In the hospital [Archive]

Navy Chief

June 5th, 2015, 12:41

I haven't been feeling all that well for quite some time now, but this morning I felt worse than normal. My wife had planned to go to her volunteer job, but something told me I needed her at home. She took me to the nearest ER. My BP was quite high, and heart rate is abnormal. They admitted me. BP is normal, but heart rate still erratic.

Definitely got my attention. And so glad I made decision to get checked. NC

Ickie

June 5th, 2015, 12:50

erratic heartbeat = afib, and that is what I suffer with, every 2 weeks or so and it last 18+ hours,

Navy Chief

June 5th, 2015, 12:54

Ickie, I think I've had it for quite some time, and did not know it. I do now!

Terry

June 5th, 2015, 13:04

How many members of the stent club are here beside me?

Ickie

June 5th, 2015, 13:20

do yourself a favor and get some compression socks, these will keep you from having blood pooling at your ankles and causing a blood clot, I wear them every day.

BTW I have 3 stents.

Wayland

June 5th, 2015, 13:28

I have two, two different installs. Results of two different pulmonary emboli, brought on by Deep Vein Thromboses. That's why all my flying is Virtual nowdays.

Steve

Navy Chief

June 5th, 2015, 13:36

Ask had a DVT, and spent 5 days in the hospital in Blue Ridge, Ga in 2012. Was on blood thinner med for two years. Looks like I'll be going back on it, AND getting those socks again, Ickie. NC

Wayland

June 5th, 2015, 13:51

Navy Chief

June 5th, 2015, 14:29

That's right Chief, two DVTs in less than five years and you are on anticoaguants for life. No more leafy green vegetables for you either, they are loaded with vitamin K which makes the blood clot faster.

Steve

Yep. Actually I had to give up the green, leafy veggies because of a ulcer. Coffee too. Have to say not being able to have my coffee in the morning sucks. I mean, after 20 yrs of coffee in the USN. Grrrrrr....NC

Canelo

June 5th, 2015, 15:04

Me too! AFib and ill regular heart beat associated with angina.

When my heart is ill regular I feel like a car is parked on my chest.

palpitations

weakness
fatigue
reduced ability to exercise
lightheadedness
dizziness
confusion
shortness of breath
chest pain

Sound familiar?

What's helped me the most was stress free living, diet, losing 50lbs and going for long walks with a few exercises thrown in.

paiken

June 5th, 2015, 15:06

No coffee?!? Wow...I'd have a really hard time with that one, at least for the first few weeks (I'd look like my avatar). Hope you get everything sorted out quickly Chief.

Navy Chief

June 5th, 2015, 15:09

Ickie

June 5th, 2015, 15:23

I am allowed 2 cups of coffee in the morning, then no more caffeine for the rest of the day.

here is one of my logs of an attack
23747

Navy Chief

June 5th, 2015, 18:03

Ickie,

thanks for the log. How are you feeling now? They got my pulse down, but now BP is too low. They're trying to regulate. Looking like I'll be here until Monday. At least I am where I need to be, eh? NC

ColoKent

June 5th, 2015, 18:04

Chief...Hope to god you have a laptop with FSX on it!!!

Kent

phrog_phixer

June 5th, 2015, 18:21

Take it easy, Chief...who's gonna run maintenance control if you're not around?

Panther_99FS

June 5th, 2015, 18:24

Low stress Chief....We often make mountains out of molehills in life....

Anthin

June 5th, 2015, 18:25

Hope everything turns out ok for you chief.Just over a
year ago I had a heart attack and ended up with a triple
by pass.Six weeks in the hospital.I have been told to eat lots
of leafy greens.Being on blood thinners is a pain.The slightest cut
and I bleed like a stuck pig.

Anthin.

Crusader

June 5th, 2015, 18:36

How many members of the stent club are here beside me?

I became a member of the stent club in July 2008 . Had two placed in the LAD - Left Anterior Decending . The " Widow Maker "
The cardiologist said I'm very lucky .

Rich

Chief , the docs and other personnel will set you in the right direction . Good luck and good health !

Navy Chief

June 5th, 2015, 19:19

Thanks everyone. Looking forward to a restful night (sarcasm - nobody gets rest in a hospital!).

You folks are the best.

NC

StormILM

June 5th, 2015, 19:24

My gosh Chief, I sincerely hope you get to feeling better soon/get yourself well and adjusted & going in the right direction.

Every time I hear of these events with folks, I am reminded of all my past training and experience in Fire/EMS/Rescue and the countless Cardiac Emergency calls that I ran on plus 3 of my childhood friends my age(I am 49) who fell to MI's. Cardiopulmonary health is something that no one should ever overlook or assume with. "Denial" is one of the biggest killers there is. Rule of thumb, if you're not feeling well/normal, there's a reason that is going on and hesitation to seek medical attention is literally playing Russian Roulette.

