The heart knows not what it is

[libertango]

(Not an exact quote of Yeats, but hey.)

First up: I'm home, I'm doing well -- just tired occasionally.

Second up: Why that's news. :)

On Tuesday the 24th, at about 4:15pm, I had a mild heart attack.

It didn't seem like that big a deal. I'd been outside doing yard work, decided to come in to rest, and found I couldn't get comfortable because of a pressing sensation right on my sternum.

I called akirlu, and asked her opinion. She said to call the advisory nurse line at Group Health. We had an interview, during which the pressure subsided. The Nurse said I should come in to Urgent Care at either Central, or Eastside -- but if the pressure came back, I should call 9-1-1.

I put the garden tools away, called Ulrika to say I was off to the clinic, called work to say I'd be late at least... when the pressure came back.

So I called 9-1-1, as instructed.

A brief precis would be to say they took me to the local hospital, where everything seemed mostly OK. They'd admitted me with high vitals, but those subsided. I was then taken to Group Health Eastside...

...where, at about 11pm or so, they said the most recent blood tests showed elevated enzyme levels, of the kind your body produces after a heart attack. My EKG had started out mostly normal, but was getting more questionable over time.

I was transported again, this time to Virginia Mason, who have a known track record in this field. On Wednesday afternoon -- since I wasn't reporting any pain -- we did an angiogram, which led immediately to angioplasty, and the insertion of three stents into my left anterior descending branch artery.

What they'd found was my artery had about an 80-90% blockage. There was no tissue damage, though, fortunately. A stent is something of a lattice (think of the old fingercuffs sort of thing) that can be expanded to pump a blocked artery back open.

At this point I'd like to thank Dr Gordon Kritzer, who performed the operation, and his support staff of Anita, Vladimir, and Jim.

There were other things that happened, but the main thing for this account is I was released late Wednesday afternoon, and am now home. With a very happy Ulrika, Sarah, Tinka, et al.

I have a follow-up appointment with my primary doctor for next Thursday, which is when we'll decide when I go back to work. Work has been in the loop all along, and have been very supportive.

At this point I feel mostly OK, as I said. I just get tired a bit easily.

Comments

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

A very happy me too.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

Hal! I'm so glad that went as well as it did. How scary. So glad you're okay.

[bodandra.livejournal.com]

Good for you and the family.
Glad You are doing all right now.

[zannah.livejournal.com]

Wow - I'm glad you are okay!!

[daveon.livejournal.com]

Wow! Sorry to hear that. Get well!

[urlgirl.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a shocker. I'm so glad that it was slow enough to allow you to get and follow the path they gave you, but also that they had time to fix you up. Still... eee! So scary. Feel altogether better very soon!

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

Well, damn. Such excitement you really don't need at all.

Take care, and feel very free to ask for help. If we can think of anything to offer (and have you and Ulrika say, no, no, thanks, we don't need a glockenspiel, thanks very much), we'll offer it.

[cluefairy-j.livejournal.com]

Holy shit.

I'm very happy to hear that you just needed some stents instead of say, bypass surgery. And no tissue damage, that's very fortunate.

Hugs. Thinking of you. Glad you're OK.

[jackwilliambell.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you are OK. Horrified to hear it could have been otherwise.

[holyoutlaw.livejournal.com]

Let me add my voice: Glad to hear everything went as well as it did. Whew!

[intelligentrix.livejournal.com]

COunt me among those glad you're doing better. It sounds as if you had excellent care, and good advice. I hope to see you soon--maybe Vanguard?

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

Yikes!

Yeah, chest pain isn't something to mess around with, really. I'm very glad that it all went well. Fortunately, this is one of the more exact areas of medical science, treating heart attacks.

Now remember to keep moving around and try to stay healthy.

Yikes.

[kyra-ojosverdes.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're okay, and got some good advice on what to do about the feeling of pressure!@\

[genders.livejournal.com]

Just popping in to say whew. Get as much rest as you can, or as they suggest.

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

I am grateful that you made it!

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

You handled it smart (except for putting the garden tools away), and were fortunate in having not significant tissue damage (and health insurance coverage). But geeze, _three_ stents seems dreadfully ostentatious -- they gave me only one. *grumpf*

Now (or soon), most likely, you'll be taking pills several times per day for many decades (we hope, and can reasonably expect). One or more of your Doctors will almost certainly advise you "Pay attention to what your body tells you". Follow that advice.

[samildanach.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're OK.

[love-priestess.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry I missed this. I'm so glad you're doing well though...you're in my thoughts.