Nope....it's actually a wine with a really strong finish! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ben Braver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 10:25 PM Subject: Re: Almost Gone and Back Again, A Hospital Tale
> 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 Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.coolfusion.com Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
