My New Exciting Adventure | Arthritis Information

So,

This may get a little long and possibly very boring. None the less, I'm going to tell you all about my latest adventure. And here it is:

Last sunday, I was driving to one of my favorite photography areas. My chest started to hurt. Kind of like, trapped gas. So I continued to drive and the pain continued to get worse until it made me so sick that I had to stop and throw up. I pounded on my chest hoping to get the gas to find it's way out of my chest. I finally turned around and drove home. After about an hour and a half, the pain, little by little, went away. Good, trapped gas.

So anyway, Monday I felt fine and had no problems. On Tuesday morning, I had just drank my coffee and was setting at the computer and watching television. I felt the pressure start to build in my chest. It continued until once again, the pain made me so sick that I went to the bathroom and vomited. The only problem is that I still had this chest pain on an empty stomach. Again, I pounded on my chest and jumped up and down hoping to get the trapped gas out.

Oh, I want to mention that on Sunday night I explained to Mom about the pain. She said Larry, do you think that maybe you might have had a heart attack? I said, well Mom, if I did, then I lived thru it and that's all that matters.

Back to Tuesday. The pain became so bad that I was just doing body contortions. So, I thought, well, I'll drive to the Hospital and let them tell me that I just have trapped gas. So, I jumped in the shower, took a shower and all the other things and then drove 45 minutes to the hospital, doing body contortions all the way. I went to the Urgent Care desk with lots of people waiting and told the receptionist that I was having chest pains. About two minutes later a nurse came and took me to a room and hooked me up to and EKG machine. He took the printout and told me he would be right back. And he was. He said I'm going to walk you down so we can pull some labs. When we turned into the Emergency Room, it was already packed with Doctors and Nurses. I then realized I didn't have trapped gas. It was absolutely crazy. I was stripped, poked, given an aspirin, and a nitroglycerine tablet. By then a portable x-ray machine was there and took some pictures. Then a Cardio doctor was explaining to me about what they needed to do to see just what was going on. He explained to me that every one in one thousand precedures leads to death on average but that they have never had one death. I electronically signed and was wisked to the cardio operating room where the Surgeons were scrubbing. Amazing, absoluteley amazing. I was able to watch the whole procedure. After the surgeons got up my vein and into the heart, he showed me a blockage. The blockage was 99%. in the LAD. Middle Left Anterior Descending Artery. The pain had come back into my chest from being relieved by the glycerine. The Surgeon asked me how my chest felt. I told him that I was in extreme pain. He said to me, I'm going to fix that right now. Bam. Gone. He had removed the blockage. I was wheeled to Cardio ICU where I felt better than I had in a long time. By now everyone had heard my story. When the Cardio group came in and the leader told my story to the group one female doctor said in amazement, "You actually took the time to take a shower?" I told her yes, I didn't want to go without one. As the Doctors were leaving, one stopped at the door and said, "Mr. Levlarry?" I said "Yes?". He said, "Do me a favor." I said, "Okay." and he said, "Next time you have chest pains, call 911, you may not be so lucky next time." So, I spent the rest of Tuesday in ICU and then Wednesday just to be sure that the drugs they prescribed had no adverse effects. I was allowed to do what I wanted, felt great. Tuesday evening, the Surgeon stopped in to see how I was. I told him, you aren't going to believe this but I feel brand new. I feel great. He said, I do believe you, lots of patients tell me the same thing.

So anyway, on Tuesday afternoon when the Cardio group were talking with me, they said that my blockage was very strange because generally anyone that has a blockage usually has buildup in other places and yet there were no other blockages or plaque anywhere and that everything else was clean. Later that day, a Doctor came in and told me that they had discussed the one artery blockage and no other plaque. She said that they believe that the RA had attacked my artery with inflammation in that spot and that allowed the plaque to build in the inflamed spot causing the blockage over quite some time.

So anyway, this is pretty long isn't it? Think about it, I'm giving you the short version. So after checking for damge done, at this time my heart is pumping 40-45 percent of the blood from my heart with each pump. Normally, the heart pumps 60-65 percent of the blood from the heart with each pump. So, they are going to check in a month to see if it gets better. If not, It will just be a little sluggish and if it does repair itself, I'll really be buzzing around if I get more energy than I have right now. Oh as for restrictions, don't lift anything over ten pounds for 4 days. Isn't it amazing. Oh, and they put in a brand new type of stent, the PROMUS Everolimus Coronary Stent. They called it the Lamborgini of stents.

