Eight months after my attack I am back at the hospital for a "test d'effort" as the French say. In other words, I have been wired up and put on a treadmill.
It was interesting as my pulse rate was slow to rise and in the end only got to 138 bpm and just for a short while. My Blood pressure eventually rose to 140/80 by the time the test was stopped after 15 miutes.
When we did stop it was due to my leg muscles just not having any more strength while running on this machine.
Next time I do this (in next October says the Doc) I should stop the beta blockers two days before the test.
So I am FINE ..... and how are you doing?
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Monday, 8 June 2009
Ten weeks later
At last I have had my check up with the Cardiologist and he says that I am fine. Whoopee!!!
Finally I can go back to a normal diet and activity regime and not creep around like an invalid.
One of the key questions I had for him concerned my medication. I wanted to understand what the specific purpose of each drug is and for how long I will need to take them. I have never been a drug taker and would like to only use what is really important.
Two of them are concerned with blood pressure and heart rate. As my pulse was tending to drop to 45 bpm one of these was reduced. Two are addressing coagulation and need to be maintained for twelve months after which one of them will be stopped.
And the last two are a drug to assist the artery lining repair and minimise the risk of another cardiac incident, with the last being for the digestion system which is a little affected by the others.
So there we are. I seem to be doing well and have learned to live with a reduced salt diet. I have also read a lot about cholesterol and the good it does the system.
If any reader wants more detais on my experience and recovery, I will be happy to reply to any comments that you leave on this blog. The whole episode has been a scary one especially as I am a non smoker who is not overweight and only has one or two glasses of wine a day at the most. Hey Ho, that is life.
Finally I can go back to a normal diet and activity regime and not creep around like an invalid.
One of the key questions I had for him concerned my medication. I wanted to understand what the specific purpose of each drug is and for how long I will need to take them. I have never been a drug taker and would like to only use what is really important.
Two of them are concerned with blood pressure and heart rate. As my pulse was tending to drop to 45 bpm one of these was reduced. Two are addressing coagulation and need to be maintained for twelve months after which one of them will be stopped.
And the last two are a drug to assist the artery lining repair and minimise the risk of another cardiac incident, with the last being for the digestion system which is a little affected by the others.
So there we are. I seem to be doing well and have learned to live with a reduced salt diet. I have also read a lot about cholesterol and the good it does the system.
If any reader wants more detais on my experience and recovery, I will be happy to reply to any comments that you leave on this blog. The whole episode has been a scary one especially as I am a non smoker who is not overweight and only has one or two glasses of wine a day at the most. Hey Ho, that is life.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Questions to Heart Attack victims
My Dr. Has put me on a salt free diet. If this has happend to you, for how long did this continue? I appreciate that given the natural levels of salt in most things, and the added salt in tinned or othat processed foods I will always want to limit added salt in my diet anyway.
Exercise without damaging my heart muscle that has suffered as a consequence of this event is clearly very important. What sort of exercise regime have you been on to build up your strength without risking more damage?
I am not overweight so am used to being active in the garden and walking. I am not what you could call "sporty"
Thanks for any comments.
Exercise without damaging my heart muscle that has suffered as a consequence of this event is clearly very important. What sort of exercise regime have you been on to build up your strength without risking more damage?
I am not overweight so am used to being active in the garden and walking. I am not what you could call "sporty"
Thanks for any comments.
Friday, 24 April 2009
Back home again - from heart attack
It is certainly good to be home, not withstanding the six pills I take each day. Some for blood pressure, others for thinning the blood and something for lowering cholesterol.
But it is just over two weeks since they let me free and most of the time I feel quite normal. For a few day I was very cautious about moving around and not walking too far. But quite a lot of my reaction to the whole matter is mental, I am sure.
As for activity? Well I have done some weeding in the garden and sown some grass seed by the swimming pool. Apart from that I walk about and enjoy the beautiful surroundings to the home in which I live.
But it is just over two weeks since they let me free and most of the time I feel quite normal. For a few day I was very cautious about moving around and not walking too far. But quite a lot of my reaction to the whole matter is mental, I am sure.
As for activity? Well I have done some weeding in the garden and sown some grass seed by the swimming pool. Apart from that I walk about and enjoy the beautiful surroundings to the home in which I live.
Friday, 17 April 2009
A Heart Attack in France - Part 2
Having the Stent placed in my artery gave me real relief immediately, and I was soon in the intensivecare unit hooked up to all the usual monitoring equipment. My partner came in to see me so that she could see for herself that I was OK so that she could call my children and let them know that the initial crisis was over.
The first thing that the medical staff seemed to be concerned about now that I had been "fixed" was to get the iodine flushed out of my system and the blood thinners down to a more normal level. This seemed to mean drinking lots of water and taking some very effective directics.....
But at last it was timefor some food. Little was I to know that I was on a "salt free" diet. Bread without salt is special. Cheese without salt is grim, but vegetables are tolerable. And so life began again and I managed to get some rest. The next day my two eldest children drove over from Geneva to see how I was getting along. It was good to see them as I felt no pain now and the Dr. seemed to think that the damage to my heart muscle was not too severe. However It would take some months before I would be fully fit again.
