attack symptoms).They weren't going to do the heart cath until tomorrow.I would feel better if she would sleep in her own bed rather then on a cold uncomfortable couch.

Because she didn't want to stress me,she complied.

Soon the EMS was there to take me on the over an hour trip to Columbus.I have great respect for EMS people.Average Joe's in the thick of things.I guess that makes them above average in my book.

These two guys(both also worked as volunteer firemen-one with a guy I knew from work)honored their profession.Yeah..I truly like the EMS'ers.

I have been lucky all day.Kind,professional people all day.Soon I would be at OSU's Ross Heart Center.I wondered how just the big city would do it.

My Heart Attack Story Part 4

We're not in Kansas anymore,Toto,I said to myself as they wheeled me through the bowels of the OSU Medical Hospital.

It was most surreal.Seemingly equal parts hospital;conglomerate and television show.This hospital,even at nine something at night,was a hustle and bustle of business as usual.

They wheeled me into a giant single bed room across from the more military ready room than nurse's station.Two nurses were already in my room talking amongst themselves about the work gossip of the day.They flirted with the EMS guys.The guys personalized me to them by telling them I worked for ODOT,"So you're the one responsible for all the potholes?"

They were nice nurses,but they had the demeanor of people that were seriously busy meeting and treating patients.I was-out of necessity-talked about like I wasn't even there.I was their work.The usual poke,clip,take temp,air pressure question,questions,questions routine.

"Do you take any medicines?"(No)Do you(No) (No) (No)(No!)

"See,"The one nurse said turning to the other,"You get the good,easy patient,after all.No pills-no paper work."

"How much do you think his pants weigh?"

(They have scales on my bed?Cha-chang.WoW!)

"Ida know...one point five?"

"It says two thirty one."

Damn it.I'm not a number,"I usually weigh around 228."

"Ah,see,we were right."

Just then,a young looking intern,doctor comes in.{learning hospital...riiight}He has red hair.He greets me,asks me how I pronounce my last name.Looks at my chart.

He says,"So,start at the beginning."

"I was born a poor black child."

"Good reference,"chuckled one of the nurses.

"No,I mean.."

"Oh,I said looking the doctor in the eyes,"Not back that far?OK,I was sitting at my computer waiting for the computer to reboot..."

After I had finishing retelling my story(I was getting it down-condensing it,smoothing the rough edges,keeping it the same),the young red headed doctor moved around to the left(my left) side of the bed.He was holding his stethoscope.Oh,boy,I was going to get to breathe for him.

The name on his jacket said Haas.I said,"My grandmother's maiden name was Haas.You wouldn't be from northeastern Ohio,would you?"

His eyes looked at me with recognition and compassion for the first time.He actually looked at me eye to eye for a moment as if to see if he knew me.He smiled and patted me on the arm,"No,we're from Columbus and Chicago."

He took his time after that,explaining things more leisurely,as with a older friend or an uncle.I was probably going to have my heart cath sometime early tomorrow,but the blood work wasn't back,his boss,the doctor in charge-the big cheese-would make that decision.I would probably have to take meds the rest of my life.But things were probably gonna be ok.Don't eat anything after midnight...He had to go.

WoW!I had touched someone.

They reciprocated.It seemed all night people,people,people..most I would never see again kept coming into my room again and again and again..poking,proding,checking,questioning.I dozed when I could.I dazed when I couldn't.

At one thirty or so,I was rousted awake by some man asking me if I had had an x-ray since I had been admitted.No.Well,you need one.

Great just great.I'm never gonna get any sleep.I'm gonna have to be led all the way down the hall.It'll take for ever.

Suddenly,a way too young pretty girl(seemed my boys'age or younger..another recurring theme) was helping this guy wheel in this "X-RAY machine!He put a board under me,told me to hold my breath-click-they were done,and wheeling the machine back out,"Good night,he said.

WoW!Is there nothing they can't do?

I immediately passed out.As far as I remember,I slept straight through until four o'clock.

My Heart Attack Story Part 5

At four o'clock in the morning,after the tiny but kind and efficient(Hindu)Indian nurse that would be my main nurse had left the room,another young pup intern came in.He did the-by now,normal-routine,except for one thing,"Your enzyme levels have come back.They are at totally normal levels(he may have said negative levels or something to that effect).This is strange for someone having just had a heart attack.It could mean that something besides a heart attack is going on with you.This is because if you had had a heart attack,you would still be having elevated enzyme levels."

"So,what does that mean?"


"Well,you may not need a heart catheterization."


"That's good...isn't it?"


"We don't know quite yet.I'll be back with a bunch of people,doctors,pharmacists,nurses.We will all be back with 'The Big Cheese'.He'll make the decision"

"Ok,thanks."


"Good luck."


At seven or so,in walked in Robyn.She had been driven through the rain and fog to see me by Nikolas.Thanks,Nik.It was good to see them both.
Another young doctor-this one female,wearing an old fashioned plain floral granny dress under her smock-entered my dome of personal space.A pretty young gal with a heart warming smile,she looked directly into my eyes(I wondered if they were trained to do that).More of the same- same,questions breathing,pulse taking,etc.


