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.....
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