As Vichy is quite a way from my home it was agreed that I would be transfered to Moulins on Tuesday. I guess that as I was still in the intensive care unit and I was being transfered to the another intensive care unit, the ambulance that I travelled in decided it was a full emergency, and so it was another trip with sirens etc. The driver was very good. Smooth, but very quick as he worked the traffic. So I was soon installed in Moulins just five minutes from home. My lovely partner came in to see me after another salt free lunch, and it almost felt normal except that I was still not allowed out of bed.
The only slightly confusing thing about the situation I found myself concerned differing comments about the scale of damage to my heart. I was examined by a different cardiologist each day.
The first thing that the medical staff seemed to be concerned about now that I had been "fixed" was to get the iodine flushed out of my system and the blood thinners down to a more normal level. This seemed to mean drinking lots of water and taking some very effective directics.....
But at last it was timefor some food. Little was I to know that I was on a "salt free" diet. Bread without salt is special. Cheese without salt is grim, but vegetables are tolerable. And so life began again and I managed to get some rest. The next day my two eldest children drove over from Geneva to see how I was getting along. It was good to see them as I felt no pain now and the Dr. seemed to think that the damage to my heart muscle was not too severe. However It would take some months before I would be fully fit again.
As Vichy is quite a way from my home it was agreed that I would be transfered to Moulins on Tuesday. I guess that as I was still in the intensive care unit and I was being transfered to the another intensive care unit, the ambulance that I travelled in decided it was a full emergency, and so it was another trip with sirens etc. The driver was very good. Smooth, but very quick as he worked the traffic. So I was soon installed in Moulins just five minutes from home. My lovely partner came in to see me after another salt free lunch, and it almost felt normal except that I was still not allowed out of bed.
The only slightly confusing thing about the situation I found myself concerned differing comments about the scale of damage to my heart. I was examined by a different cardiologist each day.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
A Heart Attack in France - The Story so far
Hi, on the 29th of March 2009 I wound up on an operating table in the hospital at Vichy in central France. They were inserting a catheter just above my right wist with the objective of looking at the blood flow in and around my heart.
As until about an hour or so earlier I though I was a pretty healthy 67 year old, BMI 24, non smoker, this was not at all the place I expected to be. However, the day before my blood pressure had shot up(17/9) and I felt a bit shaky, so the Dr, called and took me to a local cardiologist who gave me an echography and said my heart looked fine but I should have a blood test. Blood pressure medication and a diaretic were prescribed, but the blood test seemed to be forgotten.
The next morning my pressures were almost normal (14/9) and I felt much better. Great.
I live in the middle of France with my partner in her Chateau, so there is allways plenty of work to do and I thought I was quite fit for dealing with the spring time jobs that inevitably were all ready here.
We took our normal tea break at about 11 and almost at once I began to feel a bit shaky. There was no real pain, just a bit in the very center of my chest as though someone was pressing two fingers on my sternum and a bit of an ache at the top on both sides of my chest. My lovely partner took my blood pressure and it was 17/12 and we knew this meant trouble....
She called the emergency services (dial 15) and a Dr. and nurse arrived in about five minutes I think. Still not much pain but a very shaky me (Chris) was pleased to see them. The conclusion was reached that Vichy hospital was where I should go. They wired me up to a monitor and the ambulance men, who were not far behind the Dr., carried me out to the ambulance and off we went.
It was a 45 minute drive to Vichy. It would have been more fun if I was not feeling somewhat distressed, as the siren was going and we overtook the fortunately light Sunday traffic.
The Vichy staff were great and once they saw the blockage in my artery a Stent was inserted and I seemed to get better immediately. The first stage of my "acident cardiac" as they say in France was over. Thanks to my partner's prompt action, the great responce from the French emergency services and the calm and professional work of the Vichy Hospital staff. All of whom contributed to saving my life.....
As until about an hour or so earlier I though I was a pretty healthy 67 year old, BMI 24, non smoker, this was not at all the place I expected to be. However, the day before my blood pressure had shot up(17/9) and I felt a bit shaky, so the Dr, called and took me to a local cardiologist who gave me an echography and said my heart looked fine but I should have a blood test. Blood pressure medication and a diaretic were prescribed, but the blood test seemed to be forgotten.
The next morning my pressures were almost normal (14/9) and I felt much better. Great.
I live in the middle of France with my partner in her Chateau, so there is allways plenty of work to do and I thought I was quite fit for dealing with the spring time jobs that inevitably were all ready here.
We took our normal tea break at about 11 and almost at once I began to feel a bit shaky. There was no real pain, just a bit in the very center of my chest as though someone was pressing two fingers on my sternum and a bit of an ache at the top on both sides of my chest. My lovely partner took my blood pressure and it was 17/12 and we knew this meant trouble....
She called the emergency services (dial 15) and a Dr. and nurse arrived in about five minutes I think. Still not much pain but a very shaky me (Chris) was pleased to see them. The conclusion was reached that Vichy hospital was where I should go. They wired me up to a monitor and the ambulance men, who were not far behind the Dr., carried me out to the ambulance and off we went.
It was a 45 minute drive to Vichy. It would have been more fun if I was not feeling somewhat distressed, as the siren was going and we overtook the fortunately light Sunday traffic.
The Vichy staff were great and once they saw the blockage in my artery a Stent was inserted and I seemed to get better immediately. The first stage of my "acident cardiac" as they say in France was over. Thanks to my partner's prompt action, the great responce from the French emergency services and the calm and professional work of the Vichy Hospital staff. All of whom contributed to saving my life.....
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