For the morbidly curious...

This is the "before" picture. NOT a happy heart.




This is the after picture. MUCH happier heart, though now a bit "irritable."

The artery is called the "left anterior descending," or LAD. Based on what I've read online, it supplies the largest chamber of the heart with about 78% of its blood. It was 100% blocked. It is not now.

I thank God.

Jiggety Jig!

And the first part of that would be.... "Home again, Home again!"

I'm very happy to say that I have been discharged as of about 3pm today. I have a RAFT of meds now - and, to my chagrin, some will be long-term. I'm just not fond of the idea of long-term meds, but I don't get a vote on this.

I took a GOOD nap after we got home. Best sleep I've gotten in several days, and I didn't even have chemical assistance. We're about to eat - salmon, this time. I'm going to have ISSUES with this low-sodium thing. I've always thought that the quantity of water that I drink on a daily basis (1.5 gallons minimum) would appease the demons of sodium. I have research to do to verify this now! Meanwhile, I guess I'll just become a dietary curmudgeon and complain about everything that WOULD TASTE BETTER with a little salt. And cheese.

I will not be going to church tomorrow - pretty sure I'd be overwhelmed with well-wishers. No medium is adequate to express my appreciation to everyone, and I know that in-person would be best, but I just know that I'd have a BAD day for the rest of the day. Just not ready for the exertion.

I have a road ahead that is more uncertain, yet clearer in the most important ways. Guess what - I STILL need your prayers, for me and for my family. I can hardly wait to hug each of you.

Not bright, just early

Oh, well. They just came in to take my vitals at around 5:30 and now I can't get back to sleep. I think I'm a little nervous about going home - not being monitored like I have been. It is probably "normal" to not trust my heart very much at this point. But I'd REALLY rather be asleep right now. Perhaps in a little while... just laying there awake was making me mad.

For the record, I am not complaining that they check my vitals - it's WAY better than trying to sleep with an automatic cuff on that checks every 30 minutes (or less). I hated that thing.

Friday evening update

I'm happy to say that I had a MUCH better day today. Things in my chest seem to have stabilized. My energy level was much better also, and the fatigue that was hitting me so suddenly yesterday didn't really occur today. For the most part the visitation was lighter today - very few folks until evening. Though that may sound bad, it was really very good. Natalie and I had more time to just talk, and I didn't get overwhelmed by feeling like I had to stay "up" when folks were here.

I have truly appreciated every extension of love, kindness, and support you have shown me and my family. I will likely fail in expressing a personal thanks to every one of you, but I intend to try.

The only "negative" for today actually began last evening - the phlebitis I mentioned in my post this morning. It hasn't really gone down much at all. I have had a few warm compresses on it, which feel GREAT for a moment, but don't give any long-lasting relief. I have been waiting quite a while for an ultrasound assessment of the site - to make sure there is not a clot that could release and go somewhere to cause a problem. I mean, SOMETHING is blocking SOMETHING, and it does NOT feel good. However, if they aren't concerned I guess I shouldn't be either. I have enough chemicals in my system keeping my blood thin that it won't be a problem, I suppose. Hurts, though. Really tender. OK, that's enough complaining from me!

The most amazing thing to me about this hospital is the multi-national work force. I have had folks taking care of me from Nigeria, Kenya, Jamaica, the Philippines, Ghana, oh, and Missouri and Georgia. They've all been terrific.

Current expectations are that I will be discharged tomorrow. I'm REALLY ready to be home.
I wonder if that ultrasound will show up in my room around 1am...

Love to all. Really.

Friday morning update

If they weren't writing the day and date on the wall whiteboard I would be having a very hard time keeping track of what day it is.

I had a good night of rest. I did stay up a little later than I intended because I needed them to move the I.V. "stick" from my left elbow (where it had been since I was admitted on Tuesday) because my upper arm is red, swollen, and very tender. There was some miscommunication so the I.V. nurse did not come right away. Nonetheless, my I.V. is now in my right hand and I'm hoping that the phlebitis (what they called the red, swollen, tenderness in my arm) goes away quickly. It really hurts, even just to straighten my arm.

Natalie and I just went to my first "cardiac class." They explained the process of the blockage formation (not sure that applies to me, I plan to query my doctor very specifically about what they saw in my arteries), what the stent does immediately and over time, and their offerings for ongoing education. I will begin "cardiac rehab" next month so they'll be easing me into an exercise regimen on a monitored basis, which does bring me comfort. I will probably pop for one of those chest heart rate monitors to wear whenever I workout - any recommendations?

I'm looking forward to talking with my doctor when he comes by (soon, I hope). I like the folks here, they've been great (really, great) but I don't want to be here any longer.

More news as it comes... Thank you SO much for your prayers and concern.

