38 And I May Have A Bad Ticker

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
A few weeks ago my dad passed out at work and was taken to the hospital. They found out he has an aortal fibrillation and have him on some pretty strong meds now.

Since I have fought with elevated blood pressure and have had some of the same symptoms he was having before his balckout, I decided to go to my own doctor and get things checked out. He put me on a new blood pressure med and made an appointment for me to see a cardiologist.

I went to the appointment today and the first thing they did was run an EKG on me. The EKG came back abnormal so I am wearing a heart monitor for the next 24 hours. I also have to get fasting bloodwork done in the morning, go to a follow up appointment with my regular doc and a stress stest is scheduled for me on the 14th.

Once that is all over with, I go back on the 27th for the doc to look over everything and decide what the heck is wrong with me. He's also made it clear that I have hypertension so I need to quit smoking and loose about 90 pounds.

The odd thing is that I feel kind of numb to all of this. I figured I would be a lot more panicked but I'm not really sure what to think now.

All I can say is don't smoke and watch your diet.
The Marlboro Man and Ronald McDonald are in league with Satan.
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
Sorry to hear that news Cannonball but I'm glad you found out the possibility of a problem before something bad happened. Best wishes on the changes you'll be making. I'm sure you'll find some support here from ex smokers and dieters among us!

Take care and good luck on the 14th and 27th.
Regards,
Ralph
 

bigsteel

Call me Mr.Tinkertrain
sorry bout your dad,and good luck on your appointments.i quit smoking 2 years ago and have lost 40 lbs.and trust me the best way to lose quick pounds is to stop drinking pop! i stopped and lost 15 lbs in 6 months so i know it works.good luck.--josh
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
We wish you and your dad the best. Having gone through the same scenario just about a year ago, I can relate. The cardiologists don't take arterial fibrillation lightly, mine turned out to be ventricular tachycardia, which is about the same thing, irregular or fast heartbeat. I wound up with a pacemaker/defibrillator and a whole bunch of new things to take every day.

Keep us posted on how you both are doing.
 

N Gauger

1:20.3 Train Addict
Geeze!!! best wishes for you and your father!

Being diabetic --- In My opinion - you truly made the best decision, finding out NOW - before anything happened to you..... The Medical world is great now - they have all kinds of things to make you be better and more importantly - Feel Better!!!

And that's what we all want -- you & Your father to feel better!!!!!

Let us know what they find - we're here for ya!!! Just ask Ezdays!!! :) :) :)
 

Herc Driver

Active Member
Hope both you and your dad get the answers and help needed. It seems daunting at first - but finding out in time to fix the problem is worth so much.
 

Jim Krause

Active Member
Cannonball: My best wishes for a speedy recovery to your dad. There is that old thing called genetics which we all have to deal with in one way or another. Sounds like you are no exception, so you are going to have to make the changes necessary to deal with it in a positive way. I can tell you from observing people in my immediate family who were trying to lose weight and/or quit smoking that it is not an easy thing to do. Unfortunately the results of not making the changes are all too obvious. (I lost my wife three weeks ago to obesity related diabetes and breathing problems) Work with your doctors, forget about McD's and If possible get into a smoking sessation program. It will help if you get your wife involved with the dietary side of things and don't sneak extra calories. Good luck and God bless to you and your dad.
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
Cannonball: My best wishes for a speedy recovery to your dad. There is that old thing called genetics which we all have to deal with in one way or another. Sounds like you are no exception, so you are going to have to make the changes necessary to deal with it in a positive way. I can tell you from observing people in my immediate family who were trying to lose weight and/or quit smoking that it is not an easy thing to do. Unfortunately the results of not making the changes are all too obvious. (I lost my wife three weeks ago to obesity related diabetes and breathing problems) Work with your doctors, forget about McD's and If possible get into a smoking sessation program. It will help if you get your wife involved with the dietary side of things and don't sneak extra calories. Good luck and God bless to you and your dad.

I'm sorry to hear about your wife, Jim. :(

I've been trying to diet anyway. I don't like the way I feel or look at all any more. On an up note I have lost 15 pounds since my previous doctor's visit.

My wife and I quit smoking for 6 months a little over 2 years ago. Then we hit a rough patch in the road and both of us started again. Big mistake. I haven't quite been able to kick them since. This might be the push I need to give them up once and for all though.
 

N Gauger

1:20.3 Train Addict
Cannonball: My best wishes for a speedy recovery to your dad. There is that old thing called genetics which we all have to deal with in one way or another. Sounds like you are no exception, so you are going to have to make the changes necessary to deal with it in a positive way. I can tell you from observing people in my immediate family who were trying to lose weight and/or quit smoking that it is not an easy thing to do. Unfortunately the results of not making the changes are all too obvious. (I lost my wife three weeks ago to obesity related diabetes and breathing problems) Work with your doctors, forget about McD's and If possible get into a smoking sessation program. It will help if you get your wife involved with the dietary side of things and don't sneak extra calories. Good luck and God bless to you and your dad.
Jim - Sorry to hear that.. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you. I know first hand how hard it is to lose weight - been trying for years.. :( Still making progress - but it's slow...
 

jimh

New Member
I can certainly empathize with anyone here that has or is having on going health issues. I turn 38 this November and it seems like the last 2-3 years my body is starting to just come apart at the seems. Knock on wood the one thing I still have going for me is really good BP...120/70 on my last doctors visit last week.

Everything else is bad though. Diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic 8 years ago, major cholesterol issues, chronic sinus infections and headaches, chronic joint and muscle pain, have had three surgeries in the past year....and the hits just keep on rolling.

Not bringing it up to seek sympathy or to play one upmanship on anyone here. Just not my style. Only reason I am saying anything is to let you all know that if anyone needs an understanding ear about some health issue or another or needs to talk about it the door is open.

