Mensa
Non Compos Mentis
- Joined
- May 25, 2000
- Posts
- 4,107
I want to thank all the very good people of Lit who wished me well as I descended into the realm of Modern Medicine. I will eventually get around to thanking each one personally but that will have to wait until I have more energy. Something Modern Medicine seems to suck right out of you.
My recent misadventures began on April 10, two days prior to my appointment with the surgeon's table. I had been feeling fine up to that point but now something was dragging me down. I didn't know what and wasn't too worried because on the 12th everything would be set right and it would be over and done with. A mere reminiscence with which to entertain others at parties and family gatherings. I saw my Heart Specialist on the 11th and we were good to go.
I arrived at the Toronto hospital and went through all the admission procedures. Surgery at noon. Surgeon would see me just prior to doing it to allay any fears I might have. Did I want a sedative to relax me? No! Okay. They wheel me in and get everything set up. Doctor informs me that he does something like 4,000 of these every year. Well, at least he isn't a rookie. They inject local freezing, must have hit a nerve because I flinch, call for more freezing. Can't feel a thing. They cut open the main artery at the top of the leg. Still feel nothing. They insert the shunt and begin feeding in the wire. I can hear my heart beat on the monitors. Beep..beep..beep..beep. Then I feel a little peculiar, don't know what's causing it but heart rate has changed. Beep....beep....beep.....beep. Now I feel like I'm starting to float away. Beep.........beep.............beep................beep. I hear surgeon telling his assistant that he needs an intravenous, FAST!! They have a little trouble getting one with proper connection, locate one, and put it on Surgeon is now calling out my name asking if I feel alright, am I okay? Yes. Next I hear him berating his poor assistant with how they need to be better organized because he never wants to go through an episode like that again. I watch entire operation on monitors. Fascinating stuff.
Two hours in recovery. Can't move, must stay still, don't raise head or arms, don't move leg. They put mediaeval-looking clamp on shunt awaiting removal of wire which is still inside. Moved to room for night. Release to come in morning. Surgeon comes in with the news. They performed angiogram but can't do angioplasty. Scar tissue formed in place where it makes it impossible. Right at base of vein off main artery. Anyplace else and it's a go but not there. Sorry! Will consult with colleagues as to what options are still open. Will get in touch. Released and home by noon Saturday 13. Rough trip home.
Have lunch and then lay down to rest. Log on to Lit but don't feel up to posting, so shut down and try to sleep. About 2:00 pm the pain starts, sharp stabbing pain in left breast area. Try to ignore it but as afternoon wears on , it increases. By 6:00 pm it is unendurable, feels just like original heart attack only just on left side not all over. Get nitro-glycerine spray and spray under tongue, wait five minutes, repeat, do it a third time, still no relief. Off to Emergency again.This is getting monotonous. They try ECG but no indication of heart trouble this time. Pain increasing. X-Rays. Can't locate source of discomfort. Administer Percoset. WOW!! Feel like the top of my head just blew off, whole room is swimming. Transfer me via ambulance to Metropolitan hospital of my Heart Specialist. I've now come full circle, right back into CCU with all the monitors and wires and being confined to bed.
They give me full dose of Metoprolol and settle me away for the night. About 1:30 am the monitors indicate something is wrong, the heart rate is dropping, rapidly, it's shutting down. I am suddenly aware of a very bright light and a room full of people calling out my name and asking if I'm still with them. I must be because I answer, I am not aware of the gravity of the situation, I just want to go back to sleep. They drag me back. Next night, Head nurse asks if I remember what happened, I tell her no, not really. She says I gave them all a good scare and that I was a very interesting patient but that it didn't pay to be interesting in a hospital. I'm kept until April 16th. They performed a battery of various tests but can't say conclusively what caused any of it. They even ask Toronto to fax all they have. By now I'm feeling better so I ask to go home again. They agree but give me a whole slew of further medications to complicate my life (I swear doctors and pharmacists are in collusion)
Today I get another phone call from Toronto, they want me back on 24th. Nuclear Medicine. Seems they have this test wherein they inject a chemical which can tell if there is any part of the scar tissue area that is salvageable and if there is, they want to try and rescue as much as they can. I'm surprised, I thought this was the end of the line but I guess they feel that they better try something before it really is game over.
So, that's where it stands today and I'll just have to wait to see what tomorrow brings. I just want to thank all who kept me in their thoughts, it seems you had an effect and I do so greatly appreciate it. I will eventually get to each and every one of you with a personal thank you, but for now let this blanket one suffice.
