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Title: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by Dave_W on Aug 21st, 2006, 4:05pm 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 |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by pattik on Aug 21st, 2006, 4:14pm 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! ;;D http://tinypic.com/i37vc2 |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by Dave_W on Aug 21st, 2006, 4:19pm 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 |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by seasonalboomer on Aug 21st, 2006, 4:40pm on 08/21/06 at 16:19:38, Dave_W wrote:
Now I'm picturing one of Melissa's balloon creations........ laying in an ICU bed with wires attached. Scott |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by vig on Aug 21st, 2006, 5:42pm on 08/21/06 at 16:40:22, seasonalboomer wrote:
which one? the Diaper Cake? ;;D |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by Charlotte on Aug 21st, 2006, 8:20pm Happy Birthday, Dave. What an ordeal. I'm glad you're still here to tell about it. Charlotte |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by Kevin_M on Aug 21st, 2006, 8:30pm 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!!! |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by E-Double on Aug 21st, 2006, 9:00pm Happy Birthday and glad ya lived to see it!!!! Congrats on everything else. Feel good! |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by kayarr on Aug 21st, 2006, 9:21pm 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 |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by nani on Aug 22nd, 2006, 12:16am 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) |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by georgej on Aug 22nd, 2006, 2:28am 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 |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 22nd, 2006, 4:11am 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 |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by Dave_W on Aug 22nd, 2006, 8:22pm 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 |
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Title: Re: Made it to 49 but just barely... Post by LeLimey on Aug 23rd, 2006, 9:36am 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 |
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