Dicky Ticker - a cautionary tale
Discussion
Although I was never sporty as a lad or much given to exercise since, I have always been active. When I retired from mostly sedentary jobs, I looked forward to working on the cars, house and garden. Last year at the age of 68 I laid the slab for a new summer house in one day including carting the sand from the front of the house to the back garden in an ill-considered efficiency drive. Even so, I didn't suffer from doing it. I thought I was fine. In March of this year, I dropped my late life crisis car at the paint shop and walked home. It's a bit over a mile. An unusual pain in my neck made me stop and rest for a few moments. The self-conscious part of me insisted I look at my phone rather than just stop. Vanity, I tell ya. Pain isn't quite the right word. It was uncomfortable to the point where I could sense it was going to be painful if I carried on. The discomfort subsided after a minute or so and I carried on. On the way I had to stop again. This time the discomfort was neck, chest and upper arms. It subsided. At home I had a cup of tea and forgot about it.
A few days later I walked round to pick up the car and had to stop every two or three hundred yards. Heart attack did cross my mind but my brother in law, describing his heart attack, said it was the most painful thing he had ever experienced. What I was having wasn't anything like that. This is key to what I'm trying to convey in this post. What I was having wasn't painful, it was sufficiently uncomfortable to make me rest until it went away. It also made me think I should seek advice.
That was Thursday afternoon. On Friday morning at nine I rang the GP Surgery to ask for an appointment. I described my symptoms and imagined I'd get an appointment around Bonfire Night. Instead, I was in at 10.20 with a nurse having an ECG and my blood pressure taken. At 10.30 I was in the with doc. He diagnosed angina. I came away with a prescription for a carrier bag full of drugs and appointments for a blood test, an x-ray and a visit to see a cardiologist in the Royal Berks in Reading, all within a week. The cardiologist agreed the angina diagnosis, added another drug to my prescription and made an appointment for me have an angiogram.
The cardiologist who was to conduct the angiogram asked me about my symptoms and I told him as honestly as I could. Enough of the symptoms were under control - because of the drugs and my new found ability to avoid things that caused discomfort - he doubted it was angina at all. Luckily, the angiogram went ahead. I could sense his change of mind as he investigated. The procedure was over much quicker than I imagined it would be. "Right," he said. "You'll be going into St Bart's for heart bypass surgery. There is a meeting on Monday with the Consultants and Surgeons to set priorities and there won't be one dissenting voice. Have the operation. We may get you another ten or twenty years." I came away with an appointment to see a heart surgeon.
On Monday of last week I went to see the heart surgeon. He showed me the angiogram. Where I thought it would a succession of still images, it was a video of the x-ray in motion (like the Clarks live x-ray shoe fitting machines sixty years ago that quickly fell into disrepute). It was fascinating. He showed me two major arteries that feed blood to my heart for it work. One wasn't working at all and the other was severely restricted. Blimey. That's why I could do a bit but came to a stop fairly abruptly.
The average wait time for heart surgery at present is eighteen weeks. He said they would get me in within a month. I asked if it was the heart bypass surgery his colleague had spoken about. Yes, but not one, at least four. I'd never heard of a quadruple heart bypass. Quintuple? Sextuple? Seriously? His prognosis halved that of the cardiologist. We'll try and get you another ten years.
Now, a week later, I can one job a day. I can drive to the shops or I can take the bins out. The post box is slightly uphill so that's out. The deterioration has been extraordinary. It's not all bad, though. I am becoming something of an expert on vintage TV crime drama.
The heart surgeon's parting shot was, "If you get bad pains, come straight here. Don't go to A&E, come straight to Cardiac. Tell them I said so."
Neither the GP, the cardiologists or the heart surgeon mentioned diet or lifestyle. It's just one of those things and I'm lucky enough to live in a country with a superb health service during an era of survivable heart surgery. A week in hospital and twelve weeks rehabilitation then back gardening and DIY-ing. Or not.
The message? Take note of what your body is trying to tell you. No one has said so, but I think I came within a hair's breadth of a heart attack. Only my self-taught discomfort avoidance techniques saved me. If I'd toughed it out I would have been in real trouble. Sobering stuff. I'm a lucky chap.
