Heart Trauma Recovery

[olbriar]

I had company early evening and missed my opportunity to prepare dinner. I ran to McDonalds and slammed a couple of cheeseburgers and fries. A little before midnight I thought I had indigestion. I wouldn't call it pain but definite discomfort. I tried going to sleep but the discomfort continued. I got up and logged back into AF. I started pacing the floor trying to purge what I thought was gas. I woke the wife up a bit before 5 Am and told her I needed to go to ER... something wasn't right. Late in my discomfort I felt pain in my left shoulder but not before. The ER immediately transported me to the recommended heart trauma hospital. I was immediately taken upstairs, stripped, and operated on. My heart would likely not be so beat up if I had seen about the discomfort earlier. As is, I was lucky to be saved and hope nobody ignores the signs of an attack.

In my defense for being so tardy in seeking treatment, I have never been one to be sensitive to pain. It's not that I'm Mr. macho, I just don't feel pain like most or something. I've dealt with a lot of physical trauma to my body through the years and it just wasn't a biggie at all. Couple that with the fact that I've never been ill and just didn't have a clue that I was ill, I ignored the signs that were there. I'm sure there are other people in the same boat. If you don't feel right... seek professional help!

 

[AugieTN]

Sorry to hear that @olbriar Did they put in another stent?

 

[olbriar]

Sorry to hear that @olbriar Did they put in another stent?

The above was to elaborate on how my particular attack went down Augie. Fortunately it's the only trauma I've suffered so far. It was posted to help support @ozonetrooper warning to seek help if you question a heart trauma symptom of any sort.

 

[olbriar]

Early tomorrow I get my first real heart test since I was released from the hospital. I have had a series of blood labs but tomorrow they are specifically looking at my heart's ejection fraction. It was only at 25% when I was released which is barely living. Normal ejection is 50-70% and is a measurement as to the amount of blood in the heart being ejected out of the left ventricle where I had total blockage. It's likely too much to hope for but I'm hoping they see a vast improvement. I'll be happy if my heart is accomplishing 40%. I'm really hoping I show enough improvement to get out of this dang de-fib vest. I absolutely hate this vest. I will not know the results until the 12th.

 

[ocnbrze]

sorry i am late to respond, been meaning to, but keep forgetting.

i am glad to here that you survived the attack. thankfully heart disease does not run in my family. but that does not mean that i can relax. high blood pressure is a family trait so i have to watch for that. when i got diagnosed for type 2 diabetes, it was also found that my blood pressure was pretty high as well. i am taking medicine to lower my cholesterol which so far has lowered my blood pressure a bit. my doc has not mentioned lowering my salt intake yet, but i have been trying to intake less when i can.

the elliptical has been a great source of exercise for me. but i was told the doing wall sits are great for lowering blood pressure. wall sits is an isometric exercise where there is no joint movement. the main goal of isometric exercises is to keep tension on the muscle for as long as possible.

here is the article that convinced me to do them:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/01/30/wall-sit-isometric-lower-blood-pressure/

from the article:

Isometric exercises effectively lower blood pressure because contracting a muscle and holding the position temporarily reduces blood flow to that muscle, O’Driscoll said. When you release that contraction, blood flow through the muscle tissue increases. This produces important signals that prompt blood vessels to relax more and creates less resistance to blood flow, which ultimately reduces blood pressure, O’Driscoll said.

it sounds like you are on the right path @olbriar. keep up the good work.

 

[AugieTN]

@ocnbrze Interesting you mentioned isometric exercises, Growing up there was a professional wrestler named Vern Gagne who had all us kids doing isometric exercises to become champions like Vern Gagne was

Verne Gagne & Isometrics

 

[olbriar]

We did some isometrics in middle school gym class in the mid sixties. The idea has been around for quite some time. My son is a health nut and still incorporates some isometrics into his daily workout. The same basic idea is poplar today in strength training. It's not the amount of reps but the time under tension that's considered key. Ideal form performed deliberately slow keeps the muscle under tension longer and has a greater impact without joint damage.

 

[olbriar]

I had a great visitation with my cardiologist this afternoon. The blood labs show that my levels are improving and the echocardiogram showed a good recovery rate. My ejection fraction has increased from almost 25% to close to 40%! A normal ejection fraction is between 50 and 70%. I still have a ways to go but my improvement was significant. I was cleared to quit wearing the life vest. I was also cleared to return to my bike riding and to mow lawns this summer. Oh happy days!

 

[ocnbrze]

I had a great visitation with my cardiologist this afternoon. The blood labs show that my levels are improving and the echocardiogram showed a good recovery rate. My ejection fraction has increased from almost 25% to close to 40%! A normal ejection fraction is between 50 and 70%. I still have a ways to go but my improvement was significant. I was cleared to quit wearing the life vest. I was also cleared to return to my bike riding and to mow lawns this summer. Oh happy days!

Very NICE!!!!!!!!

