I have VERY GOOD news. The echo cardiogram today (ultrasound) showed there
was no permanent muscle damage - the heart is beating nice and strong as it
should. With both the blockages in one artery cleaned out and stents put in
to help keep them open, he is probably in better shape than he has been for
at least a year or so. He is still in intensive care hooked up to monitors,
but that is just a routine precautionary measure. He may be moved to a
regular room tomorrow or perhaps even sent home. The marvels of modern
medicine!!
I am really relieved because I was feeling guilty that I hadn't "diagnosed"
his problem 12 hours earlier - because I had worked in a hospital for
several years when I was in college and know all the signs of a heart
attack. However, he had been given a complete cardiac checkup up about 6
months ago when he was having chest pain and the doctors said his heart was
strong - that the burning in his chest was asthma. So we thought he was
just having a severe asthma attack, gave him a bronchial dilator, and when
he started vomiting, we thought he was having a reaction from the
medication, a common problem with Theophylline. This doctor says he might
have been misdiagnosed. Anyway, we were certainly glad that there doesn't
seem to be any permanent damage from our delay in getting treatment. And
his scary gray look yesterday as he was put in the ambulance has now turned
to healthy-looking rosy cheeks!
We have been overwhelmed by the concern expressed by so many of you. I have
read every e-mail and read a lot of them to Brad, saving some for when he
comes home. No one can ever tell me that the Internet is killing the art of
letterwriting - whether you expressed your caring feelings with humor, or
the promise of prayers, or some practical advice - whether it was long or
short - you each wrote a "masterpiece" that any English teacher would grade
with an A+ for friendship and human kindness. Thank you, everyone, for your
concern, whether you wrote or prayed or just had good thoughts for us
during this time. We count all of you as friends, united in spirit whether
we have met in person or not. I will not be able to answer each post
individually, but I want you to know that we do appreciate each and every
individual post.
And for all of you that advised me to take it easy, I am happy to report
that I have started to breath again. And I'm going to go to bed now. I
didn't sleep much last night - I was out of practice being alone - it was
the first time in 18 years that Brad and I have been apart overnite.
···
____________________
Jean $cott - "The Frugal Gambler"
Order autographed book, cassette tape, and the new
Frugal VP software at http://www.frugalgambler.biz
Read Frugal Fridays at http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com
.