Well, I'm at that age...

[rrich]

Saturday I had a heart attack. It's not that big of a deal.

WHAT???

Let me give the details and yes it was VERY SERIOUS.

Saturday about 2:20 it hit while I was in the shop. A HUGE pain in my chest. I rolled averything back into the shop and by 2:35 LOML was driving me to the ER. After a quick EKG I was in the ER by 3:10 with them planning to admit me. By about 8:00 I had already seen three cardiologists and the plans were in place to move me to another hospital a few blocks away. (Lakeview doesn't have the facility, yet, to insert stents.) Monday morning I had a stent inserted. This afternoon I came home with a bunch of pills and a very sore right leg. (They went into the leg, did an angigram and inserted the stent.)

The reason that it is not a big deal is that there was almost no damage to the heart. The big reason that there was no damage was because I went to the ER immediately. I was on drugs in less than an hour of the event starting.

The screaming message here is, If you are experiencing severe chest pains get to the ER immediately. (I should have called 9-1-1 rather than let LOML drive.)

For those of you that are technically minded, my blood tests for Toponin at 3:15, 10:00 and 4:00 showed levels of 0.0, 0.39 and 0.18. Had I waited a day or two, those levels could have been 30+. Toponin is an enzyme that is given off by dying heart cells.

Two different cardiologists asked why I came to the ER so quickly. I explained that my rules are chest pains or a peak flow (Atshma) of less than 450 means a trip to the ER. Both said good but next time use 9-1-1.

The third cardiologist spent about 20 minutes teaching me how to read an EKG print out. Really cool! My problem was an S-T wave form transistion of non zero. Then he asked me what I did for a living. When I said a retired network engineer, he exclaimed, "I knew it! I knew it! I can always spot an engineer." I got a good laugh from that.

The amazing thing about this experience has been money. Until we picked up the drugs at the phamacy on the way home, NOTHING has been said about money. No ER co-pay, no hospital co-pay, etc. I'm sure that we'll get a bill in the mail for the charges but the whole emphasis during the last three days has been my health and recovery. I'm guessing that the bill will be less than a grand. I think that the co-pay for the hospital is $300 per day. (It could be just a hundred but I can't remember. The difference is not significant.)

Guys --- Let me repeat the screaming message...

If you are expereincing chest pains call 9-1-1 !

[maxwell_smart007]

Wow, Rich, that brought chills to my spine just reading it! I'm glad you're ok, and hope your recovery's quick!

[AZ Scott]

Wow Rich, sorry you had the attack but very glad you paid attention and results were as good as could be expected.
Please do follow up & do what you need to so you'll be around for a long time to come!
Aside from the obvious stuff, on a selfish note - I like having you around & want to keep it that way! ;)

[CajunRider]

I'm glad you are OK and are recovering well.

Message on 911 received.

[Monty]

Rich,
Glad your OK and all is working out well for you.

Monty

[http://woodenwonderstx.com/]
If a tree falls in the forest and no one's around to hear it, who cuts it up for lumber?

[Sonny Edmonds]

Damn, Rich!
Damn! Damn! Damn! :o
Yeah, and next time don't wait to roll the stuff back into the shop, either. Call a neighbor or something.
Next time they may be scraping you up off of your ______ you were rolling back in.
Glad to hear you got your tail right into the ER. Very wise move there. But yeah, do call the Paramedics! They are there for you and have the right stuff to transport you to better help than the LOYL and your car.
Imagine her trama if you'd gone into full arrest on the way, my Friend.
Better to let the pro's help you.
Do follow your Doctor's advices from here on out feller. This may have been a "shot over the bow" to you. Scary!
Take care! :o

:D

[link:home.att.net/~paul.edmonds/|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
In God We Trust !
[link:http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_i...eYjlNS6H8ZTx5X | "Lurkimus turdius orifus"]

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[KJGLitz]

" "

Soooo, what age are you Rich?? I'll be 55 in a few mths and fortunately haven't gone thru that episode yet. However, I think about it when I'm dippin the lobster in all that drawn melted butter!!

Glad your ok.

Ken

[Postman]

Glad that you are okay Rich. Sorry to hear about it.

Take care.

[TDHofstetter]

Chowderhounds, Rich - that was a shocker, & a spooky one at that. Ya did everything right (except I'll echo the message back to YOU that when you're in a spot like that... let LOYL or a neighbor get your equipment put away while the ambulance hauls your butt to the sawbones. OK, so LOYL would have been shocky & fretful... but it gives 'em something to do while you're waiting for the gumball wagon, right?

Good ya came out of it so well this time. It's sad that a lot of people DON'T come out of it that well because they're stubborn or ignorant of the facts.

-- Tim --

Belief that anarchy leads to chaos
implies that the believer would be chaotic
without supervision.

[Cody Colston]

You sure know how to drop a bomb on us! Saturday I had a heart attack. That even READS nonchalantly!

I'm glad you recovered ok although having a stent inserted is a big deal, to me. So, let me guess. They've got you on aspirin and possibly Coumadin, you are scheduled to see a dietician and you now have a regular Cardiologist who will likely work you out on a treadmill once a year.

Small price to pay for what should be many more years of productive life. Again, glad you are doing okay.

Cody
Tyler, TX

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that which he cannot lose.