Category Archives: Heart Attack

Changing Rooms (FD +1)

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My time was up!  I was freed from the heart monitor.  Able to make my own way to the bathroom.  To lie on my side.  To move without getting tangled.  Result!

This also meant it was time to move to the Cardiac Ward, a more general ward for heart patients (consider it “Business Class” in comparison to the “First Class” CCU).  I had only been in hospital for 36 hours, but I had got comfortable with my surroundings, the nurses, the comings and goings.

The move up one floor felt like a big deal.  Practically, it just meant that I had less pillows (I’m sure I could have asked for more) and that I had to pay for my TV*, but psychologically it meant more.  Change is difficult!

Despite this, I still knew I was lucky.  I was becoming increasingly aware that I was in better shape than most people on the ward.  There were few physical signs of my condition, and I was feeling better all the time.  I was beginning to feel a little bit of a fraud.

TV* I say “Pay for the TV” however the Trust were kind enough to provide it free between 10-2 every day.  It says it’s for a limited period, but in my opinion, removal of this basic human right could cause unrest… all those quality programmes that would be denied to the residents!

You are what you eat (FD +1)

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The Rehab Nurse reminded me of Gillian McKeith (“You are what you eat”).  Friendly while being knowledgeable and firm.  She had the difficult task of running (Louise & I) through what had happened, why, and helping us to start thinking about “What next?”.

We already knew I scored quite high on the heart attack risk factors:

  • Smoking  – I wasn’t smoking but had been up until about 9 months ago
  • High cholesterol – A family favourite
  • High Blood Pressure – Certainly stress has been a feature of my work life for years
  • Being overweight / obese – Certainly room for improvement
  • Lack of exercise – Check
  • Alcohol – Check
  • Male – Check

See the full list:  www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/pages/causes.aspx

Addressing any of these, together with the medication would help me prevent recurrence.

The most difficult one for me is work (which leads to Stress, which leads to High Blood Pressure).  I can see me making major changes to other areas of my life, but I need time to get my head around what changes I might be able to make at work.  Hopefully addressing some of the other factors will make me fit enough to do what I do, and help change my approach / attitude to it.  Let’s see.  (The Rehab Nurse sees “one or two like me” every week… I’m sure we’ll come back to this!).

Our vacation plans in Florida have been scuppered!

The only “Life Decision” we were ready for related to our holiday.  The ladies had unselfishly decided that two weeks in the summer heat of Florida, chasing thrills and spills at the Theme Parks and bargains at the Mall probably wasn’t the best recuperation for me.  Swimming with the dolphins would have to wait.  It would be cancelled immediately… thank goodness we took the insurance!

As far as physical activity is concerned, I could start walking gently as soon as I’m free from the monitor.  As soon as I leave hospital I should start walking 5 mins, twice a day, and then add a minute on each day, slowly building strength and stamina.  We were also informed that we could re-start “bedroom activities” after a week… this information was as useful as being told at Ante-Natal classes not to have any “intimate relations” after the water’s have broken… yeh, right!

Settling In (FD +1)

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I awoke early having slept OK.  Feeling a bit better.  Things seem to be settling down following the procedure.  My insides feeling more normal.

I had a headache though… dehydration?  caffeine withdrawal?  medication?  something else?  I’ve always resisted taking painkillers except for the most debilitating of hangovers, but it seems that painkillers are OK and there’s little to gain from “just battling on”.  Fortunately they work.

I’m still rigged up to the heart monitor, so essentially tied to the bed, wires hanging off me feeding the machine that charts every heartbeat.  It’s amazing how quickly you get used to peeing in a cardboard receptacle and engaging in discussions on “output” volumes!

The level of care is fantastic!  Certainly VIP treatment in the CCU.  I think I’m already less of a concern than others…  conversations start to turn to what I might be able to do, and when:  Change wards (possibly today).  Leave hospital (Tuesday or Wednesday), Drive (maybe 1 week, perhaps 4), Back to work (2 weeks, 4, maybe more), holiday (let’s see!).

I really haven’t started to get my head around any long term implications.

Before we can start to plan anything, I still need to have a echocardiogram (echo) to see the extent of the permanent damage to my heart… time is muscle… there is always permanent damage.

Carlsberg Recuperation

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If Carlsberg* did Recuperations, they’d probably be the best Recuperations in the world…

  • Royal Ascot (18/6-22/6)
  • British Lions Tests (22/6 – 6/7)
  • Champions Trophy Final (23/6)
  • Wimbledon (24/6 – 7/7)
  • Tour de France ((29/6 – 21/7)
  • British Grand Prix (30/6)
  • Ashes (10/7 – 25/8)
  • The Open (18/7 – 21/7)

Timing is everything!

* No alcohol will be involved in this Recuperation.

Forty Two

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Before performing observations (obs), dispensing medication or further tests, medical staff needed to confirm I was who they thought I was… Name, Date of Birth & Patient ID… checking against the details on my wristband.

There were a lot of new faces, particularly over the first 24 hours.  Each time some quick mental arithmetic was performed, sometimes out loud… 38, 39…

“Only 42!”
or
“Wow, only 42 and you’re in here”
or
“42.  This’ll be a wake-up call for you!”
…

Not a great conversation starter, and not the best way of keeping the heart rate down.

