Not Dead Yet - A heartbreaking story

[Raindog]

I pass this along to preach a little at those that ignore their health, that eat nothing but junk food. In other words, people like me. I thought that I was immune to heart attacks for some reason.

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About 3 weeks ago, I went to the bottom of my 100 ft driveway to push my empty garbage can up to the house. I made it about 3 steps when…I was suddenly awake to find two strange women taking care of me. Seems that I passed out so suddenly that it took my head hitting concrete to break my fall. I sat there, beside a pool of blood, until paramedics arrived and they advised me to be airlifted to the University of Alabama in Birmingham hospital, one of the best in the nation. So, I was choppered there. The doctor stitched my head and stated that I would be discharged soon. “What about passing out?” I asked. Oh, we were told that you fell in the tub and hit your head. WTF?!? Anyways, they kept me overnight in the extended ER room because no beds were available in MCU. Doctors met with me and determined that my fainting was probably caused by my AFIB medicines which lowers my already naturally low heartrate. Just for a pre-caution, they had me take a walk around a section of the hospital and I was feeling fine…right up until I was surrounded by about 20-25 doctors, nurses and others.

I had died for 6 minutes. To those of a religious bend, I have to say that I never saw a light at the end of a tunnel and no dead relatives greeted me. Just thankful darkness. They move me from MCU to CCU (cardiac). I have had numerous chemical stress tests and fluoroscopes and all had shown no blockage. Thankfully, the doctor went in anyway with the probe and found a 99% blockage in the “widowmaker” artery. And btw, I got to be awake for the entire procedure and blockage removal, due to them not wanting to put me under with the other heart problems.

Today, it’s been 3 weeks since the procedure. I'm still not 100% but getting better. I have no great lesson to give from my experience other than “Take care of yo-self.”

And yes, everytime my 83 year-old father, 81 year-old mother or adult daughter calls to check on me, I answer “Not dead yet!” And I think that they know that I am grateful not to be.

[Partscaster]

Glad to read that you made it, Raindog, and with a will to take care of yourself.
Thats an incredible story. Mojo for you and your future improvement.

[LightWingStudios]

Holy (I think) Dog Blizzle Raindog!

No 72 Virgins either? A WOOF, WOOF Bummeroonski!

Happy to hear you're still on The Mortal Coil.

[uwmcscott]

I'm glad you are here to tell the tale.

[BatUtilityBelt]

That's the better kind of emergency - when they actually figure it out in time. Glad to hear it, and take good care!

[honyock]

Luck/fate/whatever had you in the right place at the right time. If you believe in such things, I'd say there is a bell ringing somewhere right now.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[sabasgr68]

Glad you´re still here.

[Rollin Hand]

Glad you woke up to all those doctors. God help you if it was garbage men....

Glad you made it. A friend of mine had something similar happen. In the space of 36 hours he had a massive coronary, was rushed to the Ottawa Heart Institute, got a stent, and was home e-mailing .e how he felt perfectly fine.

Stay well.

[tobijohn]

Wow, things so easily could have ended differently, the sequence of events almost defies coincidance. The former for now, hopefully the latter soon...

[Spike]

Glad you’re still with us!

[dabbler]

Glad you're still with us. And if your doctor's suggest any lifestyle changes, please listen... and comply.

[LancerTheGreat]

Hate to hear you had to go through all of that. But glad you’re doing okay and everything!

I hope you make a speedy recovery, and hopefully you come out even better than before anything was wrong ;D

[toomanycats]

Thankful you're still here to write about your ordeal.

I'm still not over losing @fullonshred and @fatjack. Wow! I'm surprised that their accounts are still open, though upon reflection it comforts me. They have a continued existence here on AGF in the spirit of ancestor worship.

[tonebender]

I am glad you are okay and getting better. Often it is one and done like my father and several friends over the years. They can do miracles these days if given a chance. Hopefully they have you fixed up for many years to come.

[MichaelR]

Glad you made it and are getting better.

[Floridian FX]

Glad you are still upright Raindog, that is probably enough adventure to last for awhile.

[jtcnj]

Glad to have you here to tell the tale.
An almost didn't wake up - wake up call.

Have a happy getting the stitches out of your noggin day, and many more with less drama.

[uglyvw]

Just wow, that's a pretty miraculous save, no matter how you look at it.

[nomadh]

Wow I check out of here for a few months and it seems the rest are trying to check out permanently. That or making new little agf members.
Glad to see they caught it and you're doing better.
Keep on rocking

[bc rich]

Good to hear that you got top shelf care and respect to your care professionals, You are what you eat is timeless advice .
Whenever i see a bag of Lego"s on my local Goodwill auction my first reaction is ol yaya raindog would love this