Supplemental update (I was tempted to call this "Captain's Log, supplemental")
Perhaps there was a plaque issue after all. I won't be able to ask the doctor who performed the procedure until next week. He is visiting the other hospitals where he also works and has a couple days off. The other doctor who has visited me Wednesday and today said that it likely was a clot that broke off from a plaque deposit.

I'm actually putting this out here now to help force myself to "live in the real world" and not deceive myself for even a moment that I will not have to make SOME "lifestyle changes."

Again, more info as it comes.

Thursday Update

Been an interesting day. Around 10:30 last night I got to move to a "regular" room - no longer in CCU (cardiac care unit, like ICU for cardiac patients - good grief, it's so weird to describe MYSELF with those words!). Thus, late last evening I had the most wonderful experience - I got to take a SHOWER! I slept much better as well - far fewer interruptions (only 2).

Today has been a little different. My arrhythmia has been acting up a bit too much. Probably due to my impatience, wanting to see too many of the visitors that are coming to see us and wish us well. I truly appreciate all the kindnesses that have been shown to me, and to Natalie especially.

I was on a "steady the heartbeat" drip medicine until 10am, and I'm theorizing that my heart is now trying to adjust to maintaining a steady rhythm without the chemical assistance. (this is NOT verified with any medical professional - but I won't let that stop me from theorizing...) I had a rough patch after lunchtime today, but things seem to have settled down in my chest for now. However, I'm not even allowed to get out of bed to pee!!! This is NOT an exciting development. Y'know, it really is the little things that make a difference.

Can somebody bring me a personal pan pepperoni, please? With extra hot peppers sprinkled generously on top? The "cardiac diet" really stinks.

Well, here's a post I never expected to write!

Uh, don't know how else to say it - I had a severe heart attack yesterday!

Yeah, I know!


I was jogging at lunchtime at work. I was about 1.5 miles away from the office and my chest felt like a HEAVY person was standing on it. A few minutes later my left arm felt really strange, right in the crook of my left elbow. Some mild nausea would come and go. I was already sweaty, but it seemed that the level of perspiration was out of proportion with the temp (about 80). Pretty soon I was walking back, but that took a while, as you might expect. At one point I acquiesced to the idea that this may be a heart attack, so I knelt and prayed for Natalie and the girls. I did pause to rest (and steel my will for the rest of the walk) on a bench. All I wanted to do was lie down. Eventually I made my way back to the gym. After a quick trip to the boys room and a QUICK shower I went to my cube and called Natalie, telling of my chest pain. Before I could say, "and I'm about to call for an ambulance," she was saying to call. So I got my first-ever ambulance ride, and am now a hospital patient for the first time since birth!

I had a clot that completely occluded the LAD artery in my heart. The medical nickname for this artery is "The Widowmaker." I have 2 stents in now and my heart has been adjusting to blood flow that it had not been getting. The rhythm has been a bit off due to "reprofusion" - as the muscle gets blood flow again, kinda like when your foot falls asleep. I don't have any significant lifestyle changes to make since this was a clot, rather than a plaque-related blockage.

The medical staff has been great here at Kennestone Hospital. I'm feeling well, but I'm hoping to go home in a couple days. I've had a LOT of folks come by, which means a lot. My bigger concern is for Natalie and the girls, of course.

This has been an absolutely SURREAL experience. Thank you for all the prayers and support. I will try to keep you posted - it's kinda nice to post this from my hospital bed!

God is good! I believe I have been spared for significant reasons. That would be the 3 other folks who live in my house.

Market update

The stock market is STILL not in a healthy place. We are overdue (!) for a 10% correction. In 1997 the needed correction was late, and came in 2 phases - in August and in October. At this point I guess I'm hoping for 1997 redux, because the other option is 1987 redux. Remember October 1987? Biggest single-day drop ever. Significant pain. Difficult to profit from that kind of down move unless you're just lucky. Once that kind of down move starts it is very difficult to get into a trade. The market has gone up nearly nonstop for a year now. One "blip" down in late February and that's it. Again, this is NOT a healthy pattern. Nothing goes up forever! This one won't either. My earlier "predictions" were based on a healthy market behavior pattern - and this market is not doing this. The longer the needed correction is delayed, the harsher the correction will be.

Engage the market with caution! We're not likely to get much warning when the selling begins.

DUDE!

As the father of daughters, there is a "rite of passage" that I will not get to enjoy.

There is a word that guys use, and refer to other guys with, that girls do not use. Further more, there is no female parallel to this word.

DUDE!

Fathers of sons get to teach their boys all the various ways to communicate with this one word.

Think about how many different thoughts can be expressed with that one word, simply by changing the inflection. Greeting, amazement, disgust, regret, disbelief, congratulations, excitement... I could go on and on.

But there is no suitable parallel for girls. "Chick" sure isn't it. Babe? Doll? "Sugah"? You gotta be kidding me.

I guess the Lord decided otherwise for me...