A Change of Lifestyle - Epilogue

 

On Tuesday the 5th of October I smoked my final cigarette at 11 pm. More on how that is working out in a bit. On Thursday the 7th of October I had my follow-up appointment with my heart doctor. I had blood work done the morning before and would get the results of how my change of lifestyle was working out.

I checked in at the doctors office and they escorted me to the examine room, stopping off at the scale to get my weight. The nurse recorded 184 lbs.  That was a loss of 20+ lbs in 2 months time. I went in the examine room and then went through the usual routine of the nurse asking me about my health, meds I was taking and had a noticed any changes in my overall health. Then she gave me the lab results on the blood I had deposited the day before at the lab.

First off just about everything had dropped. My glucose level was down 6 points from the previous review two months before. More importantly I had dropped my cholesterol 24 points, from 204 to 180. So how could I have had a TIA just a week before. Was it because of the life style change I was making? The ER doc said possibly. The cardiologist said he doubted it. So why? If I had only made the changes a year earlier? If I had heeded the warnings, like the dizziness or the double vision I had experienced a year before? If I had only quit smoking before now?

As I write this it has been 11 days since my last cigarette. I think I am finally adjusting. I quit cold turkey. Laid them down at 11 pm one night and didn’t pick them up again. Days 3, 4, 5, 6 were some of the worse. On those nights I could not sleep. On 3, 4 and 6 I actually only slept 4 hours each night. On day 5 I didn’t sleep at all. If I had it all to do again I think I would have cut back slowly and used one of the stop smoking aids. On days 8 and 9 I wanted to smoke really bad. I got through those couple of days and am doing fine now. Those two days were some very stressful days. I will write about them in a day or two.

I have two more tests coming up. A MRI this upcoming week and a brain scan the following week. I expect them to be normal also.

So, what have I learned from all this? I will take up that issue in the next series of blog posts. Let’s just say for now that it was not due to anything I could have changed. In the next series I will get into the spiritual aspects of what happened. I will touch on why bad things happen to good people.

I want to take just  a moment to thank everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers. I want to thank everyone for their concerns. Everyone from my church, my work, my Facebook friends, and of course my family and close friends. You have all been a great encouragement for me. I also want to thank God for His blessing we with great friends and for His help in getting me through the last couple of weeks.

A Change of Lifestyle – Part 7

 

It is a benefit knowing someone in the health care profession. Especially when that person happens to be the head nurse/office manager for your heart doctor. After I was refused to be seen by the doctor that I had the referral to, I called my friend the nurse. She got me in that very afternoon for a heart echo. The technician happened to be in the office that day and had an opening at 1:15. 

Once at the office I was faced with the fact that I was going to have something done to my heart. My wife had briefly explained a little to me but I still didn’t know really what to expect. I have always been a little anxious when it comes to doctors, medical procedures, even having shots or blood drawn for the lab. I was sitting in the waiting room not knowing what to expect when the technician came out to get me.

She led me back to a small office. She had me remove my shirt and lie down on the examine table. She then took a wand/probe and applied a gel to it. She then began to probe around my chest. It was amazing to see the picture of my heart on a computer screen as they ran the probe over the area of my heart. You can see the valves open and close. The tech explained everything as she went and pointed out the different valves and areas we were looking at. It was very interesting and really quite educational. Once done, she told me everything looked good. All the valves were functioning as they should, my heart was pumping normally and my heart was in great condition.

As we finished up she explained that the doctors office did not have a ‘neck doppler’ and I would have to go to the hospital to have it performed. She also warned me that the tech at the hospital would not be as informative and that I would have to wait for the doctor’s follow-up later in the week for the results of that test.

The next afternoon I was back at the hospital for the ‘neck doppler’. They got me right in. Once again I was told to lie on the examine table. This time the probe was used on my neck. When they started I was turned where I could not see the monitor. After they finished that side I was told to turn the direction of the monitor. The view was about the same as the heart echo. I could see from the ultrasound the arteries in my neck and the pulse in them as the blood was pumping through. As I had been told they did not reveal any thing they may have seen as a result of the echo. About all that was said during the 20 minutes it took to do the scan was ‘lie down’ and ‘your all done’. I would have to wait for the visit with the doctor on Thursday to find out any pending problems or if I was going to live.

(To Be Continued)

A Change of Lifestyle – Part 6

 

At about 12:30 pm on October 1st I was admitted to the ER. At 5:15 pm the doctor finally found the time to come and talk about the CT Scan results. The CT Scan showed no signs of any recent activity but did show scarring from a previous stroke. When that stroke happened, I have no idea, unless it was the incident from a year earlier when I experienced the double vision.

