Just when it couldn’t get any worse it did. On Wednesday 2-21 I was taking out a big pc. of Aluminum out of my CNC mill. It weighed about 70lbs or so. I lifted it out at about chest height. Nothing wrong. That night I got some chest pains, after getting out of bed and sitting up they went away. I got them again so I called off of work. They did go away. I worked all day Friday and Saturday with nothing wrong. Sunday my wife was making homemade Meatballs and Spaghetti and we even had a Surgeon friend at the house. Then it hit again, this time it made me sick and got to the point were I couldn’t breath. Then it went away again. I told my wife I would see how the pain was tomorrow, if it still bothered me then I would go to the Emergency Room. The doctor told me to get to the Emergence Room ASAP. I did, he called to tell them I was coming down so I wouldn’t have to wait. They took me in, I was covered with Ben Gay because I thought I just pulled my chest muscles. They did an EKG, with 5 minutes the Cardo doctor came in and said my heart was in really bad shape, I also had 2 good Heart Attacks, one on Thursday, and the other on Sunday. I was sent right up to the Cath room to have a Stint put in. If I would have waited till Monday to come in all the Doctors said I would have died overnight. I mean I am not afraid to die, I just don’t want it to be at 44. My heart was working at 20% for the last 10 years. He couldn’t believe I never had any heart problems before. Someone was surely watching over me. It is definitely a life changing experience. I quit smoking, am watching my diet. I was in the ICU for 7 days. In 2 weeks I will go down to have another Stint put in. They told me that the Diabetes was also a big cause in this, but there is nothing I can do about that. Not until I get back in shape the small modeling jobs I do at the workbench is a real god send. But doing those small MRR jobs have helped me get through this. And also my family.
Glad you’re here…welcome to the club. This is your big chance…don’t louse it up!
Been there, done that. A couple of times. For a number of years now, I consider every day a bonus day, and try to get enjoyment out of each and every one. My very best wishes a long and fruitful life.
Tom
Glad you made it! [:D][:D][:D]
Sorry to learn your news. I’m a heart patient, also. Glad for modern medical procedures that save lives. Glad for model railroading to relieve stress… except for those kadee coupler springs flying across the train room…oh never mind…don’t think of them now…
Yeah, been there, done that too. Diabetics have to be extra vigilant as it can mask or minimize the symptoms of a heart attack.
You will find that Model railroading will also help you to stay away from food and cigarettes. I met a patient in heart rehab who had worked as an accountant for a company that produced smoked fish products (lox, smoked whitefish, etc.). So I asked him, “Have you returned to work or did your doctor tell you to quit smoking altogether?” He replied that he was not involveD in the actual production of the product. Good luck on your recovery.
ZIPPER CLUB MEMEBER
Sorry to hear about the myocardial infarctions - yep, I’m one of the ICU guys that take care of one of you heart attack guys. We see it all the time - stress, diabetes, poor diet, smoking, excess weight, not enough excercise, etc. It’s a major life change knowing you have change your behavior and stick with it. The coronary stents they gave you just buy you time in order to make the changes.
Model railroading will in most cases relax your stress. Just don’t run any trains that constantly derail, don’t install any DCC decoders and try to get them to work, and definitely don’t run any trains with Kadee compatible plastic knuckle couplers. [;)]
Take care, and remember, you have all the control over how this will effect the rest of your life. May it be long and happy.
I just recently had a scare too. Sounds like you truley had a blessing here.
Mine however was odd. I had the pain and dizzyness too but my EKG showed nothing. My lads all checked out as normal… even my cholesterol. Of course my bp was high and now I am on blood pressure pills. Doc can’t explain the pain. Odd. Guess God was just letting me know my bp was high and I needed to dump some stress in my life.
Well again, its is good to have you back!
Peter
Glad to hear your OK. Between this thread and my diabetes thread it seems like a bunch of us are a mess![sigh]
I think you were very lucky. What is it about we males that make us avoid acknowledging that we are mortal and will succumb to something? I’ll tell you, when I get something going on that is unusual, I go right to the doctor. Not for colds or pulled muscles, as they are easily discerned, but a tightness and loss of breath are classic signs of heart distress, along with pain radiating down the armpits and further, a feeling of bloating and gas, maybe indigestion,…and men past their prime shake their heads reading about buddy’s demise down the street…dead before the paramedics started the engine.
Changes in vision, difficulty speaking, inability to recognize persons or what they are saying, these are some of the signs of stroke…people as young as 20 have strokes, and should be aware of the signs.
