Re: Heart check-up

[Des]

I went to my heart specialist yesterday for my annual check-up, I had a severe heart attack back in 1997 and had to undergo open heart surgery where they performed six by-passes, since then I have been having regular "servicings".  Yesterdays results showed an excellent blood pressure, perfect heart beat, clear lungs and a very good ECG, the doctor said that if I keep doing what it is I'm doing he will be seeing me for at least another ten years, it was a very pleasing result.

Des.

[lawman56]

Thanks for all the words of support and comfort.  I am just about over the worst of the flu now, it ran it's normal course of seven days and with the help of antibiotics did not turn into anything real nasty.

I went to my heart specialist yesterday for my annual check-up, I had a severe heart attack back in 1997 and had to undergo open heart surgery where they performed six by-passes, since then I have been having regular "servicings".  Yesterdays results showed an excellent blood pressure, perfect heart beat, clear lungs and a very good ECG, the doctor said that if I keep doing what it is I'm doing he will be seeing me for at least another ten years, it was a very pleasing result.

Des.

Happy to hear that! Monday I go for my 90 day post by-pass check up. So far I've been doing better than I expected. Hopefully we can pin down which meds are causing my fingers to swell so I can get back to gluing them together! 

[Des]

It took about twelve months of mucking around with the meds before a happy medium was reached, I have now been on the same meds for 15 years with absolutely no side effects, and the doctor said yesterday to keep everything the same. I'm sure they will have you sorted out soon then your life will continue as normal.

Des.

[Des]

Joe, did you have a heart attack before the surgery or were you suffering from angina?

Des.

[Ernie]

Des, I'm so happy that all is well in the ticker dept.  Keep doing what you're
doing...all this model building must be good for you.
  I've had a bit of angina, but thankfully nothing too earth-shattering.  Once
again, my best to you...Joe as well...sorry, Joe, you're not forgotten!

Cheers,
Ernie

[lawman56]

Des, I had a heart attack in 2004 at the age of 36. Which is really baffling, since there's no history of heart problems in my family, not to mention, I was the active one. Hunting, fishing and hiking in my youth. 9 years in the Army, etc...

They did angioplasty and inserted a cardio stent. Then in 2007, the stent failed, so another stent was inserted. 2009, stent failed again. 3 more were inserted. Then, back in May I started feeeling the familiar tightness associated with blockage. After 5 stents, I knew what it was, so went in to get checked, and the doc gave me two choices. 2 more stents, which MAY last 3-5 years, or cardiac arterial by-pass graft, (aka: CABG), and at a minimum of 10 years with no issues, potentially for life. Guess what I chose?

The irony is that I'm 46 and in reasonably good health, so I'm a prime candidate for surgery. Yet, I have no clue as to why it happened in the first place. Since the surgery, we've had to start over with a lot of my meds, doing the minor tweaks and such to get it right. Plus I take meds for PTSD, so they have to work together. Right now the only bad issue, besides the constant trips to the doc, is the aforementioned swelling of my fingers and loss of finer dexterity. I'm sure that will be sorted out once my meds are right.

Plus my young grandsons think my scar is cool, so I have to let them see it every time they visit!

[Des]

Sounds as if you have been through the wars with your heart problems Joe, hopefully all will be well soon.

My heart attack in 1997 (47 years of age) came on very suddenly, it was a very severe attack and caused a lot of damage to my heart. I had to spend 10 days in intensive care before before they could move me to the heart hospital in Sydney, then I spent another ten days in intensive care to allow time for the swelling around my heart to subside before they could operate. My heart is good now but is running on limited power as some muscles were damaged beyond repair, healthy living and light exercise will keep me going for a long time yet, and making models, lots of models. 

Des.

[lawman56]

 I was fortunate, as I have no damage to my heart. I actually had my heart attack while in the hospital under observation for chest pain. Can't ask for better timing! I'm pretty lucky, considering all I've been through. Between the military and just plain testosterone fueled stupidity, I'm amazed I'm still here!

[drdave]

Luck can be very important.
 One of my colleagues retired last year. Ho got a twinge walking to the restaurant for his retirement bash. He got to the restaurant and sat down talking to friends, when the grey mist came down and he arrested.
Luckily he was surrounded by fellow doctors, another diner had an O2 cylinder in the car, and the paramedics were in the next street.
He had his stents in within half an hour and was sat up waiting to go home next day.

[Ernie]

Talk about the right place at the right time.  Glad your friend is ok, Dave.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Chris Johnson]

Good to hear that your heart checkup went well Des!

Best wishes Joe that your fingers will be back to normal soon.

I'll take my chronically bad back over what you two have gone through any day of the week.

Cheers,

Chris

[lawman56]

For those who may want to know,

Had my 90 day check up this past Monday, with good results. My heart is fine and the doc adjusted some of my medication doses to see how that helps my hands. I've been doing a little work on my M7 Priest, (soon, Chris, soon  ), mostly because almost all of the finer detail work is done on the vehicle and I can start to weather and add equipment to it. I'm slowly working on the crew, since they require a little more finesse. One thing I've already noticed is the more I work my fingers, the more limber they become, I'm hoping to be nimble enough soon to work on the Alby soon. Meanwhile I also finished my diorama base for my Mk. IXc Spitfire in the markings of George Beurling, the "Falcon Of Malta". Once my hands co-operate, I'll be fashioning a new radio mast and adding an IFF antenna.

One thing the doc did tell me was that although my overall cholesterol is good, my triglycerides are high. So in two weeks I have to get blood drawn again to narrow it down. He seems to think this may be reason I've been having heart issues at a young age with no family history.

Des, did they figure out what caused your heart attack originally, or was it an oddity, like mine?

[Des]

Nice to hear you had good results from your check-up Joe, it will be great once they sort out your meds and your body settles back down again, modeling is really good therapy 

My heart attack came out of the blue, no family history, no history on my part, no pre warning, I was very fit and healthy at the time, working full time, raising a young family, everything appeared "normal".  I tell you what though, when it happens it hits like a ton of bricks.

Des.

[lawman56]

Kinda makes you realize what's really important in life, doesn't it?

Mine came out of the blue as well. I make it a point, now, to tell anyone that wants to know, you're never too young, too fit, too busy, too healthy, etc... to ignore anything to do with your heart.

[Des]

I used to play competition tennis and one particular guy I used to play against was one of the healthiest players around, he never smoked or drank, was super fit but dropped dead of a heart attack at age 29, you just never know. Since my heart attack and surgery back in '97 I have lived each day as a real bonus.

Des.