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AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 04:39 AM Jun 2013

Update; 12:58 am, I just got home. (Tadaima!)

Last edited Sun Jun 30, 2013, 04:31 PM - Edit history (1)



I was at UCSF in San Francisco, which is a pretty awesome hospital. I thought I had bronchitis because it was a very bad cough. Turns out it was liquid in the lungs, due from a problem with my heart. Doctor said, that the heart had grown larger and was not pumping as well. Anyway, I had called 911 and the ambulance came, (my first Ambulance ride). The paramedics gave me aspirin, and hooked me up to a bottle of Nitro Glycerin. They wheeled me into the ER, after taking all my vitals, and there I was stuck for a few hours. I think I left my house at 4am. I was there for more than five hours.. (about that time they gave me some Saltines to eat, cause I was starving!)

I had all kinds of tests.. Chest Xrays, Ultra sound, etc and they wheeled me up to the 14th with a room with a fantastic view of the sunrise in the City By the bay. My room mate, I did not talk to, but I had overheard she had pieces of toe removed, due to infection, and that she had some arteries in her feet that were replaced by one in her thigh and one from a cadaver. (Didn't know they did that!)

The bed was super nice, that kind that would move on both ends, up and down. I was hooked up to a hearth monitor, an IV with monitor that portioned out the Nitro Glycerin. (I asked the Nurse if I would blow up like the road runner if I fell off the bed, she assured me that It would not happen!) The meals were actually good though pretty much without any sugar or salt. I was on a cardio diet, whatever that was. In order to use the restroom, I was taught how to unplug the IV monitor and drag that thing around with me.

There was a TV above me, though I did not use it, but I mean it was directly above me. You had to virtually lie flat to watch it, and it hurt my neck to much to bother (Though I did watch the Yankees lose to Baltimore, something like 11 to 3..nice game birds!)

Pretty much restricted to bed, and I had a ton of people visit me from the Chaplin to someone in Social Services. I also got involved in this program, where they give you a free scale, and a blood pressure monitor. There is a WiFi that goes with it, that takes that information and transfers it down to UCLA Medical Center. The idea that if anything goes wrong, they will contact your doctor.

I also told the doctors, that I was concerned for my kitty, as I left him about three days of kibble in his bowl, and I knew he would run out, and sure enough he did. I think I got home just in time...He was demanding some food, so I got him some shrimp. They did tell me that had I to stay longer, the ASPCA would have come and gotten my keys, and than picked up my cat , but I know how much he hates people and will hide..that would have been so inconvenient to have to go pick him up days later after being discharged.
Fortunately my floor doctor was a cat owner and allowed me to leave a day early, to tend to my cat, other wise I would have been in there another full day. (Being discharged is so difficult!! )

A day after I arrived there, they were talking about having this procedure, where they insert some kind of probe into your artery which goes to the heart to check for damage. They could not schedule it so told me that I would have to come back at a later date. I have talked to a few people who had it done, and they said it was no big deal, but It seems scary to me, but If I have no choice, than best to get it over and done with.

So at least I got to score a few things coming home. Some nifty pajama bottoms, and those great non skid socks. Some special lather soap. I already mentioned the scale and the blood pressure cuff. Have to admit, there were some long, long boring waiting period where I was parked in a room and left there until someone came to get me. At one point a main doctor with two Medical Students stood there asking for them to give me a diagnosis. UCSF is a medical training school, so I guess for the interns its a total school and working thing.

I will be picking up stuff from Walgreens Pharmacy, tomorrow. Guess I have some medications to do for quite a while. Than have to go back for a follow up July 11th. Really felt like a pin cushion there for a while. Was given a stream of pills, and seemed like shots every half hour. The silly monitors for the IV kept going off... Ya kinda hate that at 4am..when people are trying to sleep.

Anyway..that was my little adventure. I never thought things would turn out the way they have. I will be taking on some special instructions soon, making sure that I can stay heart safty..for a while. I am so tired... On the first night, I was up 48 hours.. because I could not sleep with my lungs watered. It took me two nghts later... on oxygen and other stuff..before I could get a good nights rest. I am totally needing sleep now.. so I will cut this off.. and wish everyone a huge Thank you! for all your kind wishes.

I am thankful that I qualified for California's version of Obama care. I understand that it will pick up a lot of the bill. My company will take care of the rest of it, I am pretty sure. I guess I will know sooner or later.


Note: Sorry, there was no tag teamed sponge bath.. so I had to wait to come home and use my own shower.

