Disclosure: Nothing about Real Estate!
I debated about writing this post for several days, not sure what is to be gained from writing it. Almost two weeks ago to the day, I suffered from, what us medical geeks call, an Acute Myacardial Infarction, in layman’s terms, a heart attack. At the ripe old age of 39. Yes, 39. Even the Paramedics, ER team and ICU Nurses were doubting that my Chest Pain was a Heart Attack, until the 12 lead EKG showed abnormalities in the AVR.
Let’s stop here a moment and disclose some background information to help you get the full picture. I was a Paramedic in Illinois and was even licensed in Arizona when I first arrived. I’ve taught CPR for several years and have treated countless Heart Attacks (MI) in my time as a paramedic. I know how the process should work and what it all means from an academic and care-giver standpoint.
Did I know I was having a Heart Attack? No, I was in denial all the way until 3 minutes after arriving at the Emergency Room. I woke up on Monday as I typically do, with the sun at 5:30 am, I felt a little off and my arms where sore, like I slept on them wrong. I brushed it off and started my day as I always do, getting ready for work and spending time with my daughter. At around 7:30, the pain intensified as I was getting ready to leave for work. I started considering something else was going on and crawled back in bed to try and rest a bit. With each passing minute the pain worsened, not only my arms hurt, my chest and jaw were screaming in pain and I felt like breathing was a problem.
There is an old adage that Paramedics don’t call 911 for themselves and I never had, but I knew I wasn’t going to be able to manage this myself, I asked my wife to call 911 (so technically I never called for myself). Enter Al, one of Phoenix FD finest Paramedic, who was just finishing his 24 hour shift and his relief wasn’t there in time to take the call. I can tell the crew had their doubts, remember I wasn’t thinking Heart Attack either. No history, no family, symptoms close, but I was too young to fit the profile and according to Al a couple of days later, I was too calm. They ran the ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) protocol as typical in Chest Pain calls. Once we got to the 12 lead, the situation changed dramatically, the ambulance was expedited, the drug box was opened and I found a new friend in the Nitro, 3 sprays of nitro took me from a pain of 9 to a pain of 3. I was loaded into the Ambulance and a hospital with a Heart Center was the destination.
Al stayed with me all the way to the ER, running the protocol as expected, Aspirin, Morphine and having the ER ready when we arrived. One other thing that was working in my favor that morning, it was early and the Cath Lab was just starting up and they were given a heads up that I may need to take priority. I hit the ER and was descended upon by 12 Doctors, Nurses and techs as they re-assessed the situation. This is where my denial was gone along with my calm, I realized I was in real trouble and was living on borrowed time. Al stuck with me and talked to me as only one Paramedic could talk to another to keep the calm.
Six minutes, thats the time from entering the doors of the Emergency Room to the Cath Lab, telling my wife that I loved her and our daughter with all my heart. The cardiologist wasn’t even in the hospital as I was being prepared for emergency procedures. He walked in, greeted me and went to work in what seemed like seconds.
When I came too again, I knew my chest pain was gone, and that my life would be very different. So, that’s how life can change pretty quick.. I went from business as usual to being grateful that I’m alive and knowing that I have been given a second chance. I had a 100% blockage on RCA Coronary Artery, they put a Stent in to keep it open. They observed that I have 70% and 80% blockage in two other arteries that will needed further evaluation. My cholesterol labs look just above normal, but nothing that would indicate the amount of plague currently in my arteries.
Since then I have been home, taking it easy, reading, enjoying my daughter as much as I can without over doing it. I’ve met with Al, the Paramedic that was there for me since, I learned that he became a Paramedic because he witnessed his father die from a Heart Attack at the age of 37, when he was still very young. He holds a special place in our family.
I’ve changed my diet to watch and limit my in take of cholesterol, sodium and fat to below USDA standards. On July 1, I will undertake a Nuclear stress test to determine the next course of action on the other partial blockages. This test will determine if I can start exercising or working again as well as definite diet changes beyond the ones I have already taken.
Stay tuned as I learn more, I keep my Facebook wall updated in more real time.
Special Note: when talking to the cardiologist, he can recall a case of an 18 year old having a heart attack and I remember transporting a 26 year old that was having one. Age isn’t the best indicator.
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