A few days later I walked round to pick up the car and had to stop every two or three hundred yards. Heart attack did cross my mind but my brother in law, describing his heart attack, said it was the most painful thing he had ever experienced. What I was having wasn't anything like that. This is key to what I'm trying to convey in this post. What I was having wasn't painful, it was sufficiently uncomfortable to make me rest until it went away. It also made me think I should seek advice.
That was Thursday afternoon. On Friday morning at nine I rang the GP Surgery to ask for an appointment. I described my symptoms and imagined I'd get an appointment around Bonfire Night. Instead, I was in at 10.20 with a nurse having an ECG and my blood pressure taken. At 10.30 I was in the with doc. He diagnosed angina. I came away with a prescription for a carrier bag full of drugs and appointments for a blood test, an x-ray and a visit to see a cardiologist in the Royal Berks in Reading, all within a week. The cardiologist agreed the angina diagnosis, added another drug to my prescription and made an appointment for me have an angiogram.
The cardiologist who was to conduct the angiogram asked me about my symptoms and I told him as honestly as I could. Enough of the symptoms were under control - because of the drugs and my new found ability to avoid things that caused discomfort - he doubted it was angina at all. Luckily, the angiogram went ahead. I could sense his change of mind as he investigated. The procedure was over much quicker than I imagined it would be. "Right," he said. "You'll be going into St Bart's for heart bypass surgery. There is a meeting on Monday with the Consultants and Surgeons to set priorities and there won't be one dissenting voice. Have the operation. We may get you another ten or twenty years." I came away with an appointment to see a heart surgeon.
On Monday of last week I went to see the heart surgeon. He showed me the angiogram. Where I thought it would a succession of still images, it was a video of the x-ray in motion (like the Clarks live x-ray shoe fitting machines sixty years ago that quickly fell into disrepute). It was fascinating. He showed me two major arteries that feed blood to my heart for it work. One wasn't working at all and the other was severely restricted. Blimey. That's why I could do a bit but came to a stop fairly abruptly.
The average wait time for heart surgery at present is eighteen weeks. He said they would get me in within a month. I asked if it was the heart bypass surgery his colleague had spoken about. Yes, but not one, at least four. I'd never heard of a quadruple heart bypass. Quintuple? Sextuple? Seriously? His prognosis halved that of the cardiologist. We'll try and get you another ten years.
Now, a week later, I can one job a day. I can drive to the shops or I can take the bins out. The post box is slightly uphill so that's out. The deterioration has been extraordinary. It's not all bad, though. I am becoming something of an expert on vintage TV crime drama.
The heart surgeon's parting shot was, "If you get bad pains, come straight here. Don't go to A&E, come straight to Cardiac. Tell them I said so."
Neither the GP, the cardiologists or the heart surgeon mentioned diet or lifestyle. It's just one of those things and I'm lucky enough to live in a country with a superb health service during an era of survivable heart surgery. A week in hospital and twelve weeks rehabilitation then back gardening and DIY-ing. Or not.
The message? Take note of what your body is trying to tell you. No one has said so, but I think I came within a hair's breadth of a heart attack. Only my self-taught discomfort avoidance techniques saved me. If I'd toughed it out I would have been in real trouble. Sobering stuff. I'm a lucky chap.
I had a triple about 12 years ago.
Still here.
You'll get a decent scar on your chest and one the entire length of your leg, 3 - 4 days ICU, a few days on the wards then home.
Take it easy for a while then walk and walk and walk. A bit further each day.
You'll get a few tablets too - keep taking them.
All the best.
Still here.
You'll get a decent scar on your chest and one the entire length of your leg, 3 - 4 days ICU, a few days on the wards then home.
Take it easy for a while then walk and walk and walk. A bit further each day.
You'll get a few tablets too - keep taking them.
All the best.
55palfers said:
You'll get a decent scar on your chest and one the entire length of your leg, 3 - 4 days ICU, a few days on the wards then home.
.
I worked with a chap who had been in for a rebore; he called it the 'zipper club' and was very keen on showing people his scar. Didn't stop him eating fry-ups and bacon rolls for breakfast though. Hope it all goes well DC..