She seconded young pup.

Next,Dr.Haas entered the room.I was comforted by the compassion in his eyes and his friendly demeanor,"I know that they told you about your enzyme levels,but I am fighting for them to still do the heart cath."

"OK."

"You're here,"he smiled,"In my opinion,it is better to know than not to know.I am going to strongly suggest to The Big Cheese to go for that."

I don't know why I said it,"I'm rooting for ya.I hope he goes with your call."

"Good,"he smiled,"See you when the Big Cheese and the crowd makes it's rounds."

[Note:I have condensed these doctor conversations for shortness.Robyn participated in all of these conversations.]

Hurry up and wait.

After a tad,The Big Cheese{so called because I had very limited time with him.This is the one and only time I ever saw him,and I can't recall his name}and his gaggle of disciples entered my domain.

Cheese shook my hand and offered a quick greeting.He did a few compulsory checks(breathing,pushing on my belly,checking my feet),and then told me,"We are going to be giving you a heart catheterization.While we my find nothing,we may find that you might need a stint.Though doubtful-because we can do so many wonders with stints-we may find that you...may..need open heart surgery.Though this is very very doubtful."

The gaggle,half I knew,half I didn't,spoke up some.All over smiled.They all seem so confident.Could it be because they were close to the end of it?
I hoped so.I found myself wishing them all well in my mind.

"We'll get you in as soon as we can,"Big Cheese said.He,again,shook my hand,"Good luck."

My Heart Attack Story Part 6

After a final episode of hurry up and wait,I was finally rolled to my heart catheterization by a nurse that pushed my bed like a grocery cart.The machine looked like something out a sci-fi movie.Six flat screens hooked together showing different charts and images;a thin patted board to lay on(with flip up clear armrests);at the heart of the machine,a big curved arm with an a box attached at the end of it and a shield that looked like a president's reading screen between me and the young thin(Asian) Indian woman doctor.

The nurse and doctors talked amongst themselves(Did you hear the old man is giving up his season tickets to the Buckeye football games?WoW,he's had those what(?)forty years?).

The nurse that rolled me in,administered either the anesthetic or the dye(or both)via the IV port on the top of my left hand.Another doctor,this one a young man shaved me me in the groin along the crease between the torso and leg.The Indian doctor told me that I might feel a little prick,and off we went.

I felt no pain,maybe a little pushing on my belly.The box by my face,but over my chest,was(I supposed) the x-ray machine.It blocked my view of the six Tv screens,so I just kept looking up.Lights were turning off and on,there was humming and clicking noises.I got lost looking up at the ceiling...hmm,that machine arm has a cracked cover.They should be replace that.That ceiling tile's frame is bent.They should fix it.

I felt pressure on my groin,"Are you to my heart,yet?"

"We are almost finished."

"Already?"

"They go quick when there is nothing there.Besides having four arteries instead of five,"began the girl,"You're perfect.No blockages,no injury to the heart,nothing even pinched."

"The four-"

"You have one larger artery that compensates for lacking one,"said the male doc.

"You won't even have to see your heart doctor when you go back home.You're good,"said the girl.

WoW!

WoW!

WoW!

I was wheeled back somewhat better this time my the same nurse(a male nurse had showed her a trick or two with the bed).Robyn was surprised I was awake.She was even more surprised by the great news.

Soon after,they they did an echocardiogram(a heart ultrasound) that seconded the soundness of my ticker.

Surprise(!)-Tyler showed up!

I couldn't believe how this day was turning out.Horror story to miracle story in the blink of an eye.This kind of stuff doesn't even happen in the movies.

To top it off,when Adam called to ask when it was best for him to come up to Columbus,we told him NOT to.I was going home.

Another young,cute doctor(She looked,acted and talked like she was no older that twenty) came in to explain things that went on during the procedure.Another explained what my responsibilities were going to be afterwords(baby aspirin and a cholesterol medicine were Px).Finally,a nurse that looked no older than eighteen(but swore that she had worked there for 'six' years),came in and had me up and walking around the round heart-center floor.

The only snafu was that my departure was delayed an hour because I still had some bleeding at the plug where they had closed my incision.That was Ok with me,bescause I ended up getting a free meal out of the deal.Tyler watched me eat,went off with Nikolas to get something to eat himself,and then took off back to Hocking for a late class(Thanks,Tyler).

Soon,again with Nik driving,we were doing the hour something drive back home.It was warm-summery-and blue skied all the way home.

It was good to be home.If it wasn't for my incision,I was so healthy,I could have went to work the very next day.

You may not believe in miracles...but I sure do.

Busy Couple Of Weeks

It has been a busy couple of weeks.

First,Robyn and I went on another mushroom hunt.Robyn found this double headed morel.

Next,we celebrated Mother's day with all three boys(Adam,Tyler &Nikolas)being home for the first time since January!

Robyn and I went up to Fremont to surprise my dad on his 81st birthday.We joined him and Carl and Tammie  at the Applebee's there.

Happy Eighty~First Birthday,Pops.

Finally,again with Carl & Tammie we went to Indianapolis to The Vogue to see,'Rodrigo Y Gabriela