Thank you, people, thank you one and all.
My recent misadventures began on April 10, two days prior to my appointment with the surgeon's table. I had been feeling fine up to that point but now something was dragging me down. I didn't know what and wasn't too worried because on the 12th everything would be set right and it would be over and done with. A mere reminiscence with which to entertain others at parties and family gatherings. I saw my Heart Specialist on the 11th and we were good to go.
I arrived at the Toronto hospital and went through all the admission procedures. Surgery at noon. Surgeon would see me just prior to doing it to allay any fears I might have. Did I want a sedative to relax me? No! Okay. They wheel me in and get everything set up. Doctor informs me that he does something like 4,000 of these every year. Well, at least he isn't a rookie. They inject local freezing, must have hit a nerve because I flinch, call for more freezing. Can't feel a thing. They cut open the main artery at the top of the leg. Still feel nothing. They insert the shunt and begin feeding in the wire. I can hear my heart beat on the monitors. Beep..beep..beep..beep. Then I feel a little peculiar, don't know what's causing it but heart rate has changed. Beep....beep....beep.....beep. Now I feel like I'm starting to float away. Beep.........beep.............beep................beep. I hear surgeon telling his assistant that he needs an intravenous, FAST!! They have a little trouble getting one with proper connection, locate one, and put it on Surgeon is now calling out my name asking if I feel alright, am I okay? Yes. Next I hear him berating his poor assistant with how they need to be better organized because he never wants to go through an episode like that again. I watch entire operation on monitors. Fascinating stuff.
Two hours in recovery. Can't move, must stay still, don't raise head or arms, don't move leg. They put mediaeval-looking clamp on shunt awaiting removal of wire which is still inside. Moved to room for night. Release to come in morning. Surgeon comes in with the news. They performed angiogram but can't do angioplasty. Scar tissue formed in place where it makes it impossible. Right at base of vein off main artery. Anyplace else and it's a go but not there. Sorry! Will consult with colleagues as to what options are still open. Will get in touch. Released and home by noon Saturday 13. Rough trip home.
Have lunch and then lay down to rest. Log on to Lit but don't feel up to posting, so shut down and try to sleep. About 2:00 pm the pain starts, sharp stabbing pain in left breast area. Try to ignore it but as afternoon wears on , it increases. By 6:00 pm it is unendurable, feels just like original heart attack only just on left side not all over. Get nitro-glycerine spray and spray under tongue, wait five minutes, repeat, do it a third time, still no relief. Off to Emergency again.This is getting monotonous. They try ECG but no indication of heart trouble this time. Pain increasing. X-Rays. Can't locate source of discomfort. Administer Percoset. WOW!! Feel like the top of my head just blew off, whole room is swimming. Transfer me via ambulance to Metropolitan hospital of my Heart Specialist. I've now come full circle, right back into CCU with all the monitors and wires and being confined to bed.
They give me full dose of Metoprolol and settle me away for the night. About 1:30 am the monitors indicate something is wrong, the heart rate is dropping, rapidly, it's shutting down. I am suddenly aware of a very bright light and a room full of people calling out my name and asking if I'm still with them. I must be because I answer, I am not aware of the gravity of the situation, I just want to go back to sleep. They drag me back. Next night, Head nurse asks if I remember what happened, I tell her no, not really. She says I gave them all a good scare and that I was a very interesting patient but that it didn't pay to be interesting in a hospital. I'm kept until April 16th. They performed a battery of various tests but can't say conclusively what caused any of it. They even ask Toronto to fax all they have. By now I'm feeling better so I ask to go home again. They agree but give me a whole slew of further medications to complicate my life (I swear doctors and pharmacists are in collusion)
Today I get another phone call from Toronto, they want me back on 24th. Nuclear Medicine. Seems they have this test wherein they inject a chemical which can tell if there is any part of the scar tissue area that is salvageable and if there is, they want to try and rescue as much as they can. I'm surprised, I thought this was the end of the line but I guess they feel that they better try something before it really is game over.
So, that's where it stands today and I'll just have to wait to see what tomorrow brings. I just want to thank all who kept me in their thoughts, it seems you had an effect and I do so greatly appreciate it. I will eventually get to each and every one of you with a personal thank you, but for now let this blanket one suffice.
Thank you, people, thank you one and all.
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