Cardiac artery problems...

Billy C · May 11, 2019, 11:42:00 PM

I have been doing the doctor/testing thing hard and heavy lately. Mostly simple problems at my 200,000 mile checkup but got hooked up with a heart specialist and they are a bit excited. I go in on Tuesday for a day procedure heart cath. I had the same sort of procedure before but for my spine so at least I know what to expect. The caveat is if that artery is 90%+ blocked it quits being a day job and they keep me and go the next step. My Dad had a triple bypass about my age. He lived on for another 20 yrs. Still, a bit scary. If I had known earlier what I know now I would still have ate bacon, guzzled beer, smoked more Malboros than that cowboy guy etc. I have not smoked in in a year and I still miss it dearly on occasion.
So, hopefully I will be back here Thursday. If I get hard to reach, you can assume things got more complicated. If you are one of the poor bastards who has carbs here being rebuilt, there may be a delay. Sorry about that. This happened rather suddenly. Not enough time to plan ahead.

Looney1 · May 12, 2019, 12:22:29 AM

Heal up quick Billy- Not sure I've shared this, but I perform heart caths, stents, balloons, pacemakers for a living. If you ever need to chat, you have my number. If you get a stent, remember to take your Plavix (or Brilinta) and a baby aspirin every day. Without these meds, your stent will close abruptly and you will likely suffer a heart attack.

Malm · May 12, 2019, 12:38:47 AM

Damn man... good ya quit the cigs.... Best wishes Billy.

Billy C · May 12, 2019, 12:56:48 AM

Quote from: Looney1 on May 12, 2019, 12:22:29 AM
Heal up quick Billy- Not sure I've shared this, but I perform heart caths, stents, balloons, pacemakers for a living. If you ever need to chat, you have my number. If you get a stent, remember to take your Plavix (or Brilinta) and a baby aspirin every day. Without these meds, your stent will close abruptly and you will likely suffer a heart attack.

Good to know. Can you text (903.340.6009) or PM me a ph #?
Is there anything you can't find out about here?

I am thinking a stent sounds pretty good compared to having my chest cracked. Even better would be taking some magic pill every day and continue the diet/exercise. I had to move in another notch on my belt. The weight loss is slooow. Goes on slow, comes off slow. I am OK with that. It ain't a race. The turtle will get skinny(er) soon enough.

Looney1 · May 12, 2019, 01:22:36 AM

Text sent Billy. I just read your post more closely. Thought you had the heart cath already, but now see it's scheduled for Tuesday.

Billy C · May 12, 2019, 09:11:29 AM

Had several heart related tests so far. The cath on Tues is to confirm with more accuracy if I am at the somehow magic 90%. Like much in life it is the not knowing that makes it scarier than it really is. I did get the msg, thanks.
Up early this AM to take our boy to his recruiter's office in the big city. He is shipping out for Marine boot camp today. I feel for him, his comfy lil EBGTX protected life just changed drastically. He loves an adventure and will do well.
Busy week.

Looney1 · May 12, 2019, 02:32:24 PM

Look at the positive side. Cardiac Cath is the gold standard for determining heart disease (blocked arteries). All the other tests can give false positives/negatives. After Tuesday, you will know exactly if you have any blockages or not and what additional treatments you may need. With your family history, this is probably well overdue. If everything comes out clean, then you will have peace of mind that you didn't get the bad atherosclerosis gene from your father. Keep me posted bud. Will be thinking of you.

Billy C · May 13, 2019, 12:25:21 PM

I gave up alcohol because it runs in the family tree. And because it was causing me problems.
I gave up cigarettes because it was gonna be causing me problems. Dad died from lung cancer. Damn it, I miss cigarettes! Jury is still out on whether stopping made any difference in my long term prognosis.
I gave up excess amounts of sugar because type 2 diabetes runs in the family tree. And because the doc said it was time to grow up.
I gave up riding because it was time physically.
Etc...
The list stretches on longer every year it seems. I suppose some people did this stuff in their 20s/30s because they are smarter than I am. It is all sort of new for me. Whattaya mean I can't treat my body like shit for 60 yrs and expect it to keep running like an 18 yr olds? I am not whining (much).