Chief, I am glad beyond words you made that decision. Get well soon!

oldmsgt

June 5th, 2015, 20:33

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Chief.

Dev One

June 5th, 2015, 22:55

I got my two stents (one behind the other as the first was not long enough) back in 2008. I had a DVT in 1999 following a flight Heathrow to LA & back without knowing it except for the pain in my left leg I thought due to my sciatic nerve problem.
Anyway 6 months later high pulse rate without any excercise, doc sent me to hospital where they didn't know what was wrong, so put me on the treadmill wired for everything.
Pulse rate 125 sitting down after about 30 secs on treadmill pulse up to 180 & I said 'I feel faint' & they just got a chair under me before I fell over. Woke up a bit later with oxygen being pumped in. Seems the clot passed through the heart then onto my lung. 10 days in hospital to stabilise on warfarin then the usual monthly blood tests. Mentioned to specialist later that my son also had a DVT, he then organised a blood test & found I have a heredatory blood disorder Lieden factor V i.e. I clot easily. My GP later told me that the hospital had learnt from my experience & had subsequently saved a lot more peoples lives.
This now explains my fathers & my grandfathers early deaths.
In 2008 having been off warfarin for about 5 years I started to get palpitations & then a bit of angina & doctor sent me to hospital where stents inserted, now back on warfarin & monthly blood checks as well as beta blockers.
Leafy greens.....I only worry about brocoli as that is very high in vitamin K as well as a lot of tomatoes, I usually adjust my warfarin dose to compensate!
Anaesthetists love me when I go in for operations.....heparin injections to cover for warfarin plus all my other problems....Dentists too if extractions needed they need extra special care.
Can only get better Navy Chief, good luck
Keith

Dumonceau

June 6th, 2015, 00:07

Only saw this now (morning here).

Sending out my most positive thoughts to you Chief! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Johan

lefty

June 6th, 2015, 01:29

I have to join this lovely old crocks' forum - after a wee stroke some 15 years ago, I'm on the usual cocktail of drugs - just about everyone my age is.

However - every year in January I embark on a strict dietary regime - low fat, no booze, etc - and lose about 25lb in a month. Feeling smug, I go for a checkup, and guess what ? My BP has gone through the roof.... every time.

The moral is, don't give up the Scotch, Chief........

Hope you are back to normal soon !

GARDAE

June 6th, 2015, 05:02

2 trips 3 stents.and now for my next adventure an aeortic aneurysm.this too shall pass.i will not be silenced .best wishes.gardae

stovall

June 6th, 2015, 05:54

Take care chief. Just had a day in the hospital myself. Nothing like described above and all is great now. I am thinking about you.

WarHorse47

June 6th, 2015, 06:51

Wow, Chief. Had no idea you were in the hospital.

Sounds like you are on the mend, and have a lot of SOH company to boot. Did you bring a joystick with that laptop??

Take care, and hope you have a speedy recovery.

T Square

June 6th, 2015, 07:10

Chief

2 stints and a double-by myself back in 2003, only problem I had was when they took me off the machine and out me back on my own power, one of the bypasses blew, so they had to open me up again and fix so I used an extra 4 and half units of blood. One of the things I inherited from my Dad, great heart but bad plumbing. Ain't had any problems since, get a stress test every other year and everything is fine. My Dad and I sat down over a beer one day a discussed his medical issues, after listening to him and comparing his and mine for about 45 minutes. I told him flat out that so far with one exception he pretty much gave me all but one small thing. I told him in no uncertain terms that he could keep his F#####G Hemorriods, and that was the end of that.

Navy Chief

June 6th, 2015, 07:57

Thanks again, all.

Still waiting on cardiologist, and probably will be for a while longer.

No laptop, have IPad. No simming, but at least I can post here, do email, and watch Netflix, etc.... :encouragement:NC

Ickie

June 6th, 2015, 08:23

why ... waiting on cardiologist, we cured you, lol

Navy Chief

June 6th, 2015, 08:39

why ... waiting on cardiologist, we cured you, lol

Yep, y'all did! Problem is procedure (just like the military). Besides needing to see the cardiologist, I'm scheduled for a Echocardiogram, and (according to the nurses) they're rarely done in the weekends. So I am in the hurry up and wait mode. Used to that though. Miltary life forces you to learn that!:encouragement: NC

sixstrings5859

June 6th, 2015, 19:08

Wish i knew your name so i could put you on our prayer list at church. As i pray for you Chief ,i believe God knows who i'm praying for. Take care and get well. He isn't done with you yet !!!

oldmsgt

June 6th, 2015, 20:04

Hurry up and wait Chief!!

Navy Chief

June 7th, 2015, 01:05

Wish i knew your name so i could put you on our prayer list at church. As i pray for you Chief ,i believe God knows who i'm praying for. Take care and get well. He isn't done with you yet !!!

