Author |
Topic: Made it to 49 but just barely... (Read 460 times) |
|
Dave_W
New Board Junior
Pain Free Days!!!
Gender: 
Posts: 83
|
 |
Made it to 49 but just barely...
« on: Aug 21st, 2006, 4:05pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
Hiya group!
I turn 49 years old today. Little bit of a story to go with:
Well, I promised a report on my kudzu use and I can say it had a good effect. Immediate change for the better and after a week I was not pain-free but much more tolerable (1 or 2 Kip-5's a day versus 2 or 3 harder ones before starting kudzu).
Downside is that over the July 29 weekend I had a heart attack. Triple bypass on August 3, and today I'm feeling better than I have in ages. I can't really attribute the attack to any of my CH meds (except that perhaps the imitrex helped speed it along), since I was a heavy smoker and I could NOT resist a sack full of BK Triple Stackers for dinner.
Real upside is that in addition to feeling tons better, my CH cycle ended before my surgery. They gave me a nitro drip on my first night in hospital, which precipitated an instant Kip 9. Toss in the fact that I was tubed and wired, stuck in an ICU bed, and having chest pains, and I think I can call it a 10.
I asked the nurse to crank up the oxygen, which he did, and within 10 minutes my headache went away. Haven't had even a hint of one since!
So in summary, I got new heart-pipes, lost 30 pounds, quit smoking, ended my CH cycle, and have been walking for a couple hours each day so I'm in my best shape since the college days so long ago. Happy ending thus far. I'm cleared to return to work next Monday (28th).
Glad I'm here. Wish I could pass along some of my pain-free days to y'all too.
Dave
|
|
 IP Logged |
Old Decrepit Dave
|
|
|
pattik
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
 
Gender: 
Posts: 2404
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #1 on: Aug 21st, 2006, 4:14pm » |
Quote Modify
|
What an ordeal! I'm glad to hear you're doing so well, including using the kudzu. Just out of curiosity, did the K-10 CH distract you from the heart pain? It sounds as if you have really turned your lifestyle around. Major kudos on doing that. Best wishes.
Pat
Happy Birthday, and many, many, many more!  
|
| « Last Edit: Aug 21st, 2006, 4:28pm by pattik » |
IP Logged |
The voyage of discovery is not about seeking new landscapes, it's about having new eyes--Marcel Proust
|
|
|
Dave_W
New Board Junior
Pain Free Days!!!
Gender:
Posts: 83
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #2 on: Aug 21st, 2006, 4:19pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Thanks tons Pat!
To answer your question, the headache overrode all other pain functions. If you've ever been around a cardiac ICU, they ask you about every half hour to rate your chest pain from 1 to 10. My heart attack yielded maybe a 6 or 7 at its worst (which was eased to a 4 or 5 by all the blood thinners they gave me).
The nurses were pretty amazed at my headache pain. But they were good folks. Didn't even bat an eye when I told them I wanted as much oxygen as they could give...
PFD's to ya,
Dave
|
|
IP Logged |
Old Decrepit Dave
|
|
|
seasonalboomer
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
If I think hard enough maybe it'll go away.....
Gender:
Posts: 2248
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #3 on: Aug 21st, 2006, 4:40pm » |
Quote Modify
|
on Aug 21st, 2006, 4:19pm, Dave_W wrote:The nurses were pretty amazed at my headache pain. But they were good folks. Didn't even bat an eye when I told them I wanted as much oxygen as they could give...
PFD's to ya,
Dave |
|
Now I'm picturing one of Melissa's balloon creations........ laying in an ICU bed with wires attached.
Scott
|
|
IP Logged |
-----------------------------------------------------
seasonal boomer
-----------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
vig
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
CHit Happens
Gender:
Posts: 4401
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #4 on: Aug 21st, 2006, 5:42pm » |
Quote Modify
|
on Aug 21st, 2006, 4:40pm, seasonalboomer wrote:
Now I'm picturing one of Melissa's balloon creations........ laying in an ICU bed with wires attached.
Scott
|
|
which one?
the Diaper Cake?
|
|
IP Logged |
never, Never, NEVER quit. -Winston Churchill
|
|
|
Charlotte
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Gender:
Posts: 1932
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #5 on: Aug 21st, 2006, 8:20pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Happy Birthday, Dave. What an ordeal. I'm glad you're still here to tell about it.
