Mortality

[Doug627]

I thought I was experiencing acid reflux for the past few weeks. I would take antacids and then sit still and the pain was relieved in several minutes. The pain was getting worse and the antacids weren't helping. I saw my primary care doctor and he prescribed Protonix for the acid reflux. When I left the appointment, my doctor went down the hall to my cardiologist. My cardiologist's assistant called me and scheduled an echocardiogram and stress test for July 2nd. On June 9, I had my second heart attack.

Due to coronavirus, no one could accompany me to the hospital. I sat alone for hours. One nurse spent time with me and discussed some serious issues. Mortality was the central topic. Had a long conversation with God, too. I spent a lot of time watching the monitors. I could see things weren't good.

At about 7:00 AM, a cardiologist came in and said my cardiac enzymes were elevated and were going up. I needed an emergency heart cath to see where the problem was located. I spoke briefly to my wife by phone and then was wheeled into the cath lab. I met the cardiac surgeon and his staff. Everyone was moving fast. I listened as the surgeon gave orders. An artery to the front of the heart (right ventricle) had a 1% opening. He inserted a stent and re-established blood flow. Damage had already been done. The normal extraction factor for the right ventricle is 50-60%. Mine is now 20-25%.

Now here I sit with a LifeVest on. I am in danger of arrhythmias and instantaneous death. The LifeVest should convert arrhythmias or restart my heart by defibrillating me. I need to get the extraction factor above 36% in the next three months or I will have an internal defribrullator implanted.

Am I scared? Hell, yes! So is my wife. If you get a moment, I would appreciate any prayers for a recovery. God Bless you all.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Prayers? Of course! Praying for your speedy and uneventful recovery.

Leon

 

[Jessie]

Doug that is serious news and I am saying a prayer for you and your wife. Modern medicine is amazing and I pray that they produce the "fix" needed.
Hang in there and keep us informed when you can.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Doug, I had my first cancer operation on my 38th birthday in 1991...I know exactly what you're going through.

Do what your doctors tell you...have faith in them and in God. Try not to obsess or worry (easy for me to say, I know, but it really is important to lower your stress) and stay positive.

Please keep us all posted...good luck to you...and prayers for you.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

BEEN THERE

Prayers Joe. Ive been there a few times. Everytime I go they put another Stent in. Just waiting for the other shoe to fall. In the meantime I try and keep busy. Getting in lots of reloading and range time in along with tying flies and other things I enjoy doing. I know the end of the road isnt as far down the road as is once was but I am meeting it head on, as best I can. Hang in ther pard, you can do it. GOD BLESS.

 

[BC38]

A prayer sent for rapid healing and improvement of your ventricular issue, and divine guidance for your doctors as they plot your course of treatment. FWIW, my dad had an internal pacemaker/defibrillator the last 10 years of his life.

It was a Godsend. Before the implant he had a couple of attacks where his heart rate got as high as 295 bpm - for a couple of hours one time as he was life-flighted to the nearest major cardiac hospital. The doctors didn't know how he survived that but he did.

During his last 10 years he had the defibrillator fire off about 3 times. Every time it straightened him right out and put things right. He was able to do pretty much whatever he wanted due to having that unit implanted. The first time it went off he said that he thought it was a sonic boom - because that is what it felt like to him! As an old McDonald Douglas employee working on supersonic fighters (F4 Phantoms) he knew what a sonic boom sounded and felt like.

All that to say, that if you need the unit installed it isn't the end of the world. It can make the difference between being a near invalid afraid to do much and being able to do pretty much whatever you want. Modern medicine is amazing!

Blessings and Godspeed to you.

 

[ladder13]

Not to hijack your thread, I'll make this short. On April 23, alone, in CICU, I faced EOL decisions also. The CICU docs and nurses called me a miracle. I called it God's will. A story for another time.


My heartfelt prayers go out to you, Doug. I wish you a full recovery.

 

[Oracle]

I had my first heart attack at age 50, not fun. My thoughts, good wishes and prayers are with you. God Bless

 

[Rustyt1953]

Earnest prayer going out for you, your wife and the physicians.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Prayer gone up for you, your loved ones, and care givers.
Try and give your worries to God, and let the negative junk roll off your back. Get well soon and keep us posted.

 

[Onomea]

Doug, I send my prayers for your good health.

These near death experiences, for those of us who survive them, can be wake up calls, both for our physical selves, and for our outlook on life. That is to say, these experiences can be a positive thing for us, and for the people we care about. I hope this will prove true in your case.

 

[doublesharp]

Good luck. I has something similar in 2014. 99% blockage in widowmaker. Went from my pcp office to cathlab and was in surgery 45 minutes after ekg. My ejection faction was mid 20s after surgery and improved to 53 w/in 3 months after rehab. Had 5 year tests last summer and doc said I'm low normal ejection faction and everything else is good.

I found the Zoll life vest to be a pain to use and a bit of a scam. Lots of info online about the company and their shady business paractices. Be prepared for collection agency tactics when the bills come in over and above what insurance pays. You were probably told ins will cover cost. They bill over 3k per month for the machine and copay will run 7-800. I returned mine within a month.

Good luck and hit the rehab hard. It's like mine never happened other than take a 20mg simvistatin for life and a lo dose aspirin. I do what I want and exert myself hard when necessary. I did drop 20 lbs in rehab and have kept it off. I watch my diet to a degree but I don't deprive myself. I'd given up smoking and booze nearly 20 years before attack. Doc said mine took a long time to go bad and my heart had developed a secondary system to aid the blocked artery. I lived very hard from age 20 to age 45.

 

[robrossk]

Prayers on the way. Please wear the life vest according to all instructions. Two of my daughters used to fit them on patients just like you. They can be a lifesaver.

 

[carpriver]

prayers sent, work on your stress

 

[Muley Gil]

Prayers sent skyward.

 

[Dougaz]

You are officially added to our prayer list. Hang in their and be well ... You can do this.

 

[Peashooter67]

God bless you according to gods promise and his word to David and his descendants and as a Christian and believer in Christ you are a partake of his promise to David.

Every time you think about it say out loud I'm am getting better and better , healthier and healthier according to gods word and promise to me as an heir of David and a son of Jesus Christ.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tom Beavert]

Prayers sent, stay calm and listen to God.
TB

 

[llowry61]

Prayers are sent. The doctors are amazing today and the technology will make a difference for you. Stay relaxed and let your body heal.

L

 

[robvious]

May the warm embrace of God's love give you comfort...
prayers sent for you and your medical guides through this...