Here I am...Kicking and Alive

[Cass]

Last friday my son Jacob and I went to do a water line foundation break about 20 miles from my home...All went well pigtailing out of the foundation with 3/4 K copper and packjointing back on to the polly that had broken right at the foundation...we started at about 10 AM or so and pulled away from the job at about 3 PM...traveling home I was about 1 mile from my exit when I started getting extreem pressure on my chest...but that was the only symptom...I told my son I was going to go to the hospital which was at the next exit up about 4-5 miles to the emergency room doors from where we were and if I passed out to take the wheel and keep going...He said pull over and he would drive but I didn't want to take the time...I made it to the emergency room and got out...that was the last thing I remember until I came to with a forced breathing tube in me keeping me alive...they had to restrain me because I started kicking and trying to remove the tube...so they upped my Diprovan (Michael Jackson) and put me back out...next thing I remember was waiking up at 2AM monday with a different breathing tube in me...after a couple hours they removed it...and I just got out today Thrusday...My heart stopped 3 times and they had to use 200 Jewles by-phase on the paddles to get it started all three times...I had 100% blockage on the main artery...it is called a widow maker heart attack...because it is so rare to come through it...they told me that since the Hospital opened about 2 years ago I was the only one they can remember making it through...

Just a little up date for ya all...now I am going to go lay down and rest.

Cass

[Thatguy]

http://www.askbootshealth.com/__data/assets/image/0005/48803/coronary-bypass01_default.gif

200 joules equals the energy dumped into a person by three 45 cal. handgun bullets or three fatal doses of radiation. I didn't think those machines went that high.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defibrillation

I'd say they had just about given up on you. :cool:

Do your chest muscles hurt from this?

If the hospital will tell you how many heart attack patients they see in two years you can literally compute your odds of having survived this.
If you're 50, you almost became the 0.6% of 50 yr. olds who don't get to see 51.
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/table4c6.html

Since I prefer to die with my boots on I hope I opt for the three bullets. :)

[Terry]

Pretty scary.
I'm glad you made it though.

Dang, you're just a year younger then me.

I've been taking fish oil capsules lately.
And eating more fish.

Ok, I forgot this morning, thanks for the reminder.
Way more to think about as we get older.

It's nice you had your son there to help out.
Terry

[Cookie]

Cass~~

I am going to rub your head and buy a lottery ticket! You are the luckiest man in the world.


Cookie~~

[FloridaOrange]

Glad to see you made it, now the hard part; amending your lifestyle/diet to hopefully avoid a repeat.

[Cookie]

Stats wise, this won't happen again, he really has no worries. He will go for regular check-ups and scans, and will have continued good health.

Just a tidbit of info here for anyone interested, Aspirin has many benefits, including not only for the heart but for the colon as well.

Keep kicking Cass! :) You rock!

[master plumber mark]

I think that is what is called a "wake up call"

you were really very lucky..... have they done a stint or something like that to you..???

did you see a white light or something??

please try to take care of yourself...



on a more personal note...

They put me on colestoral and high blood pressure medicine back in april....
I was weighing in at 205... and I was wheezeing like an old mule

then my wife and sister forced me to go on a jenny Craig diet
and basically pestered me every day since about my wieght

and now I am down to 186... and I am trying to get down to 175

went to the doctors on tuesday and he cut the blood pressur med to half....

I feel a lot better too...

every day this week I have installed 3 water heaters...
today two water softernes and one heater.....



I think if it were not for the diet I would be in deep trouble too...


try to take care of yourself,
pace yourself...take it easy...

[Thatguy]

Aspirin has many benefits,

Just 'cause I had a blood clot in a leg vein they wanted to put me on rat poison
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warfarin
but I take the 81 mg. of aspirin instead.
Possibly I take slightly longer to clot now from a wound.

Then they did a whole workup and found I had some slight genetic predisposition to clotting. . .???

"The Last Well Person" is a pretty good book on the practice of modern day medicine.
:o

[Cookie]

I'll look into that book. Is this it? http://mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=1753

http://www.heart.org.in/diseases/echocardiography.html

[jimbo]

Holy pipe wrench, Batman! Glad you are back on board!

Heart thing has me a little concerned now, but not like that! I had a routine physical a few weeks ago. Didn't want to go in, but she wouldn't renew my metformin again without a check-up! So she slaps an ECG on me and it's "oops". Didn't want to hear "oops"! She said...OK, BUT.....

What the bleep is "but" , so I have my appt at cardio today and he says same thing. OK,,, but, some irregularity in the ST segments, whatever that is. Just because age (65) and diabetes are risk factors, they will check it out. I now have to have an echo cardiogram and then a stress test.

Film at 11:00.

[Cass]

http://www.askbootshealth.com/__data/assets/image/0005/48803/coronary-bypass01_default.gif

200 joules equals the energy dumped into a person by three 45 cal. handgun bullets or three fatal doses of radiation. I didn't think those machines went that high.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defibrillation

I'd say they had just about given up on you. :cool:

Do your chest muscles hurt from this?