The doctor said  he was going to let me go home seeing as how I appeared to be a ‘well person’ and it is hard to get rooms for patience that are ‘well’. The last thing I wanted to do was stay in the hospital on a Friday night. Besides, then they would run all the test the doctor wanted on Saturday. I had already lost my Friday and I wasn’t about to give up my Saturday.

The ER doc’s instructions were pretty simple, take an aspirin a day, get some rest and that I needed to follow up with some additional tests. He was referring me to another doctor, seeing as I didn’t have a primary care physician. I was to call on Monday and set up the appointment. He would leave instruction for the doctor he was referring me to. She would know what to do and would refer me to who ever else I needed to consult with. Pretty simple is seemed!

On Monday, first thing, I called the doctor that the ER had referred me to. I explained what had taken place on Friday and that they had referred me. I was promptly told that the doctor was not taking new patients. I explained once again that the ER doc had referred me, that he left written instructions for the doctor and I was to follow-up with her. I was told to hang on a minute and then placed on hold.

After a few minutes the receptionist came back on and said she had spoke to the office manager and was told that they were not accepting new patients. I said ‘whatever’ and hung up.

Now I am pissed. I was given specific instructions to call this doctor, who had been given instructions from the ER doctor and when I call I get refused. What is going on with health care in this country today. When I got to the ER on Friday it was a serious enough situation that I be taken immediately in. On Monday I am no longer “at risk”? I told my wife that if anything happened to me as a result of the refusal that she was to sue the doctor. I am not a proponent of lawsuits and figure that is part of the problem with medical costs in this country. At the same time, how is it that human life is less important than is you have to see an extra patient in the middle of your busy day? If it’s like most doctors I have seen, they go from patient to patient and stop and visit with their staff in between each one. It seems to me the doctors only works in their offices about 15 minutes our of the hour.

So here I am stuck. I have had a TIA, or maybe multiple TIAs and the doctor won’t see me. What am I supposed to do?

(To Be Continued)

A Change of Lifestyle – Part 4

 

It had been nine months since my last visit to the cardiologist. I knew the routine, blood sample at the lab a couple of days before and then the appointment. At the appointment the nurse would check my blood pressure (BP), my pulse and ask about changes in any meds I was taking. Then she would give me a copy of the lab report and leave. I would then sit and wait for the doc while reviewing the lab report.

My glucose level was elevated beyond where it normally was and put me above the recommended limit. The cholesterol level was still high. I knew the doctor would want to put me back on cholesterol medicine but I was dead set against it.

The doctor finally came in, took my BP and asked the normal questions about how I was doing, had I noticed any changes in my BP or experienced any dizziness or double vision, etc. I explained to him that I was feeling good and no, I hadn’t experienced anything unusual. He reviewed the lab results and said he wanted me to start taking the high cholesterol med again.

I was ready for him and told him no. He said it was that or I had to make a lifestyle change. I didn’t hesitate. I knew what it meant and I was prepared to give it a go. It meant a diet, exercise, and watching what I ate and how much I ate. The doc told me he would give me three months and then he wanted to see me again. I agreed and headed home. I didn’t know if I could do the changes that needed done or not. I did know that I did not want any more drugs, whether they were safe or not.

On August 8th I set out to change my diet and to start exercising. I cut out all high cholesterol foods and red meat I limited to about twice a week. I replaced the snacks I was eating at work with carrots, radishes, angel food cake with fresh berries. Oatmeal for breakfast most everyday. I watched what I ate and added high fiber foods to my diet. I was bound and determined to make my cholesterol level get into the range that it should be.

I was dieting, using the Wii fit and walking 2 miles per day. On October 1st I had lost 20 pounds in a little less than 2 months. I knew when I went back to the doctor the first of November there would be a noticeable difference in my cholesterol numbers. My wife and I were sitting on the back porch, having our morning coffee and a smoke. The next thing I knew something very strange was going on. I felt unusual….

(To Be Continued)

A Change of Lifestyle – Part 3

 

The week of July 27th started with a trip to the lab for a blood workup. The one the heart doctors use to check your cholesterol, diabetes, kidneys, etc. Then it was on to the doctors’ later in the week. He did a complete heart examine in his office. The EKG didn’t show anything except that my heart was normal. X-Rays of my chest and lungs which didn’t show anything either. Then the stress test.

