Well, this was unexpected.

[epiphany65]

That has got to have been a frightening and unpleasant experience. Thankfully the problem was discovered (and hopefully corrected) before it got worse. Best wishes on your recovery!

 

[cloudy]

Glad you caught it quickly, and it seems to have turned out okay for you.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

So, Tuesday night my wife and I finished off some her delicious homemade chili. I'm at the computer trying to conclude a story, and I notice my entire shoulder girdle tightening up and I begin trying to stretch to relieve the stiffness.

Damn. Close shave. Congratulations on making it to the hospital and back.

What kind of lifestyle changes will come of this?

 

[Guest]

Damn. Close shave. Congratulations on making it to the hospital and back.

What kind of lifestyle changes will come of this?

Well, let's see--I can't take statins for familial hypercholesterolemia because they've already permanently damaged my muscles and nerves. My doctor and I have been working for six years to get my cholesterol down to a normal level; oddly enough, the lab results from the hospital showed that it was under 200 total for the first time in six years. It's taken two medications, three supplements (fish oil, niacin, and garlic), and a low-cholesterol diet to get there. (Even when I was lacto-vegetarian for four years, my total cholesterol ran 240.) So, it's not really surprising that I had an occluded artery.

Exercise is limited by the nerve and muscle damage, but I'll do what I can. I take a supplement that helps somewhat with my lack of stamina until I use up what's in my body.

The biggest thing will be quitting smoking; I've quit before for a very long time, but then I didn't live with two smokers, neither of whom will agree to quit. I can get on the non-smoking wagon but I doubt that I have the endurance to push it uphill. So, that's pretty iffy at present.

I've got pretty good stress management skills, so that's a non-issue.

I'm open to suggestions. Anyone?

 

[cantdog]

Sheesh! What an experience. Yay for modern medicine. Glad you're ok, gnome.

What you need now is a welcome home bowl of chili.

Gorgeous post! I agree completely.

You seem to have had aplomb throughout. I congratulate you.

 

[Le Jacquelope]

Well, let's see--I can't take statins for familial hypercholesterolemia because they've already permanently damaged my muscles and nerves. My doctor and I have been working for six years to get my cholesterol down to a normal level; oddly enough, the lab results from the hospital showed that it was under 200 total for the first time in six years. It's taken two medications, three supplements (fish oil, niacin, and garlic), and a low-cholesterol diet to get there. (Even when I was lacto-vegetarian for four years, my total cholesterol ran 240.) So, it's not really surprising that I had an occluded artery.

Exercise is limited by the nerve and muscle damage, but I'll do what I can. I take a supplement that helps somewhat with my lack of stamina until I use up what's in my body.

The biggest thing will be quitting smoking; I've quit before for a very long time, but then I didn't live with two smokers, neither of whom will agree to quit. I can get on the non-smoking wagon but I doubt that I have the endurance to push it uphill. So, that's pretty iffy at present.

I've got pretty good stress management skills, so that's a non-issue.

I'm open to suggestions. Anyone?

Stay away from the chili!

Er, just kidding!

 

[champagne1982]

If the smokers won't quit smoking ask them to quit doing it around you. It's not impossible for them to step out and have a smoke leaving you with clean air and less temptation.

Use a stop aid! Success comes with conquering the addiction and then breaking the habit.

If you smoke don't look at it as a failure to quit but instead look at it as a new beginning of the QUIT lifestyle.

Stopping smoking will help with your cholesterol level.

You'll be surprised how much time you have when you stop using it to have a cigarette.

Get a nifty counter and put it in your signature block to remind you of how much money you save every time you don't light a smoke.

 

[Guest]

If the smokers won't quit smoking ask them to quit doing it around you. It's not impossible for them to step out and have a smoke leaving you with clean air and less temptation.

Use a stop aid! Success comes with conquering the addiction and then breaking the habit.

If you smoke don't look at it as a failure to quit but instead look at it as a new beginning of the QUIT lifestyle.

Stopping smoking will help with your cholesterol level.

You'll be surprised how much time you have when you stop using it to have a cigarette.

Get a nifty counter and put it in your signature block to remind you of how much money you save every time you don't light a smoke.

Thanks so much.

 

[Guest]

Which particular blood vessel was it? If it was the one I'm guessing you should buy a lottery ticket.

Had a follow-up with my regular doc's office today and got a copy of the cath report. The stent was placed in the first marginal branch of the circumflex artery.

However, that formerly occluded artery has a number of others that show considerable potential for joining the ranks of the occluded. I talk with the cardiologist's office on the 18th; it'll be interesting to see what they have for a prognosis.

In the meantime, Cardiac Rehab is cheerfully displaying just how deconditioned I became this fall (in retrospect, the reason why is now clear). I think I'm going to have four permanent round red marks on my torso from the EKG pads...

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Sorry to hear...and glad you're okay.

Oh, and welcome to the club. I joined on July 1, 2003. No warnings like you received, just a sudden and unbearable pain in the center of my chest. Weakly called the wife and told her to call 911. I was at the hospital within twenty minutes. After getting to the hospital I don't remember much until they wheeled me into the cath lab. 100% blockage of the right side of my hear. Angioplasty and stent.

Back in the ICU I was still bleeding from my femoral artery and they couldn't get it stopped. They had to use this big "C" clamp. Hurt like the dickens. Five years later I'm still kicking.