If the hospital will tell you how many heart attack patients they see in two years you can literally compute your odds of having survived this.
If you're 50, you almost became the 0.6% of 50 yr. olds who don't get to see 51.
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/table4c6.html

Since I prefer to die with my boots on I hope I opt for the three bullets. :)

I am 56 so the odds were even less that I would make it....I have a lot of fractured ribs from the CPR they gave me...pretty good pain when I cough ...the CPR doc. cam up to see me and he told me that while he was giving me the CPR he looked over at my son who was watching and thought of his own and said nope this guy has to make it....I'm not giving up...the 200 Jewels is the max. the machine will put out...but being by-phase it is 200 / phase...I think I will pass on the .45s :D

[Cass]

I think that is what is called a "wake up call"

you were really very lucky..... have they done a stint or something like that to you..???

did you see a white light or something??

please try to take care of yourself...



on a more personal note...

They put me on colestoral and high blood pressure medicine back in april....
I was weighing in at 205... and I was wheezeing like an old mule

then my wife and sister forced me to go on a jenny Craig diet
and basically pestered me every day since about my wieght

and now I am down to 186... and I am trying to get down to 175

went to the doctors on tuesday and he cut the blood pressur med to half....

I feel a lot better too...

every day this week I have installed 3 water heaters...
today two water softernes and one heater.....



I think if it were not for the diet I would be in deep trouble too...


try to take care of yourself,
pace yourself...take it easy...

They installed a stint on the 100% blocked artery and my other 2 have a 60 and 40 % blockage...they say they will deal with it using Plavix and other drugs...

The thing that helped me was I quit drinking my 1 qt. or more a week of vodka and my 3-4 packs a day of smokes back in the late 70s...haven't touched them since and as far as shape I was fairly good shape for my age...not the best but good...all that helped but the biggest thing was being at a ER with a cardio unit was what made the difference...right time right place...you know the montra...Was God overseeing the whole thing and orchrastrating it...I don't know...one day I will....

[Cass]

Rugged, I am salavating for some of that tender cut chicken slathered is gravy...:D

Well I am on some powerfull narcotics (Dialoted) sp? for the pain and it is starting to kick in so back to the couch I go...talk to ya all later.

Cass

[Cass]

It could be, genetic. I think maybe, once people hit a certain age, or younger due to family history certain tests might want to be done to rule out any potential problems. Worry, stress, and anger should be called diseases, they are very destructive forces. Sometimes, like what happened to my dad years ago, the meds they put him on for high blood pressure caused him to become depressed and angry; once, the doctor changed the meds, he was fine. The first meds was really counterproductive to him.


I'll look into that book. Is this it? http://mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=1753

http://www.heart.org.in/diseases/echocardiography.html

They did say based on my physical condition most of it was genitic...not to much can be done about that....

[Cookie]

Happy a happy new day!

[Cookie]

Rugged, I am salavating for some of that tender cut chicken slathered is gravy...:D



Cass

No. I don't think so. Tofu is your friend. :)

[Terry]

I'm trying to get my blood pressure lower.

When I was young, it was always on the low range, like for a runner,

Now I hear, Mr Love, you need to do something about that.

Not what a guy wants to hear.
Yes, cutting out gravy, a lot of fats, trying to remember to get out more.
I'm not looking forward to trying out the cracked ribs yet Cass.

Yes, I will do better on my changed diet.
Oatmeal, I even had oatmeal yesterday.

And it was a good thing your son was there.
Real good.

[Cass]

I had oatmeal this AM and in light of what bacon and eggs will lead to, which has been prety much my standard fair all my life, oatmeal was a very welcome sight...I for one don't have a problem changing my diet...it doesn't bother me at all...I just want to be able to put something in my mouth and chew...the alternitive, not chewing anything ever again is what I don't want...:)

[Cookie]

You are going to be fine, not to worry. I got my crystal ball out and I see plumbing in your future. :)

[Cookie]

Dinner: Oatmeal with tofu. :)

[Cass]

I just had fun at The local Krogers Food Store...While I was in there I went over to the blood pressure machine and checked it 92/59 which is a little low but OK...If I have a chance I will post a pic of my eyes...the whites are bright blood red, not like drinking for 3 days but bright blood red like a horror movie...so I walked up to the girl at the drug counter and opened my eyes wide so she got a real good look at them and said, " I got bit by a vampire last night and was wondering if there was anything you could suggest I take for it...she backed up and turned to the other people who turned and looked so I opened my eyes wide for all of them and started laughing....like I said...If I can post a pic I will....it is quite unnerving to look at...:)

[Ian Gills]

Glad to hear you are OK and on the mend. You'd think on a plumbing forum we'd all have good pipes, good pumps and good pressure, bad sadly no.

I worry all the time about a heart attack. I am only 34, with borderline high blood pressure i.e. no drugs yet and overweight. I really do not stand a chance.

I wish I could lose weight but I have only ever been slim for one year of my life...21 years. It must be genetic.

