Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Im back

What was supposed to have happened was...on Oct 31 I was to have a heart cath done and I figured they might put a couple stints in.....what actually happened was on Oct 19 I was having pain and had to go to the Emergency room, where they did the heart cath the next morning and discovered I had 5 to 6 major blockages in my heart and needed open heart surgery right away. Pittsburgh is the best place to have open heart surgery around here so I was taken to Pittsburgh Allegheny Hospital in an ambulance. When they did the heart cath they used Plavix ( which I guess is normal procedure) but Pittsburg wouldnt operate for 3 days till most of the plavix was out of my system. So on the 22 of Oct I had the surgery. I did well in the surgery and since I hadnt had a heart attack there was no damage to my heart. After the surgery I developed pneumonia so they put me back on the ventilator for 4 or 5 days. Waking up with a vent on is very scary. They kept me so drugged I didnt know why I was there or where my family was. I couldnt even remember that I had open heart surgery. A whole group of Drs would come in every morning and discuss why I was on the vent...they tried to take me off of it everyday and I didnt know if I was ever going to get off the vent, it was horrible...I was so thirsty and scared. I talked to God constantly. Finally they took me off of it and I was breathing ok. I was so happy to have ice chips!!!

I was as weak as a new born kitten, i still dont have a lot of energy, but I try to walk everyday and get stronger. My incision is healing nicely. My son took me to the Dr last week for a check up, we stopped at the Olive Garden on the way home to eat, when I got home I went to bed, I was exhausted! But it felt good to get out.

I am so thankful it is all over with, it was quite an experience for me and my family...the good news is I have quit smoking.....I made up my mind while I was on the vent if I lived through this I would never smoke again or do anything to damage my lungs and heart further. When I started having the pain on the 19th of Oct., I had to take nitro. When I took the nitro the pain stopped like magic! So I thought....well, I can have a cigarette while I figure out what to do.......as soon as I lit that cigarette and puffed on it the pain started back up! That was my very last cigarette!

So thank all of you for your Prayers and well wishes, I am finally on the mend and so greatful to God that I am still here!

The funny thing was, for having all those blockages, I didnt feel bad, I could still go and shop all day. The only thing that gave me any indication something was wrong was the pain in my arms. they just kind of ached all the time. I didnt really have chest pain either, I had more pain in my back than my chest. They say women are different when it comes to the symtoms of a heart attack, I do believe that. Also another person told me "pain is your friend"..I also believe that. If my arms hadnt ached I would have never gone to the Dr., You know how some people just drop dead of a heart attack? I am thinking that they have no symptoms till its too late. I would have never thought I had such clogged arteries. I was a walking time bomb and didnt even know it.

Again, thank you for your prayers! Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!!! God bless everyone!

30 comments:

Bluepaintred said...

I am so glad this was all caught in time, and I am even more happy to hear the news you quit smoking!

Be well my friend!

LJ said...

I'm thankful that you are mending and here to make us all laugh! My what a journey the past month has been for you! Oh how I wish I could give you a very big giant hug!
Happy Thanksgiving and I wish you many more to come!

Tug said...

Wow. I seriously need to make a doctor's appointment. Not "seriously", but yeah...doesn't hurt to have everything checked.

Many MANY thoughts & prayers still with you my friend...have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

Where do I wanna start?

Well I am glad you feel well enough to give us an update and thank you for it. I am soooo happy that there was no heart damage and you did not have a heart attack. ever since I read your last post you have been on my mind a lot and I have been thinking of how you are feeling. I can relate to the thirsty feeling, oh I hate that. I am very glad you have stopped smoking. It will improve your life in so many ways. I love how you said you still felt well enough to shop,LMAO! I know you have a wonderful family and I am so glad you do cause I know they are taking great care of you. I wanna say so much more but Zane is fighting me for the keyboard to play Elmo. I am gonna go for now. I love ya and you are always in my prayers1

Big Pissy said...

Catch....I'm SO glad you're on the mend! But so sorry that you had to go through all this....

please take care of yourself.

{{{hugs}}}

~Pissy

Michelle said...

I am so glad to hear you are on the mend and were even feeling well enough to go to Olive Garden! I can't imainge how scary the whole experience was for you - especially waking up w/the vent - that probably would have freaked me out too! I have to say I'm also happy to hear you have quit cold turkey (my father quit cold turkey a few months after Kayla was born and I was so excited!) You continue to be in my prayers as you rest and fully recover!

Unknown said...

We are all thankful for your recovery and the lessons you have learned from this. Continued success in your recouperation. Have a wonderful holiday.

Patty said...

It is so nice to see you back. I am glad you are better. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Unknown said...

So glad you are back! Take care of yourself. I wish I could get my husband to stop smoking.Take it easy and be better fast!

Anonymous said...

I'm a so Thankful you are on the mend! Wow! That is all so scary! That is so nice you got to go to Olive Garden with your son.