Found out later they had to zap me twice in the ER. My wife finally told me when I looked in the mirror and the whites of my eyes were red from all the burst blood vessels. I was scary looking for quite sometime.

Glad you okay and follow you cardiologists instruction.

I followed his instruction and took my meds and the occlusion I had on the left side of my heart cleared up. It was 70% blocked five years ago.

Good luck and long life.

 

[Guest]

Sorry to hear...and glad you're okay.

Oh, and welcome to the club. I joined on July 1, 2003. No warnings like you received, just a sudden and unbearable pain in the center of my chest. Weakly called the wife and told her to call 911. I was at the hospital within twenty minutes. After getting to the hospital I don't remember much until they wheeled me into the cath lab. 100% blockage of the right side of my hear. Angioplasty and stent.

Back in the ICU I was still bleeding from my femoral artery and they couldn't get it stopped. They had to use this big "C" clamp. Hurt like the dickens. Five years later I'm still kicking.

Found out later they had to zap me twice in the ER. My wife finally told me when I looked in the mirror and the whites of my eyes were red from all the burst blood vessels. I was scary looking for quite sometime.

Glad you okay and follow you cardiologists instruction.

I followed his instruction and took my meds and the occlusion I had on the left side of my heart cleared up. It was 70% blocked five years ago.

Good luck and long life.

Thanks, Zeb, and I'm glad you're continuing to do well; your episode was obviously more severe than mine.

I'm fascinated that a 70% occlusion disappeared--the medicos seem to feel that any regression is likely to be minimal at best. You give me hope!

 

[DesertPirate]

Best of luck to you both. Hope you stick around for quite awhile and have lots of fun.

 

[Tricialen]

God! So happy that you're okay now...well as okay as you can be after this experience...

 

[Guest]

Best of luck to you both. Hope you stick around for quite awhile and have lots of fun.

God! So happy that you're okay now...well as okay as you can be after this experience...

Thanks to both of you!

Not to worry... us old, ornery types ain't that easy to kill off.

Plus, we're too damned stringy to make good eatin'...

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Thanks, Zeb, and I'm glad you're continuing to do well; your episode was obviously more severe than mine.

I'm fascinated that a 70% occlusion disappeared--the medicos seem to feel that any regression is likely to be minimal at best. You give me hope!

Well let's see I cut out most of the cholesterol in my diet, have been taking Zorcor and Niaspan for five years. It was getting the cholesterol down and my triglycerides, which were phenomenally high that did it.

The only meats I have had in five years are chicken, turkey, bison and ostrich. No beef of pork. What I wouldn't give for a rare fillet.

So good luck.

 

[Guest]

Well let's see I cut out most of the cholesterol in my diet, have been taking Zorcor and Niaspan for five years. It was getting the cholesterol down and my triglycerides, which were phenomenally high that did it.

The only meats I have had in five years are chicken, turkey, bison and ostrich. No beef of pork. What I wouldn't give for a rare fillet.

So good luck.

Won't work for me, I'm afraid--I can't take statins (already have nerve and muscle damage from them) and my cholesterol ran 240-250 when I was lacto-vegetarian for over 4 years. My liver just plain makes way too much cholesterol; off meds and supplements, but still eating a low-fat, low cholesterol diet, I run 350-370 easily.

I take Tri-Cor and Wel-Chol, plus niacin, garlic, and fish oil. During my hospital admission, my total cholesterol was under 200 for the first time in five years. Not much else I can do to get it lower.

 

[Lee Chambers]

Gnome sorry to hear about your hospital visit but at least you made it through alright. I hope you get back up to speed and won't have to change things too much to help avoid something like this again!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Won't work for me, I'm afraid--I can't take statins (already have nerve and muscle damage from them) and my cholesterol ran 240-250 when I was lacto-vegetarian for over 4 years. My liver just plain makes way too much cholesterol; off meds and supplements, but still eating a low-fat, low cholesterol diet, I run 350-370 easily.

I take Tri-Cor and Wel-Chol, plus niacin, garlic, and fish oil. During my hospital admission, my total cholesterol was under 200 for the first time in five years. Not much else I can do to get it lower.

It's not only the cholesterol, it's also the triglycerides. Take Niacin supplements it will help lower you triglycerides. But if you take more than 500mgs, I was taking 1500mgs, you have to be on aspirin therapy. You will also feel a flush that will start at your head and work it's way down you body. So it's best to take those before you go to sleep. As your cardiologist about it.

You might see about a drug call Zetia, it will reduce the amount of cholesterol you digestive system will absorb from food.

 

[Guest]

It's not only the cholesterol, it's also the triglycerides. Take Niacin supplements it will help lower you triglycerides. But if you take more than 500mgs, I was taking 1500mgs, you have to be on aspirin therapy. You will also feel a flush that will start at your head and work it's way down you body. So it's best to take those before you go to sleep. As your cardiologist about it.

You might see about a drug call Zetia, it will reduce the amount of cholesterol you digestive system will absorb from food.

My tri's are pretty good--I'm on 2000 mg of niacin (flush-free) and aspirin. When I took regular niacin, I didn't get a flush--I got extensive burning that yanked me out of a sound sleep and kept me awake for 60-90 minutes.

Unfortunately, I'm allergic to Zetia... we stopped the drug after I wound up with a rash and welts all over my torso. So, I'm out of RX drug options and probably can't go much higher on the supplements.

Still, we'll see if the cardiologist has any other ideas.