My wife on the other hand has low blood pressure (a bit like your reading) and her dad has real low blood pressure....so low he passes out. He has to take drugs to raise it.

Zero blood pressure is the one to avoid though.

Sushi and sardines every day did wonders for my BP. Couldn't stick with it though. There was so much oil from the fish in me I could feel it on my skin.

[Cookie]

I just had fun at The local Krogers Food Store...While I was in there I went over to the blood pressure machine and checked it 92/59 which is a little low but OK...If I have a chance I will post a pic of my eyes...the whites are bright blood red, not like drinking for 3 days but bright blood red like a horror movie...so I walked up to the girl at the drug counter and opened my eyes wide so she got a real good look at them and said, " I got bit by a vampire last night and was wondering if there was anything you could suggest I take for it...she backed up and turned to the other people who turned and looked so I opened my eyes wide for all of them and started laughing....like I said...If I can post a pic I will....it is quite unnerving to look at...:)


The Mayo Clinic a couple of years ago, wanted all those BP machines removed because the owners do not calibrate them like they should be. Just a word of warning not to rely entirely, on those, ok.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-pressure/AN00567/rss=1

[Thatguy]

I am 56
a lot of fractured ribs from the CPR they gave me
pretty good pain when I cough
this guy has to make it
I will pass on the .45s :D
Well, I hope you outlive your allotted 24 more years. . .I've got 18 more.
Of course, if we survive the hazards between now and then we get a few more years. At age 105 we get one more year!

Yes, Cookie, that's the book. This author introduced me to Karl Popper's idea of falsifiability, and for that I thank him.
On the cover, the woman on the right who is leaving. . .? I always wondered what the rest of her looks like.:D I don't think I'll find out, though. . .

[Ian Gills]

The Mayo Clinic a couple of years ago, wanted all those BP machines removed because the owners do not calibrate them like they should be. Just a word of warning not to rely entirely, on those, ok.

I can't agree more. I have had readings of over 200 over something on those purely because I do not like the feeling (of stopping the blood flow in my arm, which I find creepy) and flinch.

I insist now on a doctor or nurse taking my blood pressure manually, where they can check and recheck by releasing a little pressure and pumping up again.

[Cookie]

Glad to hear you are OK and on the mend. You'd think on a plumbing forum we'd all have good pipes, good pumps and good pressure, bad sadly no.

I worry all the time about a heart attack. I am only 34, with borderline high blood pressure i.e. no drugs yet and overweight. I really do not stand a chance.

I wish I could lose weight but I have only ever been slim for one year of my life...21 years. It must be genetic.

My wife on the other hand has low blood pressure (a bit like your reading) and her dad has real low blood pressure....so low he passes out. He has to take drugs to raise it.

Zero blood pressure is the one to avoid though.

Sushi and sardines every day did wonders for my BP. Couldn't stick with it though. There was so much oil from the fish in me I could feel it on my skin.

Ian, sometimes people think being overweight can cause a heart attack or make it be worse. That is not exactly true. If it is genetic, weight wouldn't even be a contributing factor. Their is genetic testing you can have done to see if you have the gene. If you have insurance depending on the kind you have, it might only cost out of your pocket, 500.00. If the gene is found they will recommend that you have stress tests starting at age 30, and an annual check up and that is it, until, you reach 40. Family history really dictates what you do. Honestly, if worried, it is better to talk it over with your family physician and schedule having a stress test done, and annual check up. Then, you can put that worry behind you. Thiry-four is too young to be worrying about this Ian.

Plus, from what I have been reading on the studies regarding the body mass index is that it is a bunch of hooey and is being looked at and studied further. I think they are finding out that being heavier can honestly, be alittle bit healthier. Drinking a glass of red wine in the evening I have read is good for your heart.


Food can reduce blood pressure, especially if you are borderline.

Did you know this? A high potassium-low sodium diet reduces the rise in blood pressure during mental stress by reducing the blood vessel constricting effect of adrenaline. Sodium restriction alone does not improve blood pressure control; it must be accompanied by a high potassium intake.

http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/heart/hypert_diet_therapy.htm

[Cookie]

Scrambled Tofu with Garlic and Red Peppers

Ingredients

6 ounces soft tofu
2 fresh mushrooms, chopped
1/4 small onion, minced
1/4 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 clove garlic, pressed
1/2 teaspoon each ground turmeric and dried thyme
Olive oil cooking spray
Dash of black pepper

Serves 4

Directions

Spray a medium-size skillet with olive oil and place over low heat. Add the vegetables.

Cover, and allow to "poach" for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the tofu, herbs and spices. Fry, stirring a few times, until the vegetables are soft.
Break the wedge of tofu up into chunky pieces while scrambling with a wooden or plastic spoon. Scramble light to firm, depending on your preference.

Tabasco sauce goes well with tofu.