The son spent the night in DFW in a hotel. He flies out for San Diego today. He will be having a very uncomfortable night tonight. He was selected as 'senior class clown' 2 days ago at his high school. Maybe the drill sgts will nickname him Joker. He can't control his sense of humor. It will surely earn him extra attention at boot camp. ;)

Randalicious · May 13, 2019, 02:51:55 PM

Billy, I had similar problems Feb. 16th. Had a stroke. I folded from standing and collapsed like a paper doll. Lucky I had Parachute Landing Fall training in the USAF.
The EMS guys said it was from a coronal right branch blockage. The CAT scan showed about 2" of carotid blocked just below ear level. Like you, I always thought I was strong and tough and could bull through anything. Not true anymore.
The EMS guys and Dr guessed that an artery had ruptured internally and caused sludge from the wall to be carried away by the bloodstream. AFAIK, no one verified that's what caused the blockage, so I'm not counting out a meteor strike to my neck or hostile space aliens. My guesses are just as good as theirs! :???:
Got out of the Rehab Hospital March 5th, after much PT.
I'm walking 2 miles/day at a rapid pace, weather permitting. It seems to help getting my strength and memory back. I hope you will find a PT mode that helps with your recovery.
So, those V45S carbs I was going to ferry up to Canton won't be coming, after all. Best wishes. :pope:

Randy

Billy C · May 13, 2019, 10:36:15 PM

All my friends are old farts. Not sure how that came to be. I used to never hang out with old guys. :???:

luv2fly · May 14, 2019, 09:12:21 AM

Sorry to hear this Billy. Maybe ask them to dunk you in an ultrasonic cleaner for a good scrub and some new floats? A new battery? Seriously, all my best. Todays medical care still amazes me at what can be done.

Maybe not much of a consolation but I went in with a medical release slip to get back into SCUBA diving - at 50. NP left, came back with a Dr. and laid it down "Yeahhhh, there is no way we are going to sign this". He was a certified diver as well and told me what I needed to hear medically, but the hardest to swallow was that I wasn't 25 anymore. Maybe we should start an MC club. A 3 patch club with a cane crossing a walker as our symbol. Initiation would be guzzling a gallon of prune juice chasing anti diarrhea pills followed by a 200 mile 2 wheeled trip in stop and go traffic. We'd be bad ass.

Hang in there Billy. Please keep us posted. Prayers.

masonv45 · May 15, 2019, 02:37:10 PM

Your new vest patch!

Billy C · May 16, 2019, 12:31:19 AM

Back home safe and sound. 2 arteries at 60% and 1 somewhere approaching fully blocked which they called the widow maker (drama maybe). The nice Swedish lady doc was talking triple bypass and I objected. She consulted with the surgeon and he agreed it was too much. 30 minutes and they had a stent in and I got out around 2PM. Went and got a haircut, watched Dana shop for flowers at the Lowes garden center (cuz sale!) and back home and back to bed for 4 hrs. Last time I had to be anesthetized they did the count to 10 backwards. This time on both caths there was looking at the monitor expecting to watch the die injection and waking up in recovery. Good drugs though not quite to my taste.
I have a list of 5 drugs I will be on for however long. Yay! Better than dying or stroking out though. I am on light duty for 5 days and then back to life as usual. Bullet dodged. Life is good. Fark you Grim Reaper!
Who do they always try to explain how the surgery went right after I wake up and slurring my words and drooling down my chin?

Malm · May 16, 2019, 03:44:02 AM

Great news Billy... :beer:

klopperg · May 16, 2019, 03:52:47 AM

Glad you are fine for now,

maybe time to look at nasty habits, like smoking, fatty food etc. :pope:

Billy C · May 16, 2019, 03:02:54 PM

I am 14 months tobacco free. I still am tempted every few weeks but now I have one more good reason not to give in.
I have changed my diet a lot, very low sugar as my glucose has been high. Now I am going to watch my fat intake. Fargin' rabbit food I guess is my future. Been hitting the gym. Lost weight. My blood work is looking good. There is a strong family history for all that ails me and changing lifestyles a6 62 after 50 yrs of throwing garbage down my neck... earns one a sten in my particular case.
I thing we all have those moments of clarity when we see that we need change. Either we act on it or we go mehh, and keep on doing what we do. At 38 I saw alcohol owned me and quit drinking. At 62 I saw myself in profile view in a mirror and though My God I am pregnant. Just started collecting Soc Sec and it seemed like a good time to pretend I was old and start taking better care of myself. I know a few of y'all are in need of some health changes. See ya at the gym? Dana has been doing diet/exercise and is part of what got me going. She has dumped a lot of weight. She is looking very good. ;D

NormanB · May 30, 2019, 10:43:53 AM

Great news Billy!! Keep at it for sure.