 

[olbriar]

I heard from a good friend yesterday who is in the hospital. He thought he had suffered a cardiac event but they have deemed it a vascular event. He has new blockage in his descending aorta that has seen a number of repairs already. The surgeon refuses to do any further surgeries and advocates treating it the best they can with meds and diet. He is seeking another opinion but doesn't expect anything positive.
You just think things aren't going your way until you see just how lucky you are.

 

[ozonetrooper]

Got an appointment with my cardo in 5 days ... I have not seen one since the H/A era ... Pretty sure he is gonna have lecture's and bad news, I have been living, like I am invincible, again !

BTW, huge steak and baked tater day today kiddos !

 

[olbriar]

I think it's pretty natural to fall into that easy life style. We are what we eat however. It isn't only eating healthy foods that bothers me, it's the shopping for and planning better meals that I hate. I lived 70 years eating what I wanted and now suffer the consequences. I'm betting your life is quite similar. What a hassle and what a drag it is to eat healthy!!

Good luck with your cardi appointment. I'm sure you aren't the first who has stepped off the straight and narrow path. I hope his bark is worse than his bite. I know he's going to bitch. There is no living the perfect life.

 

[Bearsyzf]

Shopping healthy does suck, all the stuff that supposed to be good for you is usually nasty or the price is inflated....... like i said i had to give up salt and now I'm using Mrs Dash a salt replacement

 

[Bearsyzf]

Plus i also had to cut down on my red meat intake

 

[olbriar]

I hear ya Bear. I spend over half my time at the market reading the nutrition labels. Yesterday I wanted quick and easy hotdogs. I look through all my dog choices then through the sandwich meats diligently searching for the lowest sodium product I could find. I was there at the cooler for so long that my hands got cold. There wasn't anything healthy to purchase, I knew that before I started searching. I was looking for something I could tolerate in moderation. Sheesh. My hotdog dinner of pre heart attack freedom days would consist of four hotdogs with mustard and relish and some chips. That contains nearly three times my recommended sodium intake for the day... for hotdogs.. good grief! I can grab take out chinese for less than half the amount of sodium. It's a wonder out species it still living.

 

[Bearsyzf]

in the beginning they had me on a strict water intake, i could only have 1 liter of water a day

 

[olbriar]

They didn't restrict my water intake, luckily. I haven't had a glass of water in decades anyway. I do drink lots of liquids and they had me on furosemide to decrease my liquid retention but quickly took me off of it. Watching what you drink is a double bummer! Just being told what you can have and can't have goes against the grain. It would be far easier to be on a healthier eating path if we were raised that way. It wouldn't seem like such a sacrifice to eat better. The healthier foods would be prevalent and reasonably priced at the market and fast food would not be the killing industry it is.

 

[Bearsyzf]

Plus i have to keep my Subscription of Nitroglycerin on me at all times.

 

[Milo Williamson]

Plus i have to keep my Subscription of Nitroglycerin on me at all times.

Funny thing, I just read about that ages ago of how Nitro was a cool medication for the heart treatment.

 

[Kinnessa08]

I'm deeply moved by your journey and resilience after your heart attack. It's inspiring to see your determination to embrace healthier habits and face the unknown with courage. As for my story, just a person, who discovered her passion for hiking after overcoming a knee injury with the recommended pilss I got at online pharmacy. Despite setbacks, I found solace in nature and the strength to persevere.

 

[olbriar]

Any sort of lifestyle altering medical condition is a mental as well as a physical challenge. It made me more aware of the sacrifices endured by those affected and often for decades and longer. I'm amazed at the resilience of people and their ability to adapt. I'm mostly blown away by the lack of oh poor me attitude of people. We are an amazing species.
I'm glad you are enjoying new found love of nature though sorry you suffered a knee injury.

 

[olbriar]

They released my friend over the weekend but suffered another episode and he was again hospitalized. Now, it seems, they have located a specialist that thinks he can repair my friend's beat up aorta. At least he is willing to do the surgery. He is waiting for some specialized tool for the surgery. I don't know that that amounts to but I hope he has some success. My buddy can't do anything without some corrective surgery.

 

[olbriar]

My friend had his surgery this afternoon. All went well and he is feeling well tonight. He might get released this weekend or Monday if he continues to do well. This is the third time they have repaired his aorta. I'm way happy for him!

 

[ozonetrooper]

Plus i have to keep my Subscription of Nitroglycerin on me at all times.

Yup ! I have several key rings, (motorcycle, car, truck, etc) and each one has the small metal capsule looking pill holder that has 6 nitro pills in it.

If the time comes for a dose while riding down the road on the Harley, I'm guessing I will need a prayer, instead of a pill !

 

[olbriar]

My good friend was finally released Friday afternoon, the 1st after his surgery the 23rd. It seemed like they wanted this number better or he was having trouble with this or that kept him in the hospital days after he anticipated a release. His daughter text tonight saying they were at the ER and they going to admit him. It seems he now has pneumonia and they want to keep him until his condition has stabilized. The poor guy needs a break. I remember how anxious I was to get out of the hospital. They mean well and all but there is no getting any of the much needed rest in a hospital.