Nutrition Information

Calories per serving: 102.
Percentage of calories from fat 40%
protein 37%
carbohydrates 23%
cholesterol 0 mg

[Cass]

Well back to work today....kinda...I have a water heater that my 2 sons are installing and I am going to be sittting and watching...thats it...I refuse to touch a tool...I'm not even driving to the job...not sure how long driving will not be allowed but that will be up to the Doc.

I go back for a test and check up on thursday I think...so sightseeing and sleeping are all I am doing until further notice...

Oh well it is hard to go from working to zero but I do want to stick around for a while so I will follow orders...

[Cass]

I am still waiting for the recipe for the tender cut chicken and gravy...It must have lotsa fat it it for flavor...:)

[Cass]

Well the days job never jelled...the customer never called...so back to the couch I go for now...I am on steroids and this is the first time in my life I have ever been on them...WoW is all I can say...lotsa energy with nothing to do...

[Terry Love]

Well, let me give you some advice from someone that likes to play doctor.

Enjoy this brief moment of time.
Too much energy, hmmmm

Dr Love would know what to do with too much energy.
You do know that I'm a heart specialist in my spare time.

[master plumber mark]

thats a cute picture...Terry


just sit back and take it easy Cass...

[hj]

A couple of years ago I had gas pains in my chest in the evening. I drank some cold water and it felt better. The next morning the pain was gone. That evening it was back a little stronger. I drank the cold water and went to bed. The next morning I still had the pain, but since my doctor was at his second office on that day, I decided I would go see him the following day. But, I had to pick up some parts later that morning which put me near his second office. I went in and told him the sympoms, he put me on the EKG, and asked if I wanted to be transported to the hospital. I said, never mind, I have to get my truck home so I will drive there. I drove home and then called my wife. I asked her if she was very busy, and when she asked why, I told her I was having a heart attack and needed a ride to the hospital. When I got there, it was only about 30 minutes before I was in the Cath room and they were inserting 4 stents.

[master plumber mark]

When I got there, it was only about 30 minutes before I was in the Cath room and they were inserting 4 stents.


HJ.. Did the stints work a miracle on you?? Were you feeling better the next day...??

Its great that they can do that kind of less invasive procedure on people these days...

anything is better than having the old "black and decker" cut into you...

[Thatguy]

I am on steroids
I guess to strengthen heart muscle that was not damaged or killed by the blockage.

Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore. . .:eek:

[Cookie]

Actually, it is to raise the red blood counts (cells) which produces oxygen, and reduces the strain on the heart pumping blood. Without enough of oxygen you could have another heart attack.

That is why runners and such, are not allowed steriods.

[Thatguy]

Actually, it is to raise the red blood counts (cells) which produces oxygen, and reduces the strain on the heart pumping blood. Without enough of oxygen you could have another heart attack.

That is why runners and such, are not allowed steriods.
You da' Ma'am!:p

[Peanut9199]

Well the days job never jelled...the customer never called...so back to the couch I go for now...I am on steroids and this is the first time in my life I have ever been on them...WoW is all I can say...lotsa energy with nothing to do...

Your not on Prednisone are you?

[Cass]

Yes...I am on it for another 2.5 days and then it's over...

[Peanut9199]

Good get off that as soon as you can.

The side effects of that is unbelievable and the longer your on the longer it takes to come off.

[Cookie]

You are right about that. Hard stuff.

[Peanut9199]

My mother ended up twice in the hospital, because she couldn't sleep for days and she couldn't stop moving or even sitting down for more than a minute.
She also got very agressive to the point she was going to punch a Doctor for asking too many questions and she's 63.

She's down to 10 and 7.5 alternating days and next month it will be 7.5 everyday. She can only go down 2mg a month alternating months.

[Cass]

I guess then I am lucky that tomorrow is my last day on them...I only take 1 pill tomorrow and then it's over...not sure what the crash will be like...none I hope...

[Peanut9199]

It shouldn't i think the Doctor told my Mom you have to take it for more than 25 days (not sure how they came up with that number) you can come off or drop down to your original dosage.

She went from 10 to 50 when she got really sick and they told here as long as she isn't on it for over a month she can drop back to 10.

You may have a headache but i think that would be all.

[Cookie]

Peter, how did they tell your mother to take the pills? Did they suggest milk or food and did they tell her the time of day to take it?

[Cookie]

I guess then I am lucky that tomorrow is my last day on them...I only take 1 pill tomorrow and then it's over...not sure what the crash will be like...none I hope...


You probably will find you will wake up a couple times during the night and be like wide awake, it is then, a tv comes in real handy. I would imagine this will happen for about 2 weeks Cass, and you will continue to be hungry for about the same amount of time. But it all goes away. A headache is possible because your oxygen levels will be adjusting theirselves but it remedies itself, the body is a wonderful piece of machinery in that it tunes itself up like the cars of today, no more need for a tuning gun.

[Peanut9199]

Yes Milk or food, food being the best.

She takes it only once in the morning after breakfast.

When she was at a higher dose we split it one in the morning and one after dinner but a side effect to it is insomnia so we switched to both in the morning.

