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

[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.