Guy's medical report: A Heart Fart

[Guy]

Dear All,

Thank you again for your concerns. Here is the report.

I had a little Heart Fart last Thursday night. I already had a planned hospital visit set up for Monday. I drove from Virginia to Boston, with a day in New Jersey on the weekend. Got into the hospital and my blood pressure was 160/99 and they could not get it down and it was too high for an angiogram. So I was put in a telemetry bed. That is a bed where the ekg is portable, radio waves, sort of a wifi ekg, broadcasting to the nurses station. So at least you can get up and walk around the ward.

Well then they come in and tell me it is too dangerous to have my laptop with me because of theft. HEY I MIGHT JUST BE BUILDING A TEARDROP.

So I sneak out off the floor to take my laptop out to the car in 15 degree weather, when Dean calls, on the cellphone that I am not supposed to have in the cardiac ward. We spend the next twenty minutes catching up and laughing about what the nurses must be doing right then...Elvis has left the building!!!! When I get back in there is a lineup of nurses, doctors, and attendants, shaking their heads in dismay. (I want you all to know that those looks have actually kept me alive for ten years. LOL It is far from the first time I have displayed this behavior).

So I go back to bed and for the next two days my BP vascillates from 160/99 to 75/45. Finally, Wednesday early in the AM it stabilizes, after some changes in my meds and data from the Echocardiagram and Thalium /persantine tests. So they discharge me Wednesday late afternoon, with two new meds, one discontinued, and changes in three others.

Great, so the upshot of the last week is I go from 23 meds to 24 meds. I get to drive 250 miles back to New Jersey, have some Entenmann's Crumb Cake (my father's favorite, in memoriam) for my birthday, and check in with the board.


Nobody discovered the cellphone, since only in a VA Hospital would something (my cell) blaring the "Marine Corps Hymn" not even raise an eyebrow.

[AmyH]

Guy, I am really glad to hear you are doing well. Way to keep those VA Hospital nurses (my mom is one) and doctors on their toes!

Amy

[bg]

Guy,

Glad to here you're doing well.

My father is a heart patient, and while I'm sure your situation is different, It's certainly not a fun part of life.

[PaulC]

Guy, Great to hear things are looking up.
Cheers
Paul

[Chip]

Guy they was probably shaking their heads at some ole nut case walking around the parking lot in a hospital gown,, back flap open in 15 degree weather,,, I aint sure the cardiac unit is really where you should have been checked in to,,

glad ya gonna be ok thar bud

chipper

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

Guy,
Glad to hear you are doing well, and good to see you back on the board. I hope you had a happy birthday otherwise.

[Guy]

Dear BG,

The best healing laughter is when you can laugh at yourself and your predicament. Ten years ago I was given six months to live with my brain tumor, and three years ago that dropped to thirty days with my heart surgery. Of course it is not the most "fun time" I ever had. Those were the days my kids were born. But they are not the worst days I ever had. So from that stand point I am doing real fine. However, I try to still find humor in my day to keep me going. BG, no matter how difficult it gets, please remember, that a good laugh always feels good, and as it gets more difficult, it is more important to have good feelings.

Chip, I already posted that pic.

[Guy]

Dear Amy, Don't tell your mom about the MC Hymn, you might get some other vet busted. And what if I wind up in her hospital in my travels, and she says "I'm Amy's mom"

[goldcoop]

Guy-

What! just 1 more med to lug around?

Glad to hear you're still kicking!

My girls & I hope you had a GREAT freakin' birthday!

XOXO,

Coop

[Guy]

Dear Coop,

Yes, and you are one of the few that have gotten to see my little black bag. Give the girls my best, and say hi o Simba.

[Rob]

Guy--

Good to hear you're back in the upright and not making that celestial transfer. My better half used to work in an ICU watching those monitors. I would love to have seen her face if one of her patients took a stroll outside. Keep up the attitude. It'll do more than most docs can do for you.

Rob

[len19070]

Happy Birthday Guy. Your going to need casters on that little black bag soon. Take care of your self.

Happy Trails

Len

[gailkaitschuck]

Guy

Next time your ticker starts acting up, come on down to the Augusta Georgia VA Medical Center. That's where I work.

I'd be your cardiac dietitian.

Gail

[D. Tillery]

Hang in there Guy. "Gathering" season is fast approaching and we hope to see you at several.

PS Nobody bring Fettucine Alfredo to the pot luck.

[Guy]

Dear Gail,

I love it. That would actually be fun. Here is the question I had for my cardiac dietitian that she would not answer. It sounds sarcastic but it a real question.

I am 57 years old, post quadtrupal CABG, with brain tumor,CHF, and diabetes, and enjoying all the other gifts of Agent Orange, on 24 meds including the highest dosage of Lipitor. So why do I still have to give up a steak or Coop's venison chile?