So that's my new adventure. So Milly and all, I hope you don't mind that I posted this in a new thread rather than Milly's So how is everyone doing today?

Anyway, I keep yous all in my thoughts and wish good outcomes for us all. Seriously, I wish I could tell you just how much.

LEV

levlarry2011-02-18 14:28:48Lev, Lev, Lev...I can't believe you drove yourself to the hospital! I'm so glad they expedited you through the process and wheeled you right in for your angioplasty before suffering an MI. Scary stuff that! Working for many years as an RN in the cardiovascular unit, I can't stress how important it is to call 911 immediately when having chest discomfort. A few years back, one of our own MD's attempted to drive himself to the hospital, and died on the freeway before he got there. Very sad. I'm very happy for your outcome, but sorry you had to go through it at all! Lev I do think that posting this on it's own thread was the right thing to do. I was wondering? It seemed I was talking to you one day and the next day I am thinking where did he go? I was suspicious that you may not be well but hoped you were just out for a drive taking pictures and clearing your head.

I am so glad you went to the hospital. Please do call 911 next time Mr. Levlarry. We ignore things all of the time because of our RA and our meds. We do need to remember that we are at a higher risk of such problems because of our RA.

Well what a week! What did your Mom say after you went to the hospital? Bless her heart.

Well you got a lot done for one short week. I hope that your heart recovers. I am really glad you are alright!

milly2011-02-18 16:37:16Hey Lev, just glad that you're alive to tell your story......don't wait again for the pain to go away, you're so very lucky. Many people don't believe me when I tell them that RA has caused cardiac complications, you just reaffirmed. I have a small area of inflammation, possible nodule between my heart and the lining. It's so important for everyone to have a a baseline cardiology workup and then yearly follow-up. RA can make our lives miserable but it can also quickly kill us if we don't recognize the symptoms. We were in the hospital on the same days....not sure that that means anything but it just shows the complications that can arise. Feel better. Lindyoh Lev so glad you got the help you needed and live to tell about it.

We have pain for a reason and you need to take care of ourself.

I'll be thinking of you take care

I am so glad you're alive, Lev. After the first few sentences of your story I was thinking "Heart Attack!!" Thank God you had the good sense to go to the hospital even if you insisted on getting clean first. A couple of years ago I had a heart attack scare and waited 2 days to get checked! You are much smarter than me Thank you for letting us know how you are and for the heads up, too. This is something we all need to be aware of.

So glad you're feeling better!

I gusse the heart is another thing we have to worry about, My husband had open heart surgery Jan, 2010 and when we went to the RD he wanted the report on the heart, he said it could be cause from arthritis. I never foumd out because I got sick and forgot to take paper to him. now his pain pills Darvoccer has been recalled it can cause heart failure, where dose it end......when we die wait I did that and was lucky, they brought me back, Im lucky to be alive. Lev,

I haven't posted in quite some time. I am so glad to hear they took good care with you. I am glad you are getting better. Keep on posting! HG

Glad to hear it all turned out ok. Scary stuff. Make sure you take it easy so you don't end up back at the ER. Relax and get spoiled...Hi, LevLarry,

So, so happy to hear this story has a happy ending. Stories like this make me want to start a "Hug Your Doctor Day". Sometimes they do marvelous, amazing things.

Peace,
VOh criminey!! a SHOWER? believe me they know what a day old shower looks like.

next time call 911..

I'm glad youre here to tell the story!

Hi, Lev,

So happy to hear you are okay. Next time, Lev.....don't be quite so adventurous, okay? Go to the doc sooner.

Blessings,
VWell Lev, It seems to be a male thing.
I hung on for a week before calling 000 and did the stupid things like take a shower, clean jocks and socks.

Like you I was out in the sticks with the camera when it all started.

All the best.
Gosh Lev, we never know what is going to happen next do we. So glad you took care of yourself.....better late than never! Happy that you are okay and thanks for sharing your experience with us. HI Lev, I haven't been on for a long while, I have read a few times in the past year or so but not much, I would like to say though that I was shocked to read this and only wish you a very speedy recovery and I am so glad it worked out this way for you. I know we have had our differences in the past but I hope all is well. Regards Jane. OMG so glad your story had a happy ending! Hope you continue to feel better each day.

My first husband started having chest pains while he was out of town on a business trip. He decided to ignore the pains and drove for 3 hours. Since the pain had gotten much worse, he drove straight to our local hospital...and had a heart attack there. The defib paddles brought him back. He was also very, very lucky.

Chest pain - call 911.