Similar story to my wife in her early 50s. We were on holiday in Spain and cycling back from the beach she had some discomfort and had to keep stopping for a rest. Brushed it off until the next day but woke up with mild chest pains and feeling nauseous so asked me to take her to the local hospital when I found it on Google maps! Never even considered this could be a heart attack. Went into A&E waited about 10 mins for triage, ECG etc. next a wheelchair arrives and she's taken upstairs straight for surgery and three stents fitted that afternoon. Discharged two days later and carried on with the holiday as if nothing had happened. The 'souvenir' DVD of the procedure and stent fitting through the wrist tells another story.
Can't knock the Spanish medical services all covered on the EHICS card, albeit I did have very comprehensive medical insurance though work at the time.
Can't knock the Spanish medical services all covered on the EHICS card, albeit I did have very comprehensive medical insurance though work at the time.
hidetheelephants said:
I worked with a chap who had been in for a rebore; he called it the 'zipper club' and was very keen on showing people his scar. Didn't stop him eating fry-ups and bacon rolls for breakfast though. Hope it all goes well DC.
Thanks, hte. The options as explained to me before the angiogram were, carry on with the drugs for life, stents, or heart surgery with stents being the most likely. To come away with the promise of urgent surgery for at least a quadruple bypass operation was a bit of a surprise. Armitage.Shanks said:
Similar story to my wife in her early 50s. We were on holiday in Spain and cycling back from the beach she had some discomfort and had to keep stopping for a rest. Brushed it off until the next day but woke up with mild chest pains and feeling nauseous so asked me to take her to the local hospital when I found it on Google maps! Never even considered this could be a heart attack. Went into A&E waited about 10 mins for triage, ECG etc. next a wheelchair arrives and she's taken upstairs straight for surgery and three stents fitted that afternoon. Discharged two days later and carried on with the holiday as if nothing had happened. The 'souvenir' DVD of the procedure and stent fitting through the wrist tells another story.
Can't knock the Spanish medical services all covered on the EHICS card, albeit I did have very comprehensive medical insurance though work at the time.
Thats amazing, my wife would drag herself and adrip onto any balcony straight after surgery so as not to miss any tanning opportunities !Can't knock the Spanish medical services all covered on the EHICS card, albeit I did have very comprehensive medical insurance though work at the time.
Girl who comes into my local, I hadnt expected to see her as she had very clearly said she was going into have her Gall Bladder removed, but there she was, sat with a fag and a glass of wine, cant remember if it was straight after getting home or the following day, but it wasnt very long
Mr Magooagain said:
Dicky,how is your blood pressure during this waiting period?
I'm due to have a few heart tests due to the newly acquired diabetes.
All the very best with it old chap.
Monsieur Magoo Encore! Comment ça va?I'm due to have a few heart tests due to the newly acquired diabetes.
All the very best with it old chap.
The drugs have everything under control after various medical professionals tweaked types and doses. I feel lightheaded fairly often, but if I check my blood pressure, it's fine. The speed this has all happened was the eye opener for me. Active pensioner one day, virtual invalid the next. I'm pinning a lot on the operation, I have to say.
Best of luck with your travails.
dirky dirk said:
my FIL jsut had a qunituple, about four years ago,
his leg scars are making walking very hard for him they are quite tight
That's not good news. The heart surgeon said part of the rehabilitation is walking, building up to and then maintaining a mile and a half a day. Doing that if it's painful won't be much fun.his leg scars are making walking very hard for him they are quite tight
DickyC said:
dirky dirk said:
my FIL jsut had a qunituple, about four years ago,
his leg scars are making walking very hard for him they are quite tight
That's not good news. The heart surgeon said part of the rehabilitation is walking, building up to and then maintaining a mile and a half a day. Doing that if it's painful won't be much fun.his leg scars are making walking very hard for him they are quite tight
DickyC said:
Mr Magooagain said:
Dicky,how is your blood pressure during this waiting period?
I'm due to have a few heart tests due to the newly acquired diabetes.
All the very best with it old chap.
Monsieur Magoo Encore! Comment ça va?I'm due to have a few heart tests due to the newly acquired diabetes.
All the very best with it old chap.
The drugs have everything under control after various medical professionals tweaked types and doses. I feel lightheaded fairly often, but if I check my blood pressure, it's fine. The speed this has all happened was the eye opener for me. Active pensioner one day, virtual invalid the next. I'm pinning a lot on the operation, I have to say.
Best of luck with your travails.
I'm still very active but I'm aware it could all change extremely quick.
I'm sure your bypass will be the start of a new positive start to going forward mate.
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