A Fresh Start

User

Posted 30 Oct 2015 at 11:07

Hi Steve, I had a Quadruple bypass in 2007 after having 2 heart attacks. I must admit I was terrified when I got the appointment to go into hospital, but here I am 8 years later with no heart problems. Not going to bull you it's hard work for a couple of weeks after operation but do the exercises and it is worth it. Can forget the heart problem after that and do what I do, concentrate on beating PCa.

Trevor

User

Posted 30 Oct 2015 at 23:41

Hi,

Thanks everyone, for the advice.

I really need to ask questions on Monday to find out what would be best for me. I am very curious to find out the present state of my heart. I have great faith in my consultant. I just hope I'm given the time. I'm sure he will be very busy given that it's a Monday.

Steve

User

Posted 31 Oct 2015 at 00:04

Hope you get the answers you are seeking Steve

Bri

User

Posted 31 Oct 2015 at 11:15

Good luck on Monday Steve.

Firstly, it is essential that you get answers to your questions in order for you to make a decision for the future.

Your consultant WILL be a very busy man, bound to be - too many patients - too little time but.........

you are important too so make sure that you have the questions either firmly fixed in your mind (you won't ! most of us wouldn't) or write them down, you know the drill after all this time!.

Make sure you have all the answers he can give.

I appreciate that some of the answers will be dependant on tests etc but he should be able to give an informed opinion based on what he knows of you as well as your history.

It won't be any good getting home and kicking yourself because you still don't have the answers and therefore don't know what to do.

As usual, fingers crossed for you.

Edited by member 31 Oct 2015 at 11:16 | Reason: Not specified

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 31 Oct 2015 at 21:28

Good luck for Monday Steve, ask away and get those answers.

Cheers

Allison xx

User

Posted 02 Nov 2015 at 07:28

Good luck for today Steve

Don't deny the diagnosis; try to defy the verdict

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 01:06

Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

Went into hospital early this morning for my planned angiogram. Ended up first on the list. Longest procedure I've had so far. They really checked out that things were working ok. The result was that they found out that the stent in my right coronary artery was failing and needed to be opened up again. That could explain why I've not been feeling very good in recent months.

Anyway, it's fixed now, for the time being.

We discussed what my consultant thought would be best for me in the future and he said he was happy with what had been done so far but said he would consider the possibility of a bypass operation if things became any worse. I was happy with that.

I was discharged at about 5.30pm, and taken home by my daughter and wife, through very heavy traffic.

I started to feel quite ill in the car, headache, sickness and minor chest pains. When we arrived home, as soon as I got out of the car, I found I was very dizzy and collapsed onto the pavement. My wife and daughter called an ambulance and our kind neighbours brought out blankets and a pillow to make me more comfortable until the paramedics arrived. I felt such a fool. I just wanted to try and get into my house but no one would let me move. I haven't collapsed like that since I had my heart attack last November.

So now I find myself back in the Cardiac Care Unit again, feeling fed up and frustrated.

Steve

Edited by member 01 Apr 2016 at 11:20 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 02:53

You really do suffer Steve - enough to get anybody down. I know virtually nothing about hearts but I have a friend who had a bypass about 27 years ago. The scars were considerable but it saved his life. He still has regular check ups and only recently gave up flying model planes on a control line at 79 as his planes were making him revolve so fast! (He held the National speed class record at one time). Incidentally, he has PIN with PSA hovering around 7-8 so also is regularly monitored for this too. So I hope like him should you decide to have the bypass, you will still have a good and active life.

Barry

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 06:31

Hi Steve

Sorry to hear your news, you have been through the wars.

Wishing you all the best and a speedy return home.

Sandy.

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 07:17

heres to a quick hospital visit all the best
nidge

run long and prosper

'pooh how do you spell love'

'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 07:27

Steve

Keep your chin up mate.

Love Chris and Dawn

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 07:37

Thinking of you Steve,

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 08:23

Our wishes are with you Steve! My dad had a triple bypass at 65 and is now 73 and going well. Take care.
Chris and Elaine

If life gives you lemons , then make lemonade

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 09:03

Hi Steve

You've certainly been through the mill. Hoping for a speedy return home for you

Need you to be fit and well for the Flyer event!

Best wishes

Arthur

Edited by member 03 Nov 2015 at 09:33 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 09:09

Feeling a fool? !!!!! What ??

Were you just pretending then to get a bit more attention??

Honestly, sometimes I could shake you my friend.

If you were so faint that you collapsed on the drive and your wife and daughter were so concerned they called an ambulance and THEY were so concerned you were carted back what does that tell you.

Feeling foolish doesn't come into it does it. Without your heart your dead, end of.

Any risk with that, like insisting on staying at home would then indeed make you a fool and you are (usually!!) far from that.

Perhaps a blessing in disguise, the fact that you will be double checked.

I suspect it may have been a result of the trauma of the day, getting used to the "new" you with the stent now cleared. After all, you've felt unwell enough recently haven't you. Perhaps your body was just adjusting to the increased blood flow and initially was struggling to cope.

All of this is beyond your control (provided you are doing all the right things healthwise) so please my friend stop feeling as if everything you do turns to ashes and makes you a fool.

Collapsing on the drive after the day you had is not as embarrassing as collapsing on the drive after a night on the booze now is it. Your neighbours were concerned for you and your wife and daughter and wanted to help in anyway they could.
Well done them.

When you get back home and they start asking you how you are don't feel the need to make grovelling apologies for behaving like a fool. Accept the enquiries as general concern for you and just say a grateful thanks.

Chin up young man. I bet you feel better today, well I hope you do.

Now are we listening you are not a fool.

Best wishes
Sandra

Edited by member 03 Nov 2015 at 09:13 | Reason: Not specified

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 09:30

Sending my thoughts and love at what must be such a difficult, frustrating time for you,

Fiona.x

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 10:48

I must add my very best wishes Steve, somehow I think you are going to be ok.

Stay Strong, you are stronger than you think.

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 12:03

Hi,

Thank you for your kind messages.

I've just been seen by the duty consultant and told that I could get out by tonight if I manage to walk around without feeling dizzy. Not really happening at the moment but I'm sure things will be fine later.

He said that my troponin level tests (which can indicate if you've had a heart attack) came back as being over 900. The normal level is anything up to 14 but because I'd just had the angioplasty earlier in the day, he said the high troponin levels were probably due to the damage caused by that rather than another heart attack. Anyway, it was right for me to go in because how I felt, was exactly as I did when I had my heart attack. It's only because my BP is back to normal and chest pains have gone that he believes it probably wasn't caused by another heart attack.

Unfortunately, I will miss my grandson opening his presents on his first birthday (today) which I feel really sad about, but I suppose, at least, I'll be here for his next birthday (fingers crossed).

Thanks everyone for your kindness. I know these incidents are nothing to do with PCa but tend to be quiet important in my life. I need to get things off my chest sometimes.

Steve x

User

Posted 03 Nov 2015 at 22:08

Hi,

Home now.

The doctors and nurses rushed my discharge through because I mentioned that we were having a family party for our grandson's first birthday.

I'm really pleased I made it there. It was great to see him open his presents and cards (with help).

Great to be home. Tired.

Steve

User

Posted 04 Nov 2015 at 06:27

No place like home.

Take care.

Sandy

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