That wasn’t meant to be a mini-rant, but I found myself shaking my head, just like the guy I described above, while I read your story, Gassy. It is scary!
And, I am very glad that you were able to come back and post it. Thanks for your reminder to everyone over the age of 50 to smarten up!
44! Sheesh! Lucky!
A couple of years ago I was having chest pains while on the job. It started in the morning and continued off and on throughout the day. By mid-afternoon the pain was so intense that I couldn’t stand it anymore. I went to see my doctor about it and he checked me out really throughly. There was enough doubt in his mind that he had me admitted for observation and a battery of tests including an ultra-sound exam to check my heart out. All the tests went fine and it turns out that my heart is healthier than those of the people who were doing the tests. After several more tests it was found that the source of my pain was cramps in the muscles between and behind the ribs. A simple prescription for muscle relaxing medication took care of that in the short term and a modification in my work habits has been working for the long term. The cause of the problem seems to be that I tend to hunch over when I’m working on something. This causes the rib muscles to be all bunched together and they start cramping. Since I stopped hunching over so much I haven’t had any more. I’m happy that it was something simple and relatively harmless.
Best wishes for a swift and complete recovery. I suspect that the stress from the burgulary and the confrontational aspect of the trial may have a hand in the weekend’s events. The surgeon’s advice not to put off until tommorow what needs to be done NOW, needs only to apply to chest pains. Let go of the unimportant little things, follow your cardioligist’s instructions on getting through this and many more years. As my Dad used to say heart attacks are the lord’s way of telling us to slow down, and death is his way of telling us we didn’t listen. So listen, we can not afford to loose any of the good guys.
Will
Glad you actually went in. Some people go pooh pooh and die.
Take it one day at a time, consider it bonus time. Not the time to be stuck treading water doing useless and wasteful things.
Considering recent events and now these news I must say that you are being watched over very well!
I myself have been examined a few times over the years and learned to “Back it down” as we drivers say instead of pushing too hard for the summit.
Try to run quality train items from here on out, dont waste your time fighting cheap derailments, bad track, poor couplers etc.
Most of all, enjoy your family and friends to the max every day. Our time will come one day for each of us and it’s forever when we do pass over to the other side.
In July of 2002 I had a stent put in and like you I stalled till I couldn’t stand the discomfort anymore. My pain felt like a trachea burn that you get when you run too fast. Six months later I had to have two more put in because of the recurrence of the pain. THIS time I went right in. This time put the fear of death in me. I lost 20# took Yoga and quit watching NYPD Blue.(too exciting) also took up biking in good weather and spinning in the winter. I’m 62,retired and spend a lot of time in the shop which is a big deal for me. Trains and associated models are a lifeaver for me and keep me sane. Good luck to you Gas Turbine and take care of yourself. Taking care of YOURSELF By yourself is what will get you your health back. You alone have the resonsibility for that if you have projects left undone as almost all of us do.
Glad to hear you’re OK now - but keep taking it easy & follow the Dr’s instructions[^] Watch your diet[dinner] & get moderate excercise[:I] You don’t want to become an [angel] too soon!! You’re lucky with today’s medicine. My mom passed away from complications from her 2nd heart operation that could have been easily prevented today - and that was in '66 - dosn’t seem that long ago… Keep well & God Bless!!
I do feel very lucky. We have a secretary at work whos husband died 8 months ago. He was 1 year older then me and looked like a pro football fullback. He was a heavy smoker though. He took 5 breaths, and was dead before he hit the floor. I have to take 6 pills a day now. And get winded after walking more then 50 yards. But my heart has to heal. I start Cardo Physical Rehab in a few days. He said the whole bottom of my heart is dead and like Jello because of the 2 Heart Attacks. They will harden though but never come back to life. I had one main artery that is blocked 100%, the second 95% and the 3rd 92%. He said that I can also have a tripple bypass, but the heart surgeon said it wasn’t needed after the second stint is put in. The funny thing is that is felt just like heartburn, and went away after sitting down. And all these years I never thought I was in this bad of shape. All it would have took was a simple STRESS TEST at the hospital.
Glad to here you came through everything and you are still kickin. Hope the recovery process goes ok as well.
-beegle55
My father was 45 (and a lawyer) when he failed a stress test. He had never had chest pains. Apparently he had 4 complete blockages. I know what you are going through, and wish you luck. BTW, my dad now exercises twice a day and has lost almost 50 lbs., and has the healthiest diet of anyone I know. It can truly be a life changing experience, for the good. Good luck!
What does one expect with a stress test?