I am forcing myself to just stay on cruise control for a few days. Yesterday's angiogram confirmed what we already knew, that I had a heart attack recently. The angiogram showed that this heart attack was caused by failure of one of my eight-month-old grafts. The damage was already done to my heart and to the now-useless graft when I first went to the ER on Monday. Both a stress test and the angio said that heart damage was minimal, and I have adequate circulation around the damaged area. Rather than putting a stint in the graft, they are going to manage this development with medications. No reason to believe that a stint would improve things. At least I haven't developed a NEW cardiac blockage.
I still have a good ejection fraction (my, what new words we learn during life's journey). Three cardiologists consulted for nearly an hour after my angiogram. It was two hours before the doctor came to talk to my family, and it scared the bejebbies out of them. Though we had been warned that my procedure would take longer than usual due to the grafts, they were expecting to hear from the doctor in an hour or so. In fact, all three cardiologists were physically present in the hospital yesterday and even stopped to say "Hi" to me. Maybe I haven't lost all of my "star patient" status. ;-)
They said that I am "rewriting the book on unusual presentation." That sounds so much more sophisticated than "weird," doesn't it? Where previously my star status was due to my amazing recovery, I am now known for weird symptoms. Several people told me yesterday that I will have to continue to come to the hospital and be insistent anytime something new happens and I just don't feel right. Every time, my symptoms have been subtle and unclear. It's the "gut feeling" that is accurate, and that must be God-given.
Honestly, I wasn't scared during this last week...mostly uncertain about the new symptoms and then disappointed that my recovery had been disrupted and sad for those who have to go through this with me. It's no fun, either, going through the hospital routine. Yesterday, it took four tries and three nurses to get the IV in place. I have "valvey" veins, probably a good thing except when it comes to IV needles.
I understand how difficult it must be for my family and friends to believe, but I am really alright emotionally, and I feel good physically. While I was initially disappointed at this last set-back, I figure that every new day since October 7 has been a blessing. I'll be back in cardiac rehabilitation on Monday, determined to regain all of the progress I have made since bypass surgery in October.
My bell has not tolled yet!
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