Allan, Was going to call you tomorrow. Thought you would be one more day in the hospital.. Glad it went well.
> The cardio-doc put in five stents yesterday but couldn't finish the > job because it would have been too much > stress on the ticker. But the right side is done. > > Go back in two weeks for him to do the left side with at least two > more (and maybe more). Well, if you end up with 7 you will be one behind me. Yup I got 8. All on the right side and 5 in the same artery. > > How do I feel? Tired, but MUCH better. I'm able to breathe much > better and that little fat guy isn't sittin' on my chest any more. > ANd I don't have to have that big slash across the rib cage! That is the best PART. Tired feeling goes away. I know it is time for another when I cannot quite recover from a long bicycle ride or I have yakked and fished for a lot of hours and feel tired even the next day. The last time, I called my cardiologist and told him I was going to the ER and that he should plan for a STENT implant the next morning. His receptionist thought I was nuts, but he knows that I know when I need one. Sure enough, 6AM the next morning, I was in the Cath Lab. One of the older stents had reoccluded ( a first generation ) and he replaced that one and put in one more. Fortunately, most of the newer stents are coated in ways that almost ensures no occlusion. And before you guys say it, I "spin" at least 4 days a week and usually have a long bike ride (20 mile +) on week ends and Diane and I usually Yak on week ends ( also take Zocor and Plavix ) I eat zero fats !! It is tough to beat heredity. My Dad died when he was 38, grandfather at 48, and both uncles had triple by pass in their 50's. One is dead and the other is nearing 80. But, in addition to the triple bypass he has had other by bypasses and an aorta replaced. We are the only two Goldsmith males in the 4 generations that I can trace who have lived past 60 !! > IF YOU GET SHORT OF BREATH ON EXERTION AND FEEL LIKE YOU CHEST IS > 'FULL', DON'T WAIT FOR ANY MORE SYMPTOMS. GET INTO THE DOC > IMMEDJUTLY. GREAT ADVICE !!! BTW, the worst part of the recovery is when the hair on your groin grows back. You will think you are 10 years old with a bad case of poison ivy in the worst possible place, What is amazing about stent implantation is that after 3-4 days, when the groin is healed you can do anything. I left the hospital on a Sunday and went to Cape Cod for a week of fishing on Wednesday. > Lecture over. Headed for the couch. Rest and be well. JG