Thanks Sixstrings,

I finally saw the cardiologist late last evening. He wants me to schedule my echocardiogram as an outpatient, rather than have to spend all day Sunday, waiting for the tech to show up. So looks like I will get discharged "sometime" today (now Sunday). Am glad I made decision to come to the hospital though. The outcome might have been quite different, had I stayed home...... Thanks for your prayers. Pete

WND

June 7th, 2015, 01:47

Hey Chief - glad to hear your getting well enough and closer to heading home - I'm sure 'Twist' miss's ya !!!

BTW, what hospital ?? WFH ??

Bill

Hdguy

June 7th, 2015, 02:04

Rest up and get back home fast,,

You're right, you can't really sleep in a Hospital.

It sounds as if they have it sorted out for you. Good call to go to the ER. The no coffee thing would be my hardest... Diet to me, Ehhh, as long as I can eat I'm good with that.

Pushing 60, Sept 2nd, and so far no trips to the Hospital . Knock on Wood.

All the best to you NC

Navy Chief

June 7th, 2015, 03:13

Hey Chief - glad to hear your getting well enough and closer to heading home - I'm sure 'Twist' miss's ya !!!

BTW, what hospital ?? WFH ??

Bill

West Florida Hospital. Great people. And yes, sleep is not easy here, but actually got some rest last night. NOmidea how long it'll take to get discharged. My guess is later today. I sure do miss Twist! NC

KellyB

June 7th, 2015, 04:42

Navy Chief

June 7th, 2015, 05:16

Hey, Chief! It must be a good thing that they are letting you outta jail? They apparently don't see any present crisis, I guess.

Mind your p's and q's, and do as you're told by them. You have too much yet to do and contribute.

Be well (that's an order) and say hi to Twist and the crowd.

Roger that. Grandkids arrived last night for a week. I already told my wife she may be the one to drag them to various places in town, as I am not going to be up for running around everywhere. Just not gonna happen. Unless she wants to drop me off at Pensacola Bay Brewery. THEN I would be up for it:very_drunk: NC

WND

June 7th, 2015, 06:25

Navy Chief

June 7th, 2015, 06:52

Hang in there a bit Chief - the 'hold up' is usually the nurse's getting the 'release' from the doctor - once they get their hands on it, their usually pretty good in getting ya out of there.. At least that's been my experience with WFH..

Bill

The nurse checked the system about a half hour ago. The release has been signed, but the nurse has to get my meds/instructions together, which she said may take a couple hours. No biggie. Am sitting here, watching Netflix on my IPad. Wife is at church with grandkids, showing them off. Me? When I get home, I want a beer. And, after dealing with the added noise in the house, may want several. NC

napamule

June 7th, 2015, 10:40

I had a full blown stoke (left side) in 2012. Did not suffer any disability. Neurologist could not believe it. I am on blood thinners and take one 81 mg Bayer aspirin every morning. I drink caffeine free diet cola (any brand). I lost 20 lbs by laying off the CARBS and choosing protein. Don't worry about salt, as without iodized salt you will die. I sprinkle salt (to help digest) my 2 morning fryed eggs. And loose the alcohol. And NEVER drink any Gator Aide-that is the worse option. Almost guarantee to raise your BP. But DO stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Being dehydrated will bring on afib due to stress to other 'parts' of 'system'. The compression socks DO help when we sit at PC for a long time. I use them. But do get up every hour (or more often) and walk around. Go check the backyard, or walk to the corner and back.

Taking care of yourself is essential when you get a certain age. Goes with the terrigory. I wish you good progress with your 'predicament'. You can do it. Go Gung-Ho but don't overdo anything (wink wink). Moderation is the secret. Best wishes Navy Chief.
Chuck B
Napamule

Navy Chief

June 7th, 2015, 12:08

Finally home. I feel a LOT better than I did last Friday. Thank you ALL for your posts and concerns! You are true friends and shipmates. NC:encouragement:

oldmsgt

June 7th, 2015, 12:53

Glad to hear you're back home Chief. Enjoy your time with the grandkids. Oh, and have a beer on me...:icon29:...
Cheers!

Roger

June 7th, 2015, 13:06

Hoping for the best now NC.

Ickie

June 7th, 2015, 13:07

RUP Beer lol

Anthin

June 7th, 2015, 13:36

Glad to hear your home Chief.Best place to be.

Anthin.

Navy Chief

June 7th, 2015, 19:00

Immediately after leaving hospital with wife and grandkids, we drove my favorite P'cola restaurant, "Goat Lips Deli". Place has been in Pensacola for 10 yrs. Outstanding food, and this past Feb. they started brewing their own beer. In a word, superb! So tomorrow my wife is taking grandkids to her volunteer job, which is at a therapeutic horse back riding stable. Me? I plan to do some carrier ops, and chill.:encouragement: NC