EV · June 05, 2019, 08:29:41 AM

......

daffyv6tfv · June 13, 2019, 12:05:58 AM

good to hear things are ok ish does the plaque get lessened by meds or it keeps it from increasing

Billy C · June 13, 2019, 01:22:35 PM

I dunno about the plaque. I have an appt with my heart doc in a week and will discuss that. The heart is like the water pump on your bike. You ignore it til it starts acting up.
Now my back is acting up again. I was about flat on my back for 5 days. Pulling out of it the past few days.

rrwarrenvanman · June 13, 2019, 05:04:15 PM

Working on old people is like working on old bikes, the problem just keeps moving around and you need to fix one thing at a time.

dnapekko · June 20, 2019, 05:33:07 AM

Hope all goes well, and you can stay in business. Which reminds me, I would need a VF1000F set with needle valves and O-ring gaskets, do you happen to have those in storage?

Billy C · June 20, 2019, 02:07:30 PM

Quote from: dnapekko on June 20, 2019, 05:33:07 AM
Hope all goes well, and you can stay in business. Which reminds me, I would need a VF1000F set with needle valves and O-ring gaskets, do you happen to have those in storage?

I have VF1000F rebuild kits in stock.
Just came back from my heart doc appt and lunch with my honey. Lunch was not that good. My Russian lady heart doc was quite happy. Heart rate/blood pressure/EKG are those of a hard ridden put up wet 30 yr old. Plavix and baby aspirin for 1 year. Statins for the rest of my life which sounds bad but is probably only 15 yrs. ;)
The back is kicking my butt.

dnapekko · June 24, 2019, 01:57:03 PM

Quote from: Billy C on June 20, 2019, 02:07:30 PM
Quote from: dnapekko on June 20, 2019, 05:33:07 AM
Hope all goes well, and you can stay in business. Which reminds me, I would need a VF1000F set with needle valves and O-ring gaskets, do you happen to have those in storage?

I have VF1000F rebuild kits in stock.
Just came back from my heart doc appt and lunch with my honey. Lunch was not that good. My Russian lady heart doc was quite happy. Heart rate/blood pressure/EKG are those of a hard ridden put up wet 30 yr old. Plavix and baby aspirin for 1 year. Statins for the rest of my life which sounds bad but is probably only 15 yrs. ;)
The back is kicking my butt.

Ok, I need one kit, or actually needle valves and gaskets, everything else is relatively good. How much, your Paypal is still wotking, I think?
Pekka

dnapekko · June 27, 2019, 02:53:43 AM

Hi Billy. Could you send a kit to Michael in Maine, he has Sabre mirrors for me too. I need cheapest kit with bowl gaskets and needle valves for incoming fuel. How much, I can pay with Paypal

br
Pekka from Finland

Billy C · June 27, 2019, 06:01:05 PM

Yep, email me an address. See private message.

C420sailor · August 22, 2019, 11:28:34 AM

A massive chunk of the population takes those very same meds, and then some. If you're just on a statin, you're doing very well. Keep it up. I have patients who are on statins...and beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, blood thinners, etc.

You likely have a good bit more than 15 left in ya with all these positive life changes...so if the back is giving you that much trouble, you may want to start smoking again! Haha

Billy C · August 22, 2019, 11:59:58 AM

Quote from: C420sailor on August 22, 2019, 11:28:34 AM
so if the back is giving you that much trouble, you may want to start smoking again! Haha

I was trying to talk me into smoking 2 days ago. Probably not helping that my wife and all 3 boys are home and smoking around me. One day at a time. :(

C420sailor · August 22, 2019, 02:30:56 PM

Quote from: Billy C on August 22, 2019, 11:59:58 AM
Quote from: C420sailor on August 22, 2019, 11:28:34 AM
so if the back is giving you that much trouble, you may want to start smoking again! Haha

I was trying to talk me into smoking 2 days ago. Probably not helping that my wife and all 3 boys are home and smoking around me. One day at a time. :(

Jeez. That's tough. Don't worry, the Marine will turn to dippin' soon enough. Can't make Sgt unless you can gut some cope.