Charlotte
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Kevin_M
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
withered branches grow green again.
Gender:
Posts: 6184
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #6 on: Aug 21st, 2006, 8:30pm » |
Quote Modify
|
You have to get old just like the rest of us Dave, none of this trying to dodge the big Five O.
Man but you sound good for such a important procedure and seems like you're healing fine, back to work in another week already.
So good the kudzu experiment helped and the cycle ended but I can't imagine a situation like getting hit with nitro in an ICU unit. Handy the oxygen just needed a crank by the nurse.
Great you're feeling good again and young, are you going to buy a skateboard now.
Keep it up and hope you have a lot of vacation time coming to enjoy the bounce-back and for cruising on into your fifties smiling and pain free for another loooong time.
Best to you Dave! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
|
| « Last Edit: Aug 21st, 2006, 8:32pm by Kevin_M » |
IP Logged |
|
|
|
E-Double
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Are we ourselves?
Gender:
Posts: 6458
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #7 on: Aug 21st, 2006, 9:00pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Happy Birthday and glad ya lived to see it!!!!
Congrats on everything else.
Feel good!
|
|
IP Logged |
I can't believe that I have to bang my
Head against this wall again
But the blows they have just a little more
Space in-between them
Gonna take a breath and try again.
|
|
|
kayarr
New Board Hall of Famer
Gender:
Posts: 906
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #8 on: Aug 21st, 2006, 9:21pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Happy Birthday!!!!!!
I am proud of your new life choices. It took guts to get walking and all that after the heart attack. (we call it an "event" around here
You will have many more.
congrats on your painfreeness (is that a word????)
Kimberly
|
|
IP Logged |
Nothing is impossible! Just believe!!!!!
|
|
|
nani
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Got kudzu?
Gender:
Posts: 7953
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #9 on: Aug 22nd, 2006, 12:16am » |
Quote Modify
|
Wow...glad you're still with us, Dave. Congrats on your new, healthy lifestyle, too. I'm glad everything went well and your cycle is over, also.
Happy Birthday!!!!
hugs, nani (who is also 49, and still scared of the nitro my doc gave me)
|
|
IP Logged |
Others may come and go, but MY power is MINE.
|
|
|
George_J
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Gender:
Posts: 4222
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #10 on: Aug 22nd, 2006, 2:28am » |
Quote Modify
|
Glad you're still a participant in the Great Game, Dave, and glad you're feeling better.
I'm 52, and nerving myself to quit smoking. You provided some serious inspiration.
Best wishes and all the best of everything,
George
|
|
IP Logged |
Ah! The foreigners put on such airs
Wearing the tangerine suits
And their harlequin eyes.
The pain they inspire
Draws in harmonica melodies
And the feathers of birds
Which flame up at their touch.
It all comes to light in the sheer
Debonair.
(Ellen)
|
|
|
chopmyheadoff
New Board Old Timer
Its only a headache, deal with it - SMACK
Gender:
Posts: 481
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #11 on: Aug 22nd, 2006, 4:11am » |
Quote Modify
|
happy birthday r kid !!!
you a strong son of a b1tch !!!
im giving up smoking today - and, as said above - that has given me inspiration to keep it up !!
Thanks man, keep us informed of how your doing !!
choppa
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Dave_W
New Board Junior
Pain Free Days!!!
Gender:
Posts: 83
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #12 on: Aug 22nd, 2006, 8:22pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Just so it's said, you guys all ROCK!!!
I wish you all could feel as fine as I do today. I am truly blessed!
It's been amazingly easy to quit the cigarettes -- I guess the 10-day head start in hospital was what I needed.
Pain free days to ya,
Dave
|
|
IP Logged |
Old Decrepit Dave
|
|
|
LeLimey
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
OUCH-US - Less "ME" and more "WE"
Gender:
Posts: 11720
|
|
Re: Made it to 49 but just barely...
« Reply #13 on: Aug 23rd, 2006, 9:36am » |
Quote Modify
|
I'm chuffed to bits for you Dave
Funnily enough I was talking to a ch'er yesterday who hasn't had a hit in seven years since she had a lung removed.. maybe big time surgery triggers remission in some way? Its an interesting thought but not one I'd be eager to sign up for 
Stick around, we want to know how you're doing okay?
Helen
|
|
IP Logged |
The arsehole I'm divorcing needs to get a life and stop stalking mine
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
test rss