May 2019 * the Hospital Story

Talking to my old friend Erich, I let him know that I had open heart bypass surgery in May 2019.  "What, how did I miss that?" he said.  So here's the story for him.

On Monday May 13, I was in my office around 1:30 and getting ready for a 3:00 appointment at my wellness doctor Dr. Desai.  Now I had been going to that clinic had been watching my blood pressure.  On that day I was getting some chest pain, not crushing, no other naseua, pain in left arm, none of that.  I was not looking forward to telling the doctor about this.

At 3:00 when I went to the doctor, she immediately said "You might be having a heart attack.  Take this aspirin.  You need to go the emergency room."  I was taken aback.  She offered to call an ambulance but I said "I'll drive myself."  Shaking my head now at my denial!

A short time later, I was walking into the ER where I got hooked up to a number of tests and had a number of questions.  Since I wasn't having any dramatic things happening, I was there a while.  Eventually I had a test called a CTA - where a contrast solution was viewed to see any blockage.  Even the specialist doctor thought but was not entirely sure I had blockage.  So I was admitted and scheduled for a heart catheterization/angiogram the next morning.  "Maybe you'll need a stent" they said.

About 10 p.m. in the hospital, a new cardiologist Dr. Alam came in.  He seemed concerned.  Perhaps he was seeing something.  But not enough for any accelerated action.

I went in the next morning to the "cath lab" and everything was still calm.  When I woke up, a whole bunch of people were standing over me.  Dr. Ramirez who had done the catheterization said I had two blocked arteries, 80 and 90% and they were so close together that it could not be stented.  "You need surgery today!"  Fortunately Susan was there and was able to quickly make decisions as to the surgeon, the time, etc.  I was still reeling from the anesthesia.

I recall being wheeling into the operating room.  It looked like a futuristic movie set.  But I was not able to stay awake long.   Then I was out.

When I woke up, I had a tube in my throat but the first person I saw was my friend Dr. Shuaib.  I didn't even know he knew about this.  But he had heard and came to watch me recover.  He said it was important that I get extubated as soon as possible, and so he coached me through that.
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 That night I felt like I was strapped to a block of stone like a medieval torture.  It was otherworldly.  Perhaps like a purgatory, a place between life and death.   Certainly an out of this world experience. 

When I woke up Wednesday morning, the ICU nurse was there.  She assured me I was doing well.  "Were you here last night?" I asked.  "Was I in this same room?"  Yes, of course.  It was all very different.  It was a normal looking hospital room.  No block of stone to be seen at all.

When I was awake on Wednesday, my family was there - Susan, Sarah, Travis.  It was a surprise to me to see Sarah and Travis since they live in the Fort Worth area and I did not know of any travel plans before.  That was the best part that we were all there together.

That Wed. night was even worse.  I was so scared, couldn't sleep, could barely move, terrible discomfort.    The new nurse was in and out.  At some point about 3 am after I had already been up for an hour or two, she said "Just let me know if you need anything".  I asked "Could you please just stay in here for 5 minutes and talk to me."  I was like a little boy asking for my mother.    She stayed and the fear went away.  That was perhaps the worst moment.

Thursday people started to come visit more.  My spiritual advisor Father Bob.  My doctor friends, including Dr. Nguyen who used his expired doctor credentials to come in.  Dr. Z who has become a good friend.  You don't forget those who showed up when you least expected them.

The usual procedure was to go to "Step Down" from ICU but my blood count was low and that was worrisome, like perhaps I had some internal bleeding.  They got me out of bed to walk around accompanied, but day 1 was not a good result.  I did better the following days.

I got into the rhythm of the times.  At 0515, Dr. Ramirez the cardiologist would visit.  Breakfast at 0700.  Dr. No my friend would come about 0800.  Susan about 0815, then noon, then 0600.  She kept that schedule up and it was comforting.  Plus it helped her to know that I was in good hands.

There were some procedures that were unusual to me, like a Foley catheter ( and getting it out), an IV in the neck, arm, help to go to the bathroom later, a sponge bath, and so forth.  In hindsight I was pretty beaten up.  I did enjoy that I could use the phone to be in touch although it was nice when people just showed up instead of asking permission.  I was in no shape to be making many decisions.

On Sunday, I was transferred by ambulance to the Rehabilitation Hospital just down the street.  It was a terrible emotional experience to leave the safety of the ICU for something unknown.  I cried and cried.  Little did I know that the next phase would be even more rewarding.