cruzer
11-10-2010, 09:49 PM
After having a ball at Centerville on Sunday, I decided to catch up on some yard work and started mowing--after about 10 minutes, I felt some pain in my chest--went in the house and took my wife to lunch--came back and resumed the yard work--in a few minutes the pain came back with some tingling in the left arm--that was enough--within 45 minutes I was in the ER. 40 minutes later I was in the Coronary Care Unit. At 3 PM , a doctor came in and said he wanted me to sign a consent form for a angiogram with the possibility of the installation of one or 2 stints--I asked why so fast, he said he had a cancellation and could get to me at 6PM. WHOA !!! Called my daughter, Cindy, who is the ultra-sound technician for the #1 cardio-diagnostician in Texas and my cardiologist for 14 year ---she contacted him--in-flight--enroute to Kansas City--in 30 minutes I was talking to him. He has a top-of-the line cardoi CAT scanner--he told me to refuse the procedure and stand by--the hosp DR. refused to release me until he got more info. Tuesday morning, he continued testing and sent down the consent form--I wouldn't sign it--he said my BP was too high and kept me overnight--he insisted that an angiogram was my only chance. I immediately contacted the Hospital Patient Rights rep and asked for a conference--my primary care nurse heard about it and asked me to cancel the request, there was another way--I didn't ask any questions--this morning, the Dr came in--handed me my discharge papers and walked out at 11 AM.--I went directly to my cardiologist's office-- by 12 noon, I was prepped for a CAT scan--was on my home by 3 PM with a preliminary report indicating that the condition can be controlled by meds WHEW !!! Summed up--the reason I refused the angiogram was a kick-back to my airline flying--why should I fly into a severe thunder storm (angioplasty) without using my radar (CAT scan). I guess having a great support system--son, Master's Degree in Radiography--his wife ,a Nurse Practitioner, geriatrics--oldest daughter, LVN , geriatrics---wife, RN--and the youngest daughter, the Ultra-Sound Tech. and a great relationship with my cardiologist. I really wonder how many elderly are scared into unneeded high risk surgery. Sooo, in a nutshell--I have no activity restrictions--just some new meds--I'll know a lot more later this week. It was great to get back in the Marauder tonite--I'm hoping for many more years of fun. Please don't use this event to influence any of your decisions about coronary emergencies--I was lucky--you may have the real serious problems--DON'T Ignore Chest Pain !!!!! One Lucky Guy, Maury