Cannonball, I hope that everything works out for you and that you can get control of all of this quickly and avoid the problems so many have to face.

Jim K, I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I can not say I know what you have been going through, but I can imagine how I would feel if I lost mine.
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
Well, a short update.

I carried a heart monitor for 24 hours and have no word back on that yet.

They called me last Friday afternoon with the results of my bloodwork and everything is normal except I have a low platelet count. That wasn't anything new to me. It's been that way for at least the last 7 years and to my knowledge has had no effect on anything healthwise.

I'm really suprised my cholesterol wasn't off the charts with my bad eating habits but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth either. I've been making a concious effort to improve my diet as of late and while I could be doing better, it is improving.

I've got the stress test scheduled for this Friday. I'm really looking forward to that.... :rolleyes:

So that's about it for now.

Thanks for the support guys. It means a lot to me.

And to those of you with health problems of your own, my thoughts and prayers go out to you.
 

Gil Finn

Active Member
It is amazing the amount of research, info and care they can give your heart today.

I will pray for you daily, it is time I made a list and thought of others instead of me, me ,me.

God bless.
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
It is amazing the amount of research, info and care they can give your heart today.

I will pray for you daily, it is time I made a list and thought of others instead of me, me ,me.

God bless.

Gil, from the sounds of things, you are battling far worse health problems than my own and you are in a position where thinking of yourself is a must. I don't see any fault in that at all.

I'll trade you a few prayers however. ;)
 

Gil Finn

Active Member
You bet Cannon Ball. Let us bare on an others burdens.

As for me I am doing OK, my hemoglobin went up a couple of points and I drove myself to the clinic for lab work this week. It is only a mile away however. Got a hair cut afterwards and called it a day.

That seemed impossoble a few weeks ago.

I find it to my advantage to keep the quacks, social workers and grave diggers away with a whip and chair if need be.

Speaking of cannon balls....
 

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Printer

New Member
My thoughts and sympathies are with you. I suffered a "Silent" heart attack at the end of March. None of the numb arm stuff. I woke at 4:00 am gasping for air, ice cold and sweaating profusely. In a panic, the wife bundled me into the T-Bird and drove like a mad-woman the nearly 30 miles to the nearest ER. They admitted me immediately telling me that I had just had a "Myocardial Infarction". They found a small blockage and ballooned it. I've been healthy as a horse all my life and now at 55 (I turned 56, 3 months after the event.) I find myself taking pills by the hand full and having to carry oxygen around. Plavix and Lovastatin for the heart and blood pressure with AdvAir and Spiriva for the COPD.

Keep your humor and don't let it stop you from living.:wave:
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
...I find myself taking pills by the hand full and having to carry oxygen around. Plavix and Lovastatin for the heart and blood pressure with AdvAir and Spiriva for the COPD.
Yeah, lots of fun isn't it? I take some 14 pills a day and they tell me I'm lucky. There are some in our position that take twice that. And about that Plavix... wasn't that delightful when you found out they no longer make the generic version of that? Bristol-Myers sued the generic guys and won. Through my insurance, my cost for the generic version was $14 for three months. The last time I bought the "brand name" version, it ran me $341.80 for three months worth. And they talk about the scammers taking advantage of the older folks.:curse: :curse:

Keep your humor and don't let it stop you from living.:wave:
That is key advice.:thumb: :thumb: You can't let things like this slow you down, or scare you. Roll with the punches, it takes time to get use to things, but I try hard to lead as normal a life as I can, and try not to dwell on my condition. But, I have altered my lifestyle and eating habits appreciably.
 

Printer

New Member
Yeah, lots of fun isn't it? I take some 14 pills a day and they tell me I'm lucky. There are some in our position that take twice that. And about that Plavix... wasn't that delightful when you found out they no longer make the generic version of that? Bristol-Myers sued the generic guys and won. Through my insurance, my cost for the generic version was $14 for three months. The last time I bought the "brand name" version, it ran me $341.80 for three months worth. And they talk about the scammers taking advantage of the older folks.:curse: :curse:

That is key advice.:thumb: :thumb: You can't let things like this slow you down, or scare you. Roll with the punches, it takes time to get use to things, but I try hard to lead as normal a life as I can, and try not to dwell on my condition. But, I have altered my lifestyle and eating habits appreciably.

Medicine costs:curse:
*deep breath scoot, keep the blood preassure under control*
The Spiriva is $199.00 for a 30 day supply at the local CVS. There are loopholes in the import meds law. My Doc writes the scripts and I order them "offshore". If customs grabs them, they send me a letter and I reply with my script number and they let them pass. May tsake longer but I'm saving up to 70%.
(if a man sticks a gun in my chest and says, "Your Money, Or Your Life." The Sheriff is all over him and he gets sent to prison.
IF the same person holds life saving meds and says, "Your Money, Or Your Life." He's a hero and a Great citizen.) WTF!?!?!?!?!?!?

I've been fighting severe depression and anger over this health problem of mine and the best words I can offer were to try to keep a good sense of humor. And try to keep other people around you. IF you have to much time alone to dwell on your misfortune, depression will be your constant companion, and that will do more to worsen your condition than anything else. We can be our own worst enemies. Sometimes it's hard to see the bright side of things. I have a keen liking for "Gallows" humor. I need to laugh at the Grim Reaper that stares back at me from the mirror. Flip him off and laugh in his face. I may go but it will be SCREAMING and KICKING and making such a fuss that he nor the devil will want me around. :twisted:

I'll stop here, I don't mean to hog cannonballs thread, but the recent health thing hit me hard and I felt compelled to offer what little and meager words of help I could muster.

Don't Keep The Faith... Pass It Around!

Scoot
 
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