[Cookie]

Yep, that was what I was going to suggest if they hadn't already. The earlier in the day she can take it the better.

[Cookie]

Now, we should be grateful too for Steriods because they solve so many problems. It saves lives.

But,

I remember my brother's dog even being on steriods for a skin problem and this nice, normal dog who kisses me to death for years, he knows me! nearly took my face off this one time when I went to pet him. :)

Peter, they told me that the dog paced all night, they had to get his nails clipped for it kept everyone awake.

[Dunbar Plumbing]

Damn dude, didn't I just speak with you right before that happened?

Quick question;


Did you take aspirin on a regular basis before leading up to this heart attack.

[Cass]

Not daily but from time to time...that day when I thought I was haveing the attatck I grabbed 2 (I keep a bottle in the truck) and let them slowly dissolve in my mouth...so something helped...

[leejosepho]

Glad to hear you made it through, my fellow!

[Cookie]

Lee, I thought you dropped off the face of the earth! I am glad to see you are back, how have you been?

[Cookie]

Not daily but from time to time...that day when I thought I was haveing the attatck I grabbed 2 (I keep a bottle in the truck) and let them slowly dissolve in my mouth...so something helped...


Yeah, and who told you to take a baby pill daily? hmm... let me think. :)
People, if you aren't 18 anymore, please that the little baby aspirin or 81mg daily, at the very least ask your doctor if you should.

[Cass]

Glad to hear you made it through, my fellow!

Thank you...I don't remember much of it which is good...:D

[Thatguy]

"Other short-term side effects of prednisone include insomnia, euphoria and, in some cases, even mania. Using prednisone for long periods can cause side effects such as Cushing's syndrome, weight gain, osteoporosis, glaucoma and type II diabetes mellitus. Upon withdrawal of prednisone after long-term use, patients also suffer from depression."

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prednisone

[Cookie]

Yeah, but you got to know how that works. When a drug company puts that long list of possible side effects on the label it is because as little as 2 people had that side effect. It takes only 2 people out of the trials for it to be put on the list. The big side effects, the widely known side effects the doctor will tell you about; the remote ones never get told for that reason, the chances are nil to none.

[Ian Gills]

People, if you aren't 18 anymore, please that the little baby aspirin or 81mg daily, at the very least ask your doctor if you should.

I am only 34 and I decided to take the plunge. I spend a lot of time flying which is another good reason to take it.

If I get any side effects, I'll stop. I have been on aspirin for months now.

I did not ask my doctor. I know I should have.

[Cookie]

You should talk to your doctor first, but, probably fine to do, especially if you do fly alot. But, people honestly worry too much about stuff. I know it is hard not to, but it can be done. I don't mean to preach or lecture but what you are feeling is normal people don't realize that sometimes. Just the other day, my oldest son, so old at 26 said to me, " man, I am getting old." My God, I got to be ancient for I gave birth to him, 26 YEARS ago! Today, on the phone, I had to listen to the machine message, first it said, to push the language I wanted, but failed to give me an option of any. So, I stood there looking in the holes hoping it realize its own folly. But, the woman on the machine came back saying, " you didn't select a language." I stood there thinking, well, I do have my blonde moments but if I can understand you, it must be English? Eventually, it got disgusted with me not entering anything even though I was pushing anywhere from the number 1 to 10, so it gave me another option. I sat down, got my coffee put it speaker phone, if I had a cigerette I would lit it, and listened. This message was giving me age brackets! "From age 19 to whatever push one... I felt really old by the time it had hit mine ten minutes later.

So, we are really only as old as machines make us feel. :)

[Ian Gills]

But, people honestly worry too much about stuff.

I agree Cookie.

But my biggest fear is never being able to spend my pension.

To be "free" again. It must be like being a kid.

Strangely I am not afraid of death. I have already been there. It's just like it was before I was born...

[Cookie]

You will, you will be here watching your wife spend your pension. :) You will see.

[Ian Gills]

watching your wife spend your pension

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[leejosepho]

Lee, I thought you dropped off the face of the earth! I am glad to see you are back, how have you been?

Well enough, and I thank you for asking!

After an attack on my heart 10 years ago, I took and aspirin every day until I had to go get two units of blood because of some internal bleeding nobody could ever find ... and now I take a low-dose aspirin daily without trouble. But overall, I stay as far away from the witch's cauldron as possible.

[Thatguy]

But my biggest fear is never being able to spend my pension.

At 34 there's an ~80% chance that the "average male" will spend at least some of his pension.

[Cookie]

You brought up a very good point here Lee. If anyone knows they are going to have surgery of any kind, even dental cleaning to stop taking the aspirin or naproxen. Naproxen is found in products like Aleve, etc. Always read the labels. It is good practice to always stop these things at least a week before surgery this is something that needs to be told to the doctor that day of surgery if you haven't. Trust me on that one. I get the feeling as you well know, too Lee. This goes for all vitamins as well, even a daily mutli vitamin. Or if you take herbs in pill form. Like a garlic pill, etc. For the sake and the love of God, stop the garlic pill, lol. before surgery. :)

[SewerRatz]

Hey Cass, glad you are OK buddy, sorry I been playing catch up on all the forums. I was away for a week.