The stress test is where they hook you up to the EKG computer and put you through the paces on a tread mill. They start you off slowly walking and take your blood pressure while the computer records you heart rate and plots the heart rhythm. You climb on and the doctor explains that they will start slow and then at intervals they will increase the speed and raise the incline. This is done to work your heart, increase your heart rate and raise your blood pressure. They explain that if you need to you can jog and at any point it gets uncomfortable to let them know and they’ll end the test.

So, I climb on the treadmill and off we go. I am somewhat obstinent and always enjoy a challenge. I was determined I was going to outlast the doctor and whatever he could dish out on his treadmill. The pace got quicker and quicker. The incline got steeper and steeper. I kept on the treadmill, matching my pace with whatever the doctor dished out. He kept asking if I was ok and I kept responding yes. My pulse kept increasing, 70, 80, 90…, 150, 160, 170… My blood pressure kept climbing, 150, 160, 170…. 200, 210…. Finally the doc started slowing the pace down and lowering the incline. I had maxed his test. I took all he could dish out and never once broke into a jog. I have always been a fast walker and that day was no exception.

After all the test I was told my heart was normal. The doc explained that the double vision I had experienced was probably an ocular migraine. He put me on blood pressure meds and told me to come back in three months. In three months he wanted more blood work and a follow-up.

At the follow-up he said my cholesterol was too high. Overall it was 204. That is just over the limit of 200 and would be considered borderline. My bad cholesterol was 156 which was extremely high. I agreed to go on the cholesterol meds. He told me if I experienced any of the side effects to quit taking it and just go back to the blood pressure med.

Three weeks after starting the cholesterol meds I quit taking them. My lower legs were cramping so bad that they kept me awake at night and hurt all day long. I continued the way I had before, with the addition of the  blood pressure meds, until August 2nd, 2010.

(To Be Continued)

A Change of Lifestyle – Part 2

 

On July 22, 2009 I was at work, sitting in my cube and typing away on an application. My mind was far from work however. It was preparing for the trip my wife and I were to take the next morning. We were headed off to Ocean Shores on the Harley for the Sun and Surf Rally. Little did I know my plans were about to change.

About 1:30 in the afternoon I became aware that  my vision was becoming blurry. No big deal, it happens when you stare at a computer monitor for 9+ hours a day. I just needed to get up and stretch a bit and clear my mind. I headed out across the parking lot to the unofficial smoking area. As I went I kept one eye closed in order to keep only one image in my field of vision and thus could keep my bearings.

I got across the parking lot, sat down and lit a smoke. I looked out at the street and I was seeing 2 of every vehicle traveling down the street, one over the top of the other. There was also at least enough room between the two images to drive another vehicle between them. I had experience double vision before, but it was always kinda two images side by side. Generally the two images were kinda over-lapping, like when you force yourself to look cross-eyed. Ok, so this was weird and scary. I finished my smoke and headed back to the building.

I stopped and set down at a picnic table outside the building. I was still seeing double and about 20 to 30 minutes as transpired. I was getting real uneasy. I knew I should call someone but I also knew that would probably mean a trip to the ER. I also knew it would mean that the trip the next day would be off.

Finally, after about 45 minutes I called my wife and told her what was going on. She tried to get me to call my sister, mother-in-law or a ambulance and go into the ER. I was having none of that, I would be fine. After about an hour and half my vision was back to normal. I rode the bike home that evening and was fine. My wife saw it differently however and she put the kibosh on the trip the next morning. She also called her heart doctor and made me an appointment.

(To Be Continued…)

A Change of Lifestyle – Part 1

On August 2nd I went to my heart doctor for my annual check-up. Two months later I am lying in the hospital after experiencing a series on TIAs – mini strokes. I had just spent the last two months making a serious life style change to preclude any health issues connected to my high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A life style change that included healthier eating and exercise on a regular basis. That’s what the doc said I needed to stay off the cholesterol meds.

I my next few blog post I am going to look at what I have learned from this experience. I will try to explain how this happened to me, from my understanding of my body and my spirit. I will probably rant a bit on health care in this country. I will share my experiences of the many tests I have went through. In this post I want to set the background for how this all got started.

I am a 56 years old male. On August 2nd I weighed in at 206 lbs, 5 foot and eight inches tall. My BMI was 31+ which put me in the obese group. I am an alcoholic and I quit drinking alcohol three and a half years ago. I smoked between a half a pack to a pack a day.

My general health had been excellent. I do not have a primary care doctor, I hadn’t needed one. I had never been in the hospital other than visits to the ER for a cold, the flu, or a stitch or two due to my own ignorance.

I hadn’t needed any doctors until a year ago when I went to the heart doctor at my wife’s request. That visit to the heart doctor is where this story begins. I my next post I’ll begin the journey that has brought me to where I am now.