Nana, had the same thing, she went in for surgery, and quit smoking while she was in the hospital, it's been almost ten years, and I think she's only had one, and didn't like it. She looks so much healthier.

Miss you Catch!!
Please know you are in my prayers, and it's so nice to see you back.

Have a Happy Turkey day!!
HUGS

Christine

Louisiana said...

i'm glad you are well enough to post for we needed to know how you are doing. i'm glad that you did end up going to the doc, that you had nitro at your side, that you have given up smoking and that your fam is there to help you.

i can't imagine waking up in a ventilator. it must be horrible. i'm so sorry and i'm so glad you are now at home, breathing with your own 2 beautiful lungs.

pls take it slowly, pls rest as much as you can possibly, pls sleep as much as you can. your body needs to recuperate and get strong.

you are one heck of a woman and in no time you will be back full strength and better than ever.

pls know how cared for you are, how much thought of love go your way and how much you have been missed.

tomorrow, US Thanksgiving, we all give thanks to have us still with us.

we love you. xooxoxooxox

Dan said...

Welcome back! So much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

DIXIECHICK said...

I am so glad that you are recovering ok...I have read your blog for sometime now, not sure if I have ever commented before you got sick..I just want you to know that you remind me a lot of my mom, she has gone throught the exact same thing that you have. I enjoy reading you and I have missed your posts...
Take care and have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
Dixie

Cindy said...

I'm so glad to see an update from you! Glad you are on the mend! Don't overdo it tomorrow. Let others do the work for now while you rest and take it easy. Hope you and all yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Dr.John said...

You are beginning to sound like the old Catch. Pretty soon you will be well enough to start putting out more of those horrible jokes and cartoons.
You are so lucky they found this before any damage was done.

Shelli said...

OMG, Catch! I didn't know. I am so sorry. I am glad that you are on the mend and that you will be on a healthier path now. I think I am going to send my mom this post link. She has peripheral artery disease and even after several surgeries, she still smokes. It freaks me out. I am thankful you are better!

bettygram said...

Thank God that they were able to keep the heart from damage.It was a scary time to be sure. I pray that you will continue to get stronger.

Queenie said...

Oh! catch i am so pleased your ok, really missed you honey (even your jokes). I kept nipping back for a view of your armpit!!!! wanting news you were ok.
Great news take care and don't do to much.

Bazza said...

great to have you back Catch, sounds like you had quite an ordeal! We gave up smoking over 10 years ago now, stick with it, it is worth it.

Akelamalu said...

Oh my dear Catch, you have been through the mill haven't you, but it's so good to see you back honey.
The good thing is you've stopped smoking, things can only get better now eh? Still sending oodles of Reiki for your continued recovery m'dear. xxxx

Rick Rockhill said...

MY GOSH what an ordeal. Happy Thanksgiving!
-Rick

Ol' Lady said...

I'm happy that you are feeling well enough to surf and visit your friends that live in your computer :)
Make sure you do what your told to do and don't over do anything!
I will think of you as I burn up my credit card in Ikea this weekend.
Take care my friend :)

MarmiteToasty said...

((((((((((catch)))))))) much love and best wishes to you, seems like you been through the mangle..... oh Im so glad to see you alive and kicking........ I have been so worried about you, ya old cow...... missed you like crazy, but you take your time and mend proper......

hugz and much love to you.... always OXO

TK Kerouac said...

So Glad to see that you are up and about now Catch
Take good care of yourself
you were missed
Hugs
Happy Thanksgiving!

Ginny said...

Hope you continue to get better. Missed your humor! Get well soon!

eZ said...

I hope you are getting the love and care you give and show to your clients catch! A big pat on the back for not smoking, take it easy and be good to yourself!

MarmiteToasty said...

(((catch)))) how you doing ya old codger? and what happened to your dear sweet mum whilst you have been and is poorly?

See how I bloody worry about ya all :)

x

Bare said...

I'm just glad you're doing ok-- and that you did quit smoking, that will definitely help things! *hugs*

Neoma said...

again I say Wow, I had no idea it was this serious. But it so glad that you listened to your body. My husband didn't and he had to have a heart attack before he would go in, he had surgery also, but he has major heart damange also.

The dr told him that smoking from the age of 12 didn't help him one bit, he had quit when Ana was born. But the damage was done.

I am so glad you are recovering so quickly, it is along haul, took Tom about two months before he was not doing breathing exercises, but they can do miracles for the heart. Surgeons seem to have that surgery down pretty darn good don't they. Tom has congestive heart failure on top of what else he had, but he takes medication for that.

I am amazed that you were able to do as much as you could with that much blockage.......so glad that you got in when you did. Bless you.....keep getting better.....hugs.

Anonymous said...

I know the best way to stop smoking!
I've done it by myself!!!