The Results of My Catheterization

I apologize for the long delay in following up on my last blog of 8/21. Some family issues more important than me came up during that time and I have dedicated my time to them during the period in which I haven't blogged. I'm not ready to blog about them because I haven't been able yet to absorb those recent experiences.

I left off the last the last post about the results of my first heart catheterization. I was in my room, out of critical care, waiting for the results. My first cardiologist brought me the results that afternoon. Due to my hyperlipidimia (the inability of my body to rid itself of artery-clogging fats) I had over 90% blockage in my four main arteries.

He told me that I was a "sudden death" candidate and that they wanted to perform a coronary bypass operation as soon as possible, i.e., the next day.

Denial was still playing with my immaturity in understanding the seriousness of my medical situation. I told the doctor that I had business to complete and wanted to spend Christmas Day with my wife and daughter. There was no way I would agree to an immediate operation.

Although he was very concerned and strongly recommended against me going home, I knew he couldn't stop me. My wife wanted me to stay but I insisted I would not. The operation was scheduled for January 5. They reluctantly allowed me to leave the next day. They gave me a bottle of nitroglycerin tabs to relieve my angina symptoms.

This nitroglycerin is not the type of liquid that can burn or explode. The tabs bring great relief from an angina attack (i.e., heart pain). They do it by temporarily widening the veins and arteries so that blood can flow at a stronger rate.

I knew nothing about a coronary bypass operation. I asked the doctor to explain. He said they would, under full anesthetic, as part of the overall bypass procedure, remove a vein from my leg. The vein would be cut into pieces and stitched to the heart to replace the arteries that were blocked. This would allow blocked blood flow in the clogged arteries to bypass them and circulate through the the veins. The old arteries would stay. There was no way or reason to remove them.

When I asked what my "down time" would be, the doctor answered about 7-10 days to regain strength and leave the hospital, but at least one month for the sternum to heal. They would have to literally saw through the sternum to get to my heart. I would also fatigue easily for about 60-90 days after such dramatically invasive surgery. I kept a stiff upper lift while the doctor and my wife were there.

Once they left and it became dark outside, I couldn't think of anything but my sweet young wife and my baby girl. I felt sorrow for my wife because she had to go through an experience no young person should have to go through. She hadn't bargained for this kind of crisis. My baby girl without a father she would ever remember, and an orphan, was a wrenching thought.

There was only one way to express the emotion I felt that night. I cried like hell.