I just was taken off the rat poison. I was on it due to pulmonary Embolisms I had in 2006. I thought all I had was a bad chest cold, but when it got to the point where I could only walk 5 feet before I ran out of breath, I figured time to see the doc.

They had me hooked up to an EKG machine and a machine that watches my BP and amount of oxygen in my blood,. They noticed my BP was up and my O2 levels where low even with oxygen mask on. So the sent me down for a CT scan with a contrast. On the way back up a doc was telling me I had blood clots in the arteries in my lungs there where to many to count and they where huge. The right lungs artery was completely clotted shut and the left side it was barley squeaking by. They said if I waited two more days I would of just stopped breathing and died.

So they put me on a hemprin drip and in the ICU for two weeks to figure out where the clots came from. (they still do not know to this day) I was on warferin all that time till now they are going to run a few tests to see if I have to go back on it or not.

[Ian Gills]

pulmonary Embolisms...and at least three heart attacks.

Can we just hold on here a minute, pleeeeeeeease. Is anyone that posts on this forum in good health?

If so, please raise your hand.

So far, it looks like just Terry and only because someone has to dress up and play doctor.

I have minor chest aches and pains a lot, just like your arms and legs might feel after a hard day's work. I do not know if this is normal. When should someone worry? I do get a lot of anxiety.

Funnily enough remodeling work is one of the few things that relieve my anxiety.

I am cool as a cucumber laying pipe. When I am wiring I do not have a care in the world.

[Cookie]

Hey Cass, glad you are OK buddy, sorry I been playing catch up on all the forums. I was away for a week.

I just was taken off the rat poison. I was on it due to pulmonary Embolisms I had in 2006. I thought all I had was a bad chest cold, but when it got to the point where I could only walk 5 feet before I ran out of breath, I figured time to see the doc.

They had me hooked up to an EKG machine and a machine that watches my BP and amount of oxygen in my blood,. They noticed my BP was up and my O2 levels where low even with oxygen mask on. So the sent me down for a CT scan with a contrast. On the way back up a doc was telling me I had blood clots in the arteries in my lungs there where to many to count and they where huge. The right lungs artery was completely clotted shut and the left side it was barley squeaking by. They said if I waited two more days I would of just stopped breathing and died.

So they put me on a hemprin drip and in the ICU for two weeks to figure out where the clots came from. (they still do not know to this day) I was on warferin all that time till now they are going to run a few tests to see if I have to go back on it or not.


So, Ratz,

Are you saying that is why you love those rats of yours so much? (they are saying you can have all the rat poison you want they don't want it) :)

That had to have been so hard Ratz, yet look what we can overcome. Isn't it all amazing?
Their is a reason why.

[Cookie]

...and at least three heart attacks.



I am cool as a cucumber laying pipe. When I am wiring I do not have a care in the world.


Most people are. :)

[SewerRatz]

Oh the irony of a guy that calls him self a sewer ratz taking rat poison to stay alive was not lost on me.I just hope i do not have to go back on it. While taking the stuff any small bump can lead to internal bleeding. The local hospitals got to know me all to well.

[Ian Gills]

I work with several colleagues that have had pulmonary Embolisms whilst flying.

They still fly...but have to take the rat poison to do it. It seems once you have had a pulmonary embolism, the risk never goes away and you have to take precautions.

But they seem to do just fine.

[Cookie]

...and at least three heart attacks.

Can we just hold on here a minute, pleeeeeeeease. Is anyone that posts on this forum in good health?

If so, please raise your hand.

So far, it looks like just Terry and only because someone has to dress up and play doctor.

I have minor chest aches and pains a lot, just like your arms and legs might feel after a hard day's work. I do not know if this is normal. When should someone worry? I do get a lot of anxiety.

Funnily enough remodeling work is one of the few things that relieve my anxiety.

I am cool as a cucumber laying pipe. When I am wiring I do not have a care in the world.


I would bet that is normal, but I am not a doctor like Terry. :) I think, any pain should be checked out if you are concerned. But, more so, what you might want to do, is to have that annual check up, Ian, some people go 2 times a year, have a blood test ( so much is shown by a simple blood test nowdays) whatever, the doctor feels is right for you. This way, it soothes that concern and that is great! That is what you want to do. So, if you get a pain, you know it is okay, nothing building up in the arteries to make you worry, you will know it is from working and that is it. Take advantage too, of the freebee stuff. When they come around in the supermarkets or pharmacies, or mobiles and offer to do a testing or something at a nomimal cost.

If doing remodeling relieves the anxiety, it is working with your hands that is doing the trick. It is interesting that you said, your dad was a plumber and you love to plumb, it is something familiar to you. Plus, you might like doing something with your hands, but also, like to see an end result which takes thinking, and planning, yet probably, not like what you do for a living. So it separates work and play. Is your job very stressful?

