I RAN INTO A SERIES OF LIFE THREATENING EVENTS EARLY IN THE MILLENNIUM. MOSTLY THEY INVOLVED MY HEART WHICH HAD BEEN BYPASSED IN 1993. AFTER THAT I HAD A SMATTERING OF PROCEDURES, WHICH, WHILE RISKY, DIDN'T FAZE ME AS MUCH AS WHAT FOLLOWED.
IN 2002 I HAD A HEART ATTACK AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL THAT I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO GO TO. MY WIFE WAS OUT OF TOWN AND OTHER EMERGENCY ROOMS WERE FULL BECAUSE OF SOME MAJOR ACCIDENT IN THE AREA. MISTAKES WERE MADE BY A CARDIOLOGIST WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO SOME CRITICAL VESSELS INCLUDING THE LEFT ANTERIOR REPLACEMENT ARTERY.
DON'T HAVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN YOU ARE ALONE. IT'S A BITCH.
AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE UNECESSARY STENTS PLACED DURING THE EMERGENCY BEGAN TO FAIL AND SOME RADICAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO SAVE THEM SUCH AS A BRACYTHERAPY. FINALLY NOTHING WORKED AND I HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER BYPASS.
NOW I AM SAVED AGAIN, BUT HAVE NO VESSELS LEFT WITH WHICH TO FURTHER FIX THINGS. I LIVE NEAR THE OUTER EDGE OF THE PLANK ALTHOUGH WITH NO FEAR OF DEATH.
BUT DURING ALL THIS SOMETHING WAS DISCOVERED, WHICH, WITHOUT REPAIR WOULD HAVE KILLED ME IN SHORT ORDER. THEY SAW THAT MY LEFT SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY WAS SEVERELY NARROWED AND NEAR CLOSURE. THIS ARTERY, ABOVE AND LEFT OF MY HEART, IS THE SIZE OF A FINGER.
IT FEEDS THE LEFT ARM AND THE BRAIN. MY GOD, THE BRAIN. THE SOLUTION WAS TO INSERT A 'BIG' STENT. A REALLY B-I-G ONE.
[SEE THE FIGURE ABOVE LEFT FOR WHERE IT WAS PLACED.]
IT WAS A NEW PROCEDURE AT THE TIME. DURING PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH A CARDIOLOGIST WHO SPECIALIZED IN BIG STENTS, MY WIFE ASKED HIM HOW MANY OF THESE HE HAD DONE. SHE WAS EXPECTING A HIGH NUMBER. HE SAID, "THIS WILL BE MY SEVENTH." EVIDENTLY MY LUCKY NUMBER. AND THIS IS AT THE VERY BEST CARDIAC HOSPITAL IN THE REGION.
LOTS OF DOCTORS CAME TO THE CATH LAB TO WATCH THE PROCEDURE. LET ME SHOW YOU THE BEFORE AND AFTER. REMEMBER THE SUBCLAVIAN IS ABOUT 1/2 INCH (10-20mm) IN DIAMETER. YOU CAN CHUG BEER THROUGH A TUBE THAT SIZE.
I DON'T LIKE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY STRETCHED THE SUCKER OPEN SO MUCH. ECCKKK... :(
SO NOW THINGS ARE SORT OF FIXED. IT HAS BEEN SIX YEARS AND GOING STRONG.
IT'S A FCUKING MIRACLE.
EXCEPT FOR MY BRAIN.....
I BE HAPPY
Heavens, that is some scary stuff right there. Still, I thank you for sharing your ordeal, as well as re-affirming what I've always known all along: caps lock is cruise control for cool.
Long time no speak. I think I might deleted my Facebook account in a moment of disgust. Perhaps I should create a new one? I'll re-add you if I do.
All the best,
Mr. Fantastic
Posted by: Mr. Fantastic | 12/25/2009 at 11:13 PM