Wine buff - is that drinking naked? <g> Actually, BV has tasting notes on their web site, including the optimal years they think the red wines should be consumed. I'm just following their lead, and enjoying it...
-Ben At 10:21 PM 3/11/03 -0600, you wrote: >I not quite that big of a wine buff, but I will agree that '99 was a good >year. There is a Merlot that I like, Hawk Crest, from 99 that is great! > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Ben Braver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 9:57 PM >Subject: Re: Almost Gone and Back Again, A Hospital Tale > > >> Kevin- >> >> I've got almost a case of BV's '99 Napa Valley Merlot. >> In my barely educated (wine) opinion, '99 was a terrific year for CA reds. >> >> Half is put away in the wine cooler - am going to attempt to leave it >alone >> for a few more years' bottle aging <g>. >> The rest we're enjoying. >> >> Also have a half dozen each of '99 Rutherford CabSav, and '99 Syrah. >> >> Now, when can I eat red meat again? >> <sigh> >> >> Recently tried this $2/bottle stuff at Trader Joe's a bunch of people at >> work were talking about, called Charles Shaw. >> Otherwise known as "two buck Chuck". >> Wife declared "life is too short to drink cheap wine". >> <grin> >> >> (We recently got a 60-bottle temperature-controller wine storage unit. >Have >> been discovering how much better we like drinking red wine when it's at >> about 60 degrees F instead of 70. Think about it - what was "room >> temperature" in French chateaux or English castles?) >> >> Also >> -Ben >> >> >> At 09:47 PM 3/11/03 -0600, you wrote: >> >Merlot is good stuff.....my fav! >> > >> >Of course you can't beat Boones Farms! hehe >> > >> >----- Original Message ----- >> >From: "Ben Braver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 9:41 PM >> >Subject: Re: Almost Gone and Back Again, A Hospital Tale >> > >> > >> >> Kevin- >> >> >> >> no need, 'nuff said dewd! >> >> and I'm glad too!! >> >> >> >> BTW emailed the Doctor, asked if I could have a glass of wine with >dinner >> >> (conflict with meds?). >> >> He said ok. >> >> >> >> Gee, that 99 Merlot sure tasted better than I remember!! >> >> <grin> >> >> >> >> -Ben >> >> >> >> >> >> At 09:26 PM 3/11/03 -0600, you wrote: >> >> >I have yet to send an email.....but I am glad you are still with us! >> >> > >> >> > >> >> >----- Original Message ----- >> >> >From: "Ben Braver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 4:46 PM >> >> >Subject: Almost Gone and Back Again, A Hospital Tale >> >> > >> >> > >> >> >> by Benbo Braver >> >> >> <with sincere apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien> >> >> >> >> >> >> (LONG post, sorry.) >> >> >> >> >> >> Promised to recount what happened, how it felt, etc. >> >> >> >> >> >> Hope these "few" words from the brink may inspire some others on the >> >list >> >> >> to make changes before looking into the Grand Canyon with a hand on >> >your >> >> >back. >> >> >> >> >> >> Before: >> >> >> 5'11", as high as 283 pounds barenaked. Mostly around middle (bad) - >> >> >> couldn't easily see feet :-( >> >> >> BP not too high, typ. 130s over 80s. >> >> >> Cholesterol and ratio not good - as of last August, >> >> >> Total Chol. 274, Triglycerides 366, HDL 40 (should be over 45), LDL >161 >> >> >> (s/b under 100) >> >> >> >> >> >> Realistically, needed to lose about 90 pounds, really change the >lipid >> >> >> panel numbers. >> >> >> >> >> >> Was doing "strength/endurance" exercise trying to rehab the hip and >> >back >> >> >> muscles, and get in generally better condition, but was not doing >> >hardly >> >> >> any aerobic stuff (walking was tough with the injured hip muscle). >Also >> >> >had >> >> >> motivation limits on how much time I was willing to spend at the >gym. >> >> >> >> >> >> Father had angina pectoris - means "choking sensation of the chest". >> >> >> Like a heart attack, but no permanent damage because heart isn't >> >deprived >> >> >> of oxygen for very long. >> >> >> His was induced by exercise and stress. >> >> >> He stuck nitroglycerin tablets under the tongue to relieve symptoms. >> >> >> Then he had a couple of small heart attacks, followed by a fatal one >at >> >> >age >> >> >> 54. >> >> >> >> >> >> A couple of days before my attack, I was talking about stress with >my >> >> >boss. >> >> >> He's a really super mellow person, on the outside at least. >> >> >> Hardly ever seems "ruffled". >> >> >> I asked if he ever had "anxiety attacks", feeling tight in the >chest, >> >> >> anxious, wondering how to "get it all done". >> >> >> He said (surprisingly) "more often then I want to admit, lately". >> >> >> I was also thinking about unfinished work and an upcoming vacation. >> >> >> Plus the stress of "hormone week" at home, the friction with the >son, >> >etc. >> >> >> Figured a vacation was just what I needed. >> >> >> But the vacation was also a source of some stress - would I be able >to >> >ski >> >> >> (how would the hip/back muscles do?), etc. >> >> >> >> >> >> The morning of the attack, I awoke about 5:30am, before the alarm >went >> >> >off. >> >> >> Felt almost panicky. >> >> >> Tight feeling under sternum (breastbone), but no "pain". >> >> >> Thought "this feels like my Dad described angina." >> >> >> Decided to try the first aid his doctor had recommended - straight >shot >> >of >> >> >> whiskey. >> >> >> Believe it or not, padded out to kitchen in my robe, tossed down a >> >jigger >> >> >> of JD. >> >> >> (Very unusual - never drink except maybe one cocktail before dinner >or >> >> >wine >> >> >> with a meal.) >> >> >> That felt somewhat better, lessened the tightness. >> >> >> Thought "gotta keep a close eye on this, report it to doctor later >> >today, >> >> >> maybe go get checked." >> >> >> Wife woke up, said "feeling stressed, need a hug". That helped too. >> >> >> >> >> >> Went to the throne room, relaxed quite a bit responding with puns to >> >some >> >> >> cf-comm posts (WiFi in PocketPC). >> >> >> <sorry> >> >> >> >> >> >> Got dressed, felt good enough to go to work. >> >> >> Told wife if I felt bad, could go to Medical at work. >> >> >> She says she should have insisted right then that I go to the ER and >> >get >> >> >> examined. >> >> >> She's probably right - but on the other hand, if the symptoms >lessened, >> >> >> they might have checked and sent me away. >> >> >> >> >> >> Driving to work, just before my freeway exit, started feeling more >> >tight, >> >> >> and worried. >> >> >> Found myself reciting the "Shema" prayer out loud in Hebrew >(uh-oh...). >> >> >> (In English, "hear, o Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One".) >> >> >> Thought about driving to hospital, decided I was closer to work, and >> >could >> >> >> get the EMTs giving me first aid while they got an ambulance if >needed. >> >> >> >> >> >> Got into office, sat down, started feeling queasy (not nauseous), >cold >> >> >> sweat on forehead. >> >> >> No pain, but numbness down the left arm to the elbow, and a CRUSHING >> >> >> pressure on the chest - >> >> >> like an elephant was sitting on it. >> >> >> >> >> >> Was reaching for the phone to call the Emergency number, when my >boss >> >> >stuck >> >> >> his head in to say good morning. >> >> >> >> >> >> He said "hey, you don't look well - you look WHITE." >> >> >> I said "I don't feel well, I feel green, and..." >> >> >> >> >> >> Never got to tell him about the pressure - he interrupted to say >"can I >> >> >> take you to Medical?" >> >> >> I said "yes, now!". >> >> >> >> >> >> A mistake - walked across the street to the parking lot to his car >> >> >(slowly). >> >> >> Should have said please bring the car over. >> >> >> >> >> >> At Medical, rang the bell, started signing in. >> >> >> Voice said "be right with you". >> >> >> I said "please make it sooner, not later - having chest pains". >> >> >> By this point, it hurt. >> >> >> >> >> >> Within a minute, he and the gal on duty had me lying down, chewing >on >> >an >> >> >> aspirin tablet, trying to attach EKG leads (but I was sweating too >> >much). >> >> >> >> >> >> She said to him quietly "should I initiate transport?" and I looked >up. >> >> >> He said "do you understand that?" >> >> >> I said "if she means initiate ambulance transport to the hospital, >yes >> >> >> please". >> >> >> >> >> >> The paramedics got there, slid me onto a gurney, wheeled me out, put >me >> >in >> >> >> the ambulance. >> >> >> Guy said "I'm a paramedic, gonna be starting an IV in your arm." >> >> >> I said "paramedic? as in Airborne??" >> >> >> You should have seen the look he gave me. >> >> >> But heck, I was still alive, getting care. >> >> >> Should I just roll over and die?? No way. >> >> >> He gave me a spray of nitro in my mouth - a lot quicker than the old >> >> >> tablets dissolving. >> >> >> They kept asking "on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being none, and 10 >> >being >> >> >> the most excruciating pain imaginable, how much pain are you >having?" >> >> >> It started at 6, went down to about 4 after the aspirin and couple >of >> >> >nitro >> >> >> squirts. >> >> >> >> >> >> I could tell from counting the speed bumps that as soon as they went >> >out >> >> >> the refinery gate they turned on siren and sped up. One of the best >> >> >> emergency facilities in the area is Mt. Diablo Medical Center, only >> >about >> >> >2 >> >> >> miles from the gate (or about 4 miles from Medical, 5 miles from my >> >office >> >> >> - it's a BIG place.) >> >> >> >> >> >> Think I had a total of 2 or 3 squirts of nitro. It dilates (opens) >the >> >> >> arteries to the heart, increases blood flow, relieves chest pain >from >> >> >> angina, reduces the heart's workload. May or may not reduce risk of >> >death >> >> >> in a heart attack. But it also drops blood pressure - this may be >good >> >or >> >> >bad. >> >> >> >> >> >> At least with the IV started, I was all ready for whatever drugs the >> >> >> hospital wanted to dump in. >> >> >> >> >> >> In the ER, cardiologist introduced himself, started telling me the >> >things >> >> >> they would do, and might have to do (needed to get me to sign >"informed >> >> >> consent" forms). (Later found out he's one of the best cardio's in >the >> >> >area.) >> >> >> >> >> >> Said they were going to administer clot-busting drug, TNK >> >(Tenecteplase) - >> >> >> breaks up clot, prevents the ongoing damage from a heart attack. >> >(Damage >> >> >is >> >> >> from heart tissue beyond the clot being deprived of blood flow >> >therefore >> >> >> oxygen.) >> >> >> >> >> >> Then they would do angiogram - go in with catheter through femoral >> >artery >> >> >> in groin, put in contract die (iodine-based) to allow taking images >of >> >the >> >> >> arteries and determine how many clogged, how much. He asked if I >knew >> >> >what >> >> >> that was, said "yes, had one in 1982. Was very uncomfortable and >> >> >> stressful." He said "now we use Conscious Sedation" - local >anesthetic >> >> >> plus tranquilizers. Not as dangerous as general anesthetic, but >you're >> >> >> kinda zonked out... >> >> >> >> >> >> Dr said they would probably do a balloon angioplasty, might insert a >> >stent >> >> >> (I said "oh good, my wife owns stock in Medtronic" and OY did I get >an >> >> >> unbelieving look for that one), and possibly emergency bypass >surgery. >> >> >> >> >> >> I signed the forms, and went off to the cath lab. >> >> >> Don't remember much at all. >> >> >> >> >> >> This all started when I got to work at 8am. By 11am or earlier, I >was >> >> >> sitting up in bed, wired and hosed, wondering whether I was really >> >going >> >> >to >> >> >> be ok. In walks my wife. I broke out in a huge smile, said "gee, you >> >look >> >> >> wonderful". :-) >> >> >> >> >> >> At this point, the pain was virtually gone. >> >> >> >> >> >> Asked the wife to email MikeyD, so he could tell the list what >> >happened. >> >> >> >> >> >> BTW they _did_ put in a stent - 12mm long mesh cylinder of steel, >like >> >a >> >> >> liner for the damaged portion of artery. (The circumflex artery.) It >> >> >> expands to hold the artery open, then integrates with the artery >wall >> >over >> >> >> time. I can't have an MRI for a couple of months, for obvious >reasons. >> >> >> >> >> >> Had some ups and downs - apparently, a combination of 2 drugs they >gave >> >me >> >> >> (a beta blocker and ??) lowered my BP too much, it went down to >> >> >> 70-something over 40-something, they got worried. Felt wierd while >> >they >> >> >> got the BP stabilized. >> >> >> >> >> >> Had an IV in the back of each hand, a red "ET light" oxygen and >pulse >> >> >> sensor on a finger, EKG electrodes on the chest. And a wound in the >> >inside >> >> >> hip joint from the catherter. Very difficult to rest comfortably or >> >adjust >> >> >> position in bed. Found it difficult to concentrate on reading, tv, >> >> >anything >> >> >> - partly from the drugs, partly from exhaustion and stress. >> >> >> >> >> >> Had a BP cuff on one arm, all the time. Prevented me from bending >the >> >arm >> >> >> fully. >> >> >> For a while, they were taking the BP every 15 minutes (!!) - it >> >> >transmitted >> >> >> to the nurses' station. >> >> >> I could see the monitor above my bed, with some difficulty, and see >an >> >> >> occasional wierd-feeling heartbeat show up as a blip on the EKG >graph. >> >> >(Was >> >> >> told that my left ventricle might fire too strongly or out of >sequence >> >> >> sometimes, as the heart got used to having more oxygen.) >> >> >> >> >> >> Did _not_ enjoy having to use a urinal - many, many times a day, >too, >> >> >> because of all the IV fluids. >> >> >> Re: the alternative, that part of the body just switched off >> >completely, >> >> >> thankfully. >> >> >> Didn't re-activate until Saturday when I got into a room with a real >> >> >> bathroom <yay>. >> >> >> >> >> >> They had me on solid food as of lunch Thursday - but low cal, low >> >> >> cholesterol, low sodium menu. OK. I actually got to pick my meals >from >> >> >> several choices. Better than a lot of airline food I've had :-) >> >> >> >> >> >> Hospitals give you medications on a schedule - hence the classic >line >> >> >"wake >> >> >> up to take your sleeping pill" (not relevant in my case, but funny). >> >> >> >> >> >> After a while, it got "old" and boring - ok, folks, I'm alive and >> >starting >> >> >> to recover. Now I'm uncomfortable. Tried really hard not to >complain, >> >> >> considering the alternative. Felt almost euphoric, elated mentally >> >while >> >> >> hassled physically. Strange. >> >> >> >> >> >> Friday, they were supposed to move me to a regular room, but didn't >> >have a >> >> >> bed available. So I got kept in CCU. At least I was able to talk >them >> >into >> >> >> giving me a telephone. >> >> >> >> >> >> Was I ever surprised when MikeyD talked his way through the nurses >and >> >got >> >> >> me on the phone. He wanted to know my Hebrew name so he could say a >> >> >> traditional prayer for healing for me - much appreciated!! And even >> >more >> >> >> surprised when a little later Friday afternoon, Eri*K*a and Philip >from >> >> >> England got me on the phone. Wow. >> >> >> >> >> >> Saturday afternoon, one of my rabbis came over to visit. A while >after >> >> >> that, they moved me to a regular room, with a roommate. This was >> >another >> >> >> trip - roommate was 81 years old, had just gotten a pacemaker. He >> >worked >> >> >at >> >> >> the same refinery I do (under prior owners) from 1945 to 1977 when >he >> >> >> retired. Boy, was he happy to have an audience for all his stories - >I >> >> >> understood enough to ask questions and draw him out. (And of course >I >> >got >> >> >> to tell him stories <g>.) >> >> >> >> >> >> Uncanny - we both have 2 kids, a boy and a girl. We both have >> >photography >> >> >> as a hobby. I'm going to Australia in 6 months, he just got back 6 >> >months >> >> >ago. >> >> >> >> >> >> So, now that I'm home, it's hard to just sit or lie down and rest. >> >> >> But I don't have a lot of endurance - so eventually I give in and >take >> >it >> >> >> easy. >> >> >> >> >> >> Am going down to the gym at least every other day to do the exercise >> >bike >> >> >> or treadmill, while monitoring pulse rate. Need to work up to 30 >> >minutes >> >> >or >> >> >> more every day. >> >> >> >> >> >> Am also going up and down the stairs at home a lot - partly for >> >exercise, >> >> >> partly because my computer is up there <g>. Then I have to go >> >downstairs >> >> >to >> >> >> eat or pee. Amazing what those diuretic pills can do <ha>. >> >> >> >> >> >> Really conscious of every little twinge or funny feeling, but for >the >> >most >> >> >> part feel better than I did before (but tired). >> >> >> Think about it - if a blood vessel in the heart were 50% blocked, >and >> >now >> >> >> it's open, what a difference that makes. >> >> >> When you add this to the thyroid medication and the air pump for >sleep >> >> >> apnea, the brain is actually functioning !! >> >> >> >> >> >> Wife goes between the "stiff upper lip" and breaking down crying >saying >> >> >> "I'm glad you didn't die". >> >> >> >> >> >> Sorry for the length of the post, but it feels good to lay it all >out. >> >> >> >> >> >> OK, folks - a couple of items from the "bully pulpit" - >> >> >> (1) get your cholesterol and blood pressure tested >> >> >> (2) get regular exercise >> >> >> (3) learn to reduce stress >> >> >> (4) be here longer for those who love you. >> >> >> >> >> >> -Ben Braver >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> > >> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Your ad could be here. 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