For two - three weeks before
Thanksgiving week 2004, I had been fighting what I thought was either a cold
or the flu. Losing the battle I figured things
had progressed to possible pneumonia. On the news at the time the
Vice President (Dick Cheney) was reported to have been seen by the
doctors at Walter Reed with shortness of breath and he was
diagnosed with upper respiratory infection. I figured it probably was the same with me.
Tuesday two days before Thanksgiving, Glenda my loving wife, strongly
encouraged
me to seek "competent medical advice" something like "you see the
doctor TODAY!" The appointments for the day had me showing houses
in the morning and viewing cabinetry with buyers who were
under contract to buy a new home being completed. As things would
go the morning appointment
canceled
leaving me time to see my friendly doctor in Prattville.
Doctor Martin A. J. Wybenga M.D. listened to my chest and more or less
agreed with my diagnosis of fluid / congestion in the lungs
(probably pneumonia). I figured a quick shot a few prescriptions and
I would be on my way. He requested before leaving that I sit for a
few X-rays so he could better see what was truly happening. I
wondered if the old medical consortium was now making additions to their Christmas funds
by sending me for additional "procedures". Well the morning was
soon over and I was back in the good doctor's office so we could look
at "shades of gray on plastic film".
Upon his careful examination he stated he no longer suspected pneumonia but it appeared to him to be congestive heart
failure. My first reaction
was that the terms heart and failure should not be used in the same
sentence. Second reaction was what does he know. Wasn't the
radiologist the expert in these matters. A little while later the
radiologist confirmed the good doctor,s diagnosis. I think the
questions were "Who is your cardiologist? Where would you like to
be seen? Hey, its Thanksgiving it may not be easy to find anyone
who will see you!"
A quick drive back into Montgomery and I was on my way to see my new
cardiologist Dr. Charles Hastey. Now late afternoon, with x-rays
in
hand (a feat not easily accomplished since the x-rays did not really
belong to me, even though they were of my chest and bought by me!), I
met with Dr. Hastey who was kind to fit me into his
pre holiday schedule. He looked at the x-rays and marveled that I
was still
able to sit and function. He said with a little chuckle that I
probably was NOT
laying down when I slept at night (true!). Since the matter
appeared to
be a
little more serious then I had anticipated, Dr. Hastey immediately admitted me to the emergency room at Jackson Hospital awaiting
admittance to the "heart" floor.
My loving wife Glenda and I waited in the emergency room until just past midnight that evening when
a room finally became available. I guess it was part of the pre
Thanksgiving hospital rush. They administered a diuretic and I
lost a gallon of fluid before the sunrise and was feeling a whole lot
better.
Wednesday morning I was scheduled for an echo cardiogram which was taped and
the tape given to Dr. Hastey. I figure the tape would probably
not have much if any
BlockBuster appeal but you never know.
Dr. Hastey came into the room around midmorning and was not encouraging
at all to say the least! Glenda and I cannot remember his exact
words but any assurances
to a future long and happy life were not a part of his
discussion.
Something unknown had caused extensive damage to my heart. They
would keep me in the hospital over Thanksgiving to "stabilize" my
condition and perform an Angiography of a cardiac
catherterization. It was hoped this would shed more light on the
problem and provide a course of action. Possible scenarios
included: Viral
infection (maybe treatable maybe...) Possible heart transplant
which I may or may not be a good "candidate". Arterial blockage
with
possible a stint to improve the condition. Etc. Any action
may or may
not allow the heart to regenerate or improve.
Thanksgiving was spent with only the immediate family and few friends
who somehow discovered that I was in the hospital. Not
knowing my condition, diagnosis, or treatment it was decided to just
wait and see before we let family and friends know what was
happening. Saturday arrived and Dr. Hastey performed the
procedure and
noted blockage (95%) in three arteries and scheduled me for surgery the Monday morning
I thought it to be rather odd that I had gone from a simple shot in the
doctor's office with my diagnosis to major heart surgery in a rather
short period of time. The triple by-pass was
performed by doctor William Cook M.D. and took 6 hours. I do not
remember much until late Tuesday and stayed in the emergency ward for two
days before returning to the heart ward. Total time in the
hospital ended up being 15 days. Recovery outside the hospital was another
month with Glenda helping as I continued to show homes (just couldn't
drive).
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