43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Update; 12:58 am, I just got home. (Tadaima!) (Original Post) AsahinaKimi Jun 2013 OP
My mom had it done. RandySF Jun 2013 #1
glad you're home olddots Jun 2013 #2
Thanks for the update. Take care of yourself. In_The_Wind Jun 2013 #3
Great news that you're home! TexasTowelie Jun 2013 #4
SO GLAD you're home, and comfortable! CaliforniaPeggy Jun 2013 #5
Yay! You're home! blogslut Jun 2013 #6
Kimi!!!! So good to know that you're safe and, for the most part, sound. I recognized a LOT... MiddleFingerMom Jun 2013 #7
Great to hear you're home and doing better Kimi! bluesbassman Jun 2013 #8
Glad to hear all went well & you're home....yea! snappyturtle Jun 2013 #9
Thank goodness you're back and kicking rurallib Jun 2013 #10
This all great news... Callmecrazy Jun 2013 #11
So happy to hear that you've been sprung, Kimi! femmocrat Jun 2013 #12
Rest easy warrior1 Jun 2013 #13
thanks for the update, Kimi. Tuesday Afternoon Jun 2013 #14
I too am glad you're home Paulie Jun 2013 #15
Wow. Thanks for the update. Arugula Latte Jun 2013 #16
Very relieved to know you are better libodem Jun 2013 #17
Glad to hear you are home! GoCubsGo Jun 2013 #18
glad to hear it! Kali Jun 2013 #19
Now I hope you're having a good long snooze marzipanni Jun 2013 #20
I don't know how I missed the thread... one_voice Jun 2013 #21
Sorry to hear you are under the weather. Cleita Jun 2013 #22
DU vibes work their magic again sarge43 Jun 2013 #23
Went to Walgreen's today.. AsahinaKimi Jun 2013 #24
Glad you are back home. There are some awesome people at UCSF. hunter Jun 2013 #25
Having that Ultrasound.. done on my heart.. AsahinaKimi Jun 2013 #26
Welcome home. n/t UTUSN Jun 2013 #27
Tadaima!!!!!! AsahinaKimi Jun 2013 #28
So glad you're back home Kimi and they took such good care of you. polly7 Jun 2013 #29
Welcome home!!! arcane1 Jun 2013 #30
It will be good if I stay away from salty, fatty and sugary stuffs.. AsahinaKimi Jun 2013 #31
In other words, all the fun food :( arcane1 Jun 2013 #32
Well now the only one you can trust as far as what goes into food ../ AsahinaKimi Jun 2013 #34
Amen to that! I've managed for two years to avoid having a salt shaker in the home... arcane1 Jun 2013 #35
Rest up and keep in touch - it sometimes takes a while to get everyrthing settled properly! hedgehog Jun 2013 #33
yay! she's back! struggle4progress Jul 2013 #36
Glad you're home and things are going in the right direction. SwissTony Jul 2013 #37
hahahahahaha! AsahinaKimi Jul 2013 #38
Glad to hear you are okay! I had a somewhat similar experience .... kwassa Jul 2013 #39
You have no one you trust out in Cali Shankapotomus Jul 2013 #40
Someone suggested the ASPCA.. AsahinaKimi Jul 2013 #42
Glad to hear that you're home OhioChick Jul 2013 #41
Thank you AsahinaKimi Jul 2013 #43

RandySF

(57,594 posts)
1. My mom had it done.
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 04:46 AM
Jun 2013

She said it's a warm feeling in the chest and nothing more. Hope you get better soon. FYI, I would be thrilled to send my son to UCSf one day.

In_The_Wind

(72,300 posts)
3. Thanks for the update. Take care of yourself.
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 05:28 AM
Jun 2013

IMO: tag teamed sponge baths may be overrated, I'd pass on one.

TexasTowelie

(111,287 posts)
4. Great news that you're home!
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 05:55 AM
Jun 2013

And I was willing to be flown in for the tag team sponge baths, but I never received the call.

Get some rest and take care of yourself. Hopefully no additional problems will arise between now and your next follow-up visit.

blogslut

(37,955 posts)
6. Yay! You're home!
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 06:19 AM
Jun 2013

It's nice to be fussed over for a bit but soon you just want to get outta there. You and kitty snuggle up. Get your rest and all will be well.