I bet you would be a sure bet for other things working with your hands. I paint or I write. I am the same way, if I paint a sunset or a winter scene or a child's face I am so relaxed I probably don't have a pulse. :)

[Cookie]

Oh the irony of a guy that calls him self a sewer ratz taking rat poison to stay alive was not lost on me.I just hope i do not have to go back on it. While taking the stuff any small bump can lead to internal bleeding. The local hospitals got to know me all to well.



Read up on the diet you will find on the American Heart Asso. website. I am telling you, that is a wonderful site. It is loaded with things everyone should know.

[Cookie]

I am going to brag here for alittle bit, but only because I am so proud of these programs. In the schools coming this fall, you will see little cans which will be collecting pennies...

1. Pennies for patients
2. Pennies for pasta
3. Hop for Lymphoma.

[SewerRatz]

Diet. Things like Kale, loaded with Vitamin K. But, honestly, even something as simple as this check with your doctor first because this will thin your blood. I believe everything in moderation. I think people can do whatever they want to do, if done in moderation. People get into trouble when it is excessive.

Read up on the diet you will find on the American Heart Asso. website. I am telling you, that is a wonderful site. It is loaded with things everyone should know.

Vitamin K is what helps clotting, its what the liver needs to make the protein to help with the clotting. If my INR levels clotting factor was off due to the Warfarin they give me Vitamin K to counter it and lower the INR back to where it belongs. So I have to watch how much vitamin K I take in, well I had to back when I was on the thinners.

Warfarin didn't really "thin" the blood it changed the protein that is needed to form the clot. INR is clotting factor normal people that or not on Warfarin have a clotting factor of 1.0 to be therapeutic they wanted a INR reading of 2.0 to 3.0 any thing above 3.0 was bad. A 4.0 INR meant the slightest hit I would bruise real fast and and bleed internally easily. 5.0 INR and higher blood vessels in the brain can easily burst open. The scary part of Warfarin is people may keep an INR of 2.0 the whole time and still have internal bleeding happen for no reason. Most doctors really do not like having their patents on this stuff.

[Cookie]

YOU are so right! I got this confused, lol, I am so sorry, I am not really trying to kill you, :)

Vitamin K is not recommeneded for those who need thinner blood.


http://www.springboard4health.com/notebook/v_k.html

[Cookie]

What was I thinking? :)

[Cookie]

I was reading an article a friend sent me at the same time, on absettoes in cigerettes, and I was thinking, wow, fireproof lungs. I cannot multi task, or walk and chew gum at the same time.

[SewerRatz]

Its all good Miss Cookie. I figured you got the information a bit mixed up.

[Cookie]

It was Red's fault. :) I was reading a very good article he had written. I told him, he should post it here, it is that good. Facts I never knew, pretty good stuff.

[Cookie]

I still liked the one where I told Jimbo, that their was a big rise on identity theft because the dead people were stealing identities. ;) Not exactly what I meant, but it is exactly how it came out. You wonder why their are editors, eh.

*I think we need a blooper section. ;)

Cass, can I help you get well? :) lol.

[leejosepho]

I have minor chest aches and pains a lot, just like your arms and legs might feel after a hard day's work. I do not know if this is normal ...

Can you do more squats or more pushups? My bottom half has always been stronger than my top half, and my arms tire easily when working overhead. Thus, the heart attack I experienced was a blockage in some small arteries behind the heart ... and somehow, all of that is related!

[Ian Gills]

Let's just say that I have never been able to do a pushup.

[SewerRatz]

I have very strong legs. But I also can do tons of push-ups. Pull ups on the other hand forget about it.

[Cookie]

Hey, I am so excited I just got back from getting a new parttime job to help make ends meet. It is kind of funny because the lady said, " any chance you are going to wear any of these clothes here?"

HA. Not on your life. They sell maternity wear! :)

[Cass]

Ha Ha ha...that is funny...

[Cookie]

Actually, pregnant women usually wants to buy a house.

[Cookie]

Can you do more squats or more pushups? My bottom half has always been stronger than my top half, and my arms tire easily when working overhead. Thus, the heart attack I experienced was a blockage in some small arteries behind the heart ... and somehow, all of that is related!


Can a woman answer this, too? I lift weights so, I have a stronger upper body and arms. But, I ride a bike and use a treadmill, too.
I think... how it might all be related is the way, the blood is able to flow through your arms and legs due to oxygen.

[Cass]

No...women are not allowed to answer questions...:D

[Cookie]

I'm telling my cousin. :)

[leejosepho]

Can a woman answer this, too? I lift weights so, I have a stronger upper body and arms. But, I ride a bike and use a treadmill, too.
I think... how it might all be related is the way, the blood is able to flow through your arms and legs due to oxygen.