It was clear this was not going to stop soon, while I was in hospital or after.  There were many things I couldn’t control, but I needed to get my head around this.

I decided three things:

  1. There is absolutely nothing to be gained from looking backwards…  It is what it is, I am where I am.  I can think about how I’m going to live going forwards, but the past is just that, past.  Yes, I had a heart attack at 42.  So what?
  2. It’s better to have happened now than in 10 or 15 years time…  There is obviously never a good time to have a heart attack, but if I have to have one (which I did), I’d rather it was in the past than in the future.  At 42, I have an opportunity to use this experience as a springboard…  priorities, health, focus, etc.  I didn’t choose now, but now’s good.
  3. Switch off for today…  I’ve done enough for today.  I need to switch off.

Fortunately sleep came easily.  Too easily – I missed Justin Rose’s US Open victory.  Still, priorities… I can catch up on a replay later in the week.

Long Day (FD +0)

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Sunday was a day of shock and discomfort.  My first experience of hospitalisation.  Given my extensive experience of “House” I was hoping I was well prepared.

I was rigged up to a heart monitor and therefore unable to leave my bed.  Every movement, every distraction effected my heartbeat… 80, 75, 90, 100…  I became keenly aware of it, resting with one eye open to check the positive impact on the rate.  A single palpitation sent it shooting up… alarms and flashing red lights brought the doctors running to my side… it quickly reverted back to normal… to be expected apparently.

Tired.  Not the best night’s sleep.

Not feeling great.  Silly to say perhaps given I’d just had a heart attack, but it felt like I’d been beaten up from the inside… a gentle / moderate ache I guess (still not good at translating to a pain scale of 1 to 10), but certainly not comfortable.  Again, to be expected.

My head was spinning.  So many thoughts running through my head… I was certainly not in control.  I had no real idea about what the future might hold.  Louise was there to support me, but equally, if not more, in a spin.

The nurses were fantastic, seen it all before, able to answer my questions and provide comparisons.  For them it was a normal day.  I’m glad it was for someone!

Don’t think about work.  Relax.  Take it easy. 

I couldn’t stop thinking about work.

I could only hope that a couple of hours of Champions Trophy Cricket and the US Open Golf would help me to chill out.  Fingers crossed!

Lucky (Part 1)

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I am very lucky…

  • We recognised my symptoms and took action quickly
  • I live close to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where both the facilities and the medical team are top notch
  • The facilities were available when I needed them… I didn’t have to wait
  • A year ago I wouldn’t have been able to have my procedure when I did – it has only been open 24 / 7 for about 6 months
  • Things went smoothly, no complications, in and out.

I’m a gambler, happy to take a chance, but I wouldn’t want to have to rely on the same level of luck again.

The Cath Lab (FD ~02:30)

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It turns out that Aberdeen’s road network is very efficient at 02:00 on a Sunday morning (shame about the rest of the time!).  We arrived at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in next to no time.

Daughter No. 1 was at a sleepover.  Fortunately, Daughter No. 2 had slept through the excitement.  The in-laws were en-route, thank goodness!  Louise was to follow later so Daughter No. 2 could sleep through.

It was clear that the initial tests performed at the house indicated that I was having a heart attack… when we arrived at the hospital the Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) was already fully prepped and buzzing.  I was wheeled in, transferred onto the bed and the team went to work…

There were approx. 8 people in the room… electrodes were applied to my chest together with defibrillator pads (in case of more emergencies!) and my right wrist was prepared for the procedure.  (I’m sure there was a lot of other stuff going on too!).

Coronary AngioplastyI was awake throughout… a small incision was made in my wrist to gain access to an artery into which guide wires, balloons and stents were eventually inserted.  Having had a look around, the cardiologist identified a severe restriction in my Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery – it wasn’t completely blocked, but was getting there.  The balloons were inflated to expand the artery and two stents were inserted to keep it open.  While they were there, they checked out my other arteries too… no cause for concern.

The whole thing was quite surreal.  It’s obviously not something you can prepare for.  I just had to try to relax.  I was in the hands of professionals, they knew what they were doing, and I had to let them work.  The fact that it was my heart they were working on was almost incidental.

I had the occasional sense of something happening inside me, but I’m not sure how much of that was in my head… it certainly didn’t hurt.  The only real sign of action from where I was lying was the camera moving around my chest, a robot whizzing around to look at my heart from different angles.

Within about 40 minutes it was all done.  Fixed (at least as much as I could be).

I had had a heart attack and an invasive cardiac procedure (“we don’t call it surgery”).  Things were going to be different.

Transferred back to a standard bed, I was taken to the recovery room ready to be moved to the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU).  I rolled past Louise and John (Thanks John!) who had recently arrived having successfully navigated the abandoned shell that is ARI at 3 am on a Sunday…

“I told you I was having a heart attack!”

Not the best brag ever.  I was right, but nothing to be proud of.  What do you say to your loved ones when you’ve just been saved from a heart attack?  Hopefully you’ll never need to answer that one!