MiddleFingerMom

(25,163 posts)
7. Kimi!!!! So good to know that you're safe and, for the most part, sound. I recognized a LOT...
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 06:23 AM
Jun 2013

.
...of what you're describing, except you're better at providing details than I am.
.
That sonogram... it's called an electrocardiograph and it gives them a "movie" of
your heart, especially its valves and how well they're functioning. Did they give
you an opportunity to watch the screen as they did the test? I've had several
of those and I'm STILL truly awestruck by the fact that I'm WATCHING my own
heart beating in real time. The first time I had it done. I had my radio show and
I talked the tech into providing me with a tape of my heart sounds (it doesn't
actually go lub-dub lub-dub, it goes swoosh-swoosh swoosh-swoosh as your
blood courses through it) -- I used the tape as background music for Valentine's
Day.
.
The procedure they did NOT do was to look at your coronary arteries and see if
there's any blockage due to fatty deposits (Does this procedure make my heart
look fat? If you asked me that, I would run for my life -- there's no safe answer
to give to a woman asking that.) They cut into your upper thigh and thread the
probe through that huge vein all the way to your heart and actually into each
of your coronary arteries one at a time. They inject a dye through the probe and
look for any blockage there that MAY be responsible for making your heart work
too hard. thus enlarging it like any muscle given hard workouts -- problem is that
your heart muscle doesn't get stronger like most other muscles... it gets weaker.
.
I opted for general anesthesia because, well... because I'm a guy and anytime
you're gonna be cutting on or even NEAR my groin, you're gonna have to knock
me the fuck out, Jack.
.
Even for just a total manscaping, I'm gonna need two bottles of tequila and a
full surgical team standing by. (MFM yelling at his surgical team, "Hey... hey...
HEY!!! That tequila is for ME, folks!!!)
.
Chances are it'll be negative -- most are, but they gotta rule it out for your
safety. They'll just treat you symptomatically with a water pill (to help you
pee out excess fluids) and a cardio diet -- LOW sodium and less drinking of
fluids. Believe it or not,, FOLLOWING those guidelines will almost certainly
prevent a recurrence of what you just went through AND will keep your
heart damage from getting worse.
.
Yada-yada-yada-blah-blah-blah.
..
PM me if you EVER have any questions/concerns. You know me and heart
problems/procedures. Been there - done that - been there - done that, etc.
.
.
Glad to hear it wasn't as bad as I'm sure many of us were worried about.
.
.
....
.
Welcome home.
.
.
.

rurallib

(62,342 posts)
10. Thank goodness you're back and kicking
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 07:22 AM
Jun 2013

Take care and do what you need to to stay well.
You are a valuable person her.

Take care.

Callmecrazy

(3,065 posts)
11. This all great news...
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 07:33 AM
Jun 2013

Sounds like you're going to get an angiogram or something (where's Aristus?). They do them every day. It's a chicken wing. Don't worry. You're gonna be just fine.

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)
12. So happy to hear that you've been sprung, Kimi!
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 08:10 AM
Jun 2013

I'm sure you will be feeling better as soon as you get caught up on your sleep and follow your discharge instructions.

A huge and one for your kitty for being such a good kitty!

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
14. thanks for the update, Kimi.
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 09:04 AM
Jun 2013

cardiomyopathy, maybe.

I think TTSB only exist in MFM's imagination/fantasies anyway.

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
16. Wow. Thanks for the update.
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 01:19 PM
Jun 2013

I've been thinking of you.

I'm glad your kitty is okay -- I know I would have been worried sick(er) about my guys.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
17. Very relieved to know you are better
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 01:28 PM
Jun 2013

I think of you as a youngster, I'm shocked that you of all people could have heart problems.

GoCubsGo

(32,061 posts)
18. Glad to hear you are home!
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 01:48 PM
Jun 2013

I hope your kitty understands. Go catch up on your rest, and keep us posted.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
19. glad to hear it!
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 01:57 PM
Jun 2013

sorry you had to have the scare and all the attendant procedures, but it is pretty amazing how it all works. let your cat help you feel better about it all - it can be depressing and having another creature to care for can help.

marzipanni

(6,011 posts)
20. Now I hope you're having a good long snooze
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 02:16 PM
Jun 2013

and your kitty won't breathe down your neck for more shrimp and wake you up before you're fully rested.

That was an excellent report on your experience, especially considering you were ready to fall asleep!

I LOL'd about you asking the nurse if falling off the bed would cause your nitro glycerin enhanced body to explode like Road Runner! I was an LVN, and I can tell you the hospital staff is grateful when a patient has a sense of humor. They will even go in for a little fix, as when MFM was feeling well enough to be humorous, because some of the work is so intense & laughter is a great stress reducer.

For quite a while I've been checking out different ways of eating for better health, and these two have a lot of good suggestions-

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dash-diet/HI00047
http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/best-plant-based-diets

High sodium, too much meat, and sedentary lifestyle combine as a recipe for disaster, but we know what would make us feel better, just have to make some changes!

one_voice

(20,043 posts)
21. I don't know how I missed the thread...
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 02:32 PM
Jun 2013

of your hospital visit.

