Been gone a while..

[Tom W.]

While viewing the National Championship game I had some severe  chest and arm pains, which I ignored. That was on a Monday night. Wednesday I was sent to the Doctors office, and the prognosis was either a heart attack, which didn't show up on the EKG, or acid reflux, which also hurts. So the doctor prescribed some nitro pills and some stuff for acid reflux.  Thursday after work I was on the phone with Lori and started hurting again. I didn't think acid reflux extended down both arms and into the fingertips. I ended our conversation and headed to bed, but was hurting so bad I took a nitro tab. I didn't get the expected instant headache, but the pain subsided, so I tried to sleep. 30 minutes later I was taking another nitro tab. I repeated this one more time and called a friend to take me to the emergency room, as the local ambulance service is terrible, at best.
Well, I was transferred to Columbus,Ga.and sometime the next evening a stent was installed.  Seems I had a severe blockage and was on my way to looking at the brown side of the grass.I'm currently being taken care of by Lori, who won't let me do a thing. I have a follow up appointment with the cardiologist this Thursday to see if or when I can return to work..But I'm still alive, so God isn't finished with me yet!

[just-an-illusion]

Glad to hear that you are doing better.
 
Take care and God Bless
 
Illusion

[Ranger99]

glad to hear you're ok.
best of luck for your recovery.

[AtlLaw]

Welcome to the stent club Tom!     Being a member means you're still alive!!! 
 
Watch out for the mental anxiety aspect of recovery and glad your back!   

[max1138]

been there done that, it sucked.
about the only good thing about it was I passed out before they hit me with the paddles.
woke up with a stent and a sore leg/groin area from where they worked the stint in.
 now I carry tums and nitro and hope the tums does the trick when I feel my chest burning. [size=78%]   [/size] mostly it does. only had to hit a nitro twice in 6 years and that was early on now the medicine is set up correctly and I have changed my lifestyle a bit Its not something I worry about. 
do what the doc says, youll feel like crap till you get your medicine doses regulated correctly, but it will pass. 
prolly have to kiss the cigarettes and eggs and bacon breakfast bye but theres decent stuff  to be had that aint bad for ya.
dont let it get next to you, you can live a normal life aside from raising hell with the metal detector at the airport. plus you get to get younger folks to carry heavy stuff for ya. this has its compensations...

[Tom W.]

Well, I quit smoking 17 years ago. Bacon is another story, and I found out that "egg beaters" ain't bad at all. I did have to go back to the ER on the 12th and stayed overnight took
a stress test on the 13th, and have to go back to the cardiologist the 18th. While I was in the hospital my cable & internet was cut off, but I can pick up a signal sometimes on my laptop and
get out amongst the cyber world sometimes. I figure that reinstating the cable and internet is the least of my worries at this time. Funds need to
be diverted elsewhere...
Still have a dull ache in my chest, but was told by the Dr. to expect it for a while, as there is blood flowing to places it hasn't
been in quite a while.He asked if I felt any discomfort during the surgery, and I told him I was just cold, and was intently watching the procedure
on the computer monitor. That and the drugs left my with no pain at all...