Blood flow is certainly the issue, and I was surprised to learn "a heart attack" is not caused by something being wrong with one's heart. Rather, it is "an attack on the heart" ... and the problem stems from the circulatory "plumbing" around or even near the heart, and some of us seem to have poor plumbing in that area. In my own case, just holding my arms above my shoulders for several seconds is somehow enough to reduce or restrict the flow of blood to my heart and cause a shortness of breath and angina (chest pain). I really know very little here, but I do know keeping our plumbing cleared out -- read: radical diet change -- can be a life-or-death matter.

[Cookie]

You are very right Joe, no doubt about that. The analogy is really on the money.

[leejosepho]

I think, we as humans probably take better care of our cars or computers, than we do of ourselves.

Well, of course! Cars and computers cost money and have resale values!


We do not allow ourselves to think outside the box.

We find "inside the box" more comfortable.


I think, we need to realize what we think and feel, either distresses our bodies, or benefits it.

I sometimes suspect that can have an even greater impact.

[leejosepho]

Last friday my son Jacob and I went to do a water line foundation break about 20 miles from my home...All went well pigtailing out of the foundation with 3/4 K copper and packjointing back on to the polly that had broken right at the foundation...we started at about 10 AM or so and pulled away from the job at about 3 PM...traveling home I was about 1 mile from my exit when I started getting extreem pressure on my chest...

Squatting or even sitting and bending over to do work in that kind of position also causes me trouble ... but if I then stand erect and stretch my shoulders and arms back to expand my chest, the pain usually goes away quickly.

[Cookie]

Blood flow is certainly the issue, and I was surprised to learn "a heart attack" is not caused by something being wrong with one's heart. Rather, it is "an attack on the heart" ... and the problem stems from the circulatory "plumbing" .

That is exactly what I was told regarding my husband. Exactly. I never knew it either.

[Cass]

Just a recomendation my friend but you may want to go and have a stress test done so as to not end up like I did / almost did...us guys are hard headed and will make excuses for not going to the DR. when we should...


Squatting or even sitting and bending over to do work in that kind of position also causes me trouble ... but if I then stand erect and stretch my shoulders and arms back to expand my chest, the pain usually goes away quickly.

[leejosepho]

Just a recomendation my friend but you may want to go and have a stress test done so as to not end up like I did / almost did...us guys are hard headed and will make excuses for not going to the DR. when we should...

Yes, I have a voluntary one coming up in about a month. I failed the last one about six months ago and refused more "band-aid" angioplasty, so this one will tell whether I have made any real progress via the diet-and-exercise department!

[Cookie]

I really do love your comparision of plumbing and the heart, it works for me, so, I am going to ask you, you are on draino right? :) or that foaming stuff, not that copper sulfate, lol, but the good stuff. They got good stuff out now for draining the veins Joe. Cass is on one, too.

Cass is right too, men are hardheaded, so keep that apt. :)

[Redwood]

Rugged, I am salavating for some of that tender cut chicken slathered is gravy...:D
Cass


No. I don't think so. Tofu is your friend. :)

Taste Like Chicken! :D

Glad to see you made it Buddy!

[leejosepho]

I really do love your comparision of plumbing and the heart, it works for me, so, I am going to ask you, you are on draino right?

Grapefruit pectin, and I have experimented a bit with chelation.


They got good stuff out now for draining the veins Joe. Cass is on one, too.

Please enlighten me! I have read books and looked around a lot, and I have yet to hear of any medication for actually cleaning existing blockages in arteries or veins.


Cass is right too, men are hardheaded, so keep that apt. :)

You bet!

[Cookie]

Actually, I was talking about the meds they have out, which I am sure you know about, their are quite a few. Here is a pretty good article to read, dates back a few years.

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthscience/20030204hbloodthin2.asp

[Cookie]

It was Red's fault. :) I was reading a very good article he had written. I told him, he should post it here, it is that good. Facts I never knew, pretty good stuff.

Red, was kind enough to let me post the link here, it is a really good article, very well-written and very worth well reading,



http://411plumb.com/mesothelioma-plumber-pipefitter

[Cookie]

Cass, it has been how many weeks since your heart attack? How are you feeling these days? How's it going?

[Dunbar Plumbing]

I just ate 40 bowls of total.

[Cass]

Total is for sissys...

I just had 3 links of italian sausage, 4 strips of thick cut smoked bacon, hash browns, a small side of biscuits and gravy, and 4 X large eggs fried in butter over easy with whole wheat toast and coffee...
\
Gota have the whole wheat toast to stay healthy ya know...:D

[Peanut9199]

Total is for sissys...

I just had 3 links of italian sausage, 4 strips of thick cut smoked bacon, hash browns, a small side of biscuits and gravy, and 4 X large eggs fried in butter over easy with whole wheat toast and coffee...
\
Gota have the whole wheat toast to stay healthy ya know...:D

Sounds my lunch
Big Mac, Large Fries, 6 nuggets Sweet & sour sauce, 2 Apple pies and a Diet Coke because i'm watching my figure.

[Cookie]

Cass, how's it going these days? How's the tofu? ;)

[Cass]

Tofu is king !!!

[Cookie]

ha ha, Good stuff, eh. :)

[Cookie]

How are you feeling?