I'm sorry you had to go through that! I hope you're feeling better soon.

Rest and take care of yourself.

I wish I was able to take pictures of cherry blossom this year but they didn't do well. (so you'd have something nice to look at while you're recuperating) We've had so much rain and wind, they just looked blah.

When you're able and feeling up to it, let us know how you're doing.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
22. Sorry to hear you are under the weather.
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 03:04 PM
Jun 2013

Aspirin therapy is good. I ordinarily don't use aspirin but I keep them handy just in case. Every time you might have symptoms that could be a heart problem, like what you had, or shortness of breath, tightening of the chest, etc., popping an aspirin in your mouth can buy you time to get to the ER avoiding the ambulance ride. Also, don't worry about the ASPCA finding your kitty. They are experts in dealing with skittish animals.

I'm hoping you get better. Take care of yourself.

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
23. DU vibes work their magic again
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 04:08 PM
Jun 2013

Thanks so much for the update. We were worried.

Take it easy and keep us posted

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
24. Went to Walgreen's today..
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 04:10 PM
Jun 2013

and picked up my regiment of drugs.. Mg, so many! I also got a pamphlet about eating low sodium and low sugar food. Salt is pretty much a killer, I guess. I hardly used it for my food, with the exception of Soy Salt, and I know a brand at Japantown that has no sodium at all. Guess I will stock up! Finding foods that are not packed with Sodium will not be easy. If its not hard to find, it will be expensive.

Seems the health food systems in this country are making a ton of bucks over food that is more healthy, than the norm. Its no wonder so many of us in this country are considered obese, or have high blood pressure, simply due to the way our food is sold. Well, guess I will have to be more careful in the future if that is even possible.

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
26. Having that Ultrasound.. done on my heart..
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 04:26 PM
Jun 2013

You could hear the pump.. sounded like a washing machine with a full load...swish swish swish...

polly7

(20,582 posts)
29. So glad you're back home Kimi and they took such good care of you.
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 04:36 PM
Jun 2013

Don't overdo things and rest well.

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
31. It will be good if I stay away from salty, fatty and sugary stuffs..
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 05:18 PM
Jun 2013

Maybe I shouldn't have gotten those M&Ms and Skittles on the way home!

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
32. In other words, all the fun food :(
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 05:48 PM
Jun 2013

My crystal ball foretells of farmers market visits in your future

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
34. Well now the only one you can trust as far as what goes into food ../
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 06:34 PM
Jun 2013

seems to be ourselves. Everything is flavored with salt.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
35. Amen to that! I've managed for two years to avoid having a salt shaker in the home...
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 07:16 PM
Jun 2013

but it's still in everything I eat. And on the rare occasions where I make dinner at home, it tastes bland by comparison.

hedgehog

(36,286 posts)
33. Rest up and keep in touch - it sometimes takes a while to get everyrthing settled properly!
Sun Jun 30, 2013, 05:55 PM
Jun 2013

I am glad your kitty is OK!

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)
37. Glad you're home and things are going in the right direction.
Tue Jul 2, 2013, 12:45 PM
Jul 2013

And as for the tag team sponge bath, I'm sure there would have been no shortage of DU volunteers.

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
38. hahahahahaha!
Tue Jul 2, 2013, 02:20 PM
Jul 2013

I am sure you are correct on that.

Yet on the other hand, my life has changed forever, I have to now live knowing my ticker isn't up to snuff and try and live healthier
24/7.

kwassa

(23,340 posts)
39. Glad to hear you are okay! I had a somewhat similar experience ....
Tue Jul 2, 2013, 02:46 PM
Jul 2013

The procedure your doctors are talking about is a cardiac catheterization, where they send a probe up an artery from your groin to the heart. In my case, a stent was inserted because of arterial blockage of some 95%. It is relatively non-traumatic type of surgery.

A heart attack, and total shock to me, because I have no risk factors that I know of, and no family history.

You have some form of pulmonary edema, which is different. My only advice is read up on the condition as much as possible, educate yourself as much as you can, and ask your cardiologist as many questions as possible.

There are many great medical websites, and I recommend reading multiple sites, as each gives details the others might not.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-edema/DS00412/DSECTION=causes

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000140.htm

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
40. You have no one you trust out in Cali
Tue Jul 2, 2013, 06:18 PM
Jul 2013

you could have asked to go feed your cat?

Glad you and cat are alright, though.

AsahinaKimi

(20,776 posts)
42. Someone suggested the ASPCA..
Tue Jul 2, 2013, 11:09 PM
Jul 2013

I could easily see a huge mistake.. they come to take my cat to the shelter, three days later...cat has been exterminated. um,...no.

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