Sir, what a story. I am glad you survived. I didn't realize how serious RA is and that it could attack the heart like it did yours. Did anyone venture to guess if this could continue or was it just a freak thing?

Anyway, best of luck. I am learning alot in here.

Gosh,

What a wonderful family I have here. Thank you all so very much. Not sure my poor old heart can take so much love. I'm still feeling good. Very hard to slow down. There is really no recovery. My four days of restriction is over. Hard to get good sleep. I want to get going. I want to do something. Wow, what a difference it makes to have a proper amount of blood getting to where it needs to get too.

Seriously, thank you all so very much. I'm so very lucky to have such a wonderful family as I have here.

LEV

Wow Lev you will make everyone want to have a heart attack. I am glad you are doing great and want to enjoy life and your new found energy.

I tend to be that way with RA. If I can get around I want to keep on going and enjoy life if it just means going for a nice long walk.

Enjoy yourself. You have worked hard to feel good. Thanks for taking the time to tell us you are alright.

Larry you silly old fool. Why didn't you chug a couple liters of green potato juice and a nice big hunk of SPAM? You know, those can cure every disease known to man with absolutely no side effects. Whoa, Lev !!! Glad you are A OK bud . At least you were a clean machine going in LOLI totally get taking shower first. I did that before I had Nathan and I do it before any big drs appointment(since that is when I seem to get thrown in the hospital). I even took a shower before this latest hospitalization. There's just something about being clean :)

Hope you are feeling better and back to your old self.

Jasmine,

That is so funny. And yes, you may be on to something and I don't mean the potatoe soup and spam. Can you imagine the ambulance pulling up and she gets out?

LEV

Lev, If thats one of the nurses, can you pleeeeez tell me what Hospital....lolI admire you and what you have to say so much. This board would be lost without your in put. I am so very glad to hear that you are on the mend and so good to see you posting again. Even though we have never met in person, I do feel like you are someone the world really needs. Continue to take care of yourself and I hope you get better each and everyday...
AimsLEV! So glad to hear you got treated in time! That's a frightening experience for sure, and I am glad you shared it with us. You know, one of the common symptoms of heart attack is DENIAL. And I would be the exact same way, telling myself, NAW, it's just gas or something, but your story should make everyone think twice! Never take chances with chest pain. Always call 911.

Lev, my thoughts and well wishes are with you.

Lev,

I'm glad you are okay now!

Glad you got to the hospital in time.

I'm with the rest of them...Next time skip the shower Hello everyone,

I'm still doing well. I shoveled 10 inches of snow Monday and Wednesday at Mom's. Poor Mom, I almost gave her a heart attack. I told her don't worry Mom, my glycerine tablets are in my top pocket, just put one under my tongue if you see me face down. But, I kinda had to prove it to myself that I could still function without having a heart attack and get over being scared that if i did anything physical I would have another attack. I was very scared. Strange how a heart attack changes attitudes. Had my first post op check-up yesterday. New EKG looked good, blood work was good and enzymes were good. I guess there is some enzyme that the body produces with heart trouble, can't remember the name. And chest xray showed nothing bad apparently. Again, thank you all so very much for your support and kindess. I am so lucky to have such wonderful people as you to support me. Do yous like my new picture? That's me or should I say, my backside. In the near future when I get braver, I will put up the front side and scare you all.

LEV

levlarry2011-02-25 06:23:39Lev, I and probably everyone else would love to see a pic of you. I bet that you are a handsome dude! Lev,

I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. I like the picture, I was wondering if that was you. Keep on getting better! HG

whoa! wow... and thank goodness!

I can believe you showered... truly...

You're amazing.....

I'm so glad you are okay...

but I"m in the chorus saying.. next time... go dirty! Ronald,

Thanks for reminding us of your ignorance concerning diseases and medicines. And I felt great just a day before my heart attack. My chol: 107. HDL: 33 TRIG: 74 calcLDL: 59. My heart attack was caused by my disease, rheumatoid arthritis, one blockage. That's just the nature of the beast.

Ronald, I know that you aren't a very smart man, but it is in your best interest to leave me alone. I'm a very nice person until I'm not.

LEV

Jello,

What a sweetheart you are. Me a handsome dude? I was laughing so hard. Between you and me Jello, don't bet the farm on me being handsome. But thank you.

LEV

levlarry2011-02-28 13:13:23That's scary that you were "heart healthy". All the levels in the normal/good range. I had no idea that RA could affect the heart till I started having issues.

Glad to hear you are feeling so much better!