On my way into work yesterday I had a heart attack on my 06 Tiger, blacked out while doing around 50, somehow missed all of the traffic, went through a corn field and woke up when the bike hit some ruts and was throwing me on my head. Other than that, an uneventful commute. Contrary to popular belief, heart attacks can go on for a REALLY LONG TIME!
Have stint in aorta which was 100% blocked, have really strange heart rhythms and am told this is the worst type (of course), blood pressure drops to Night Of The Living Dead Level and bike needs at least lights and windscreen.
I can't think of any particular words of wisdom other than to try and avoid getting old if at all possible.
Did you get the medicine coated stent they recalled weeks after I had mine put in?
I've been lucky that I haven't had a serious problem in a moving vehicle. But so much for my Private Pilot Licence. I'm limited to Pt. 103 solo flying now.
We'll have to swap stories in the Organ Recital us older folk do when greeting each other. ( which organs failed since the last time you met )
And why is it Growing Old when it seems like mostly ear hairs that grow?
Too dumb to kill off, I guess. Right before this happened I got a monster head rush (like what you get before you pass out) and my chest, back, temples and shoulders were all throbbing so I took a deep breath to try and stretch everything out and after about 5 miles realized I had to turn around and go back home. Probably best I blacked out as if I had made it home I would NOT have called the ambulance, I'd just go into bed and throw the covers over my head which wouldn't have worked out too well! Guess it would have been fitting to die lying next to a motorcycle. Just not quite yet, I still have plenty of mischief to get into.
I just remembered something: pounding temples and racing thoughts (as in speeded up) for a few months prior. This wasn't just a huge blob of crap that broke free all at once, it had been building up for a bit and then the last bit clogged it solid.
I know helmets should be replaced at X number of years old- I just can't part with my stickers. Wonder if there's an outfit that can refurbish the interior without hurting the shell?
In the meantime, I used to be fast. Age slows me down, hopefully a smidgen of wisdom. Still trying to be a better rider.
Steve- laughter itself may not yet be your best medicine right now, but your sense of humor will get you through this life.
I might've mentioned on other threads my two choices for an epitaph, tell me what you think.
"Pounding headaches" sounds like my issues from a decade and a half ago when my doctor discovered I had a BP of 220 over 150. He was AMAZED I didn't have a stroke. Only fall-out is that my kidneys were damaged by the HBP and are only working at 50% of normal. They haven't gotten any worse (I've been making sure I keep well hydrated and never add salt to anything I eat or cook) so I've avoided dialysis so far.
HBP is the silent killer. When you get to our age, it helps to monitor it RELIGIOUSLY.
It really beat the snot out of my Arai helmet, that goes on the souvineer wall.
My heart beat isn't right and there's 3 different ones going on. I'm going to suggest it is from listening to too much Frank Zappa with all of the weird time signatures; otherwise, they'll keep me here forever.
I keep a Heart Rate/Blood Pressure cuff and an O2 sensor for the finger on my desk. If anyone has head aches, dizzy spells, or woozy episodes, It is a good idea to check.
heart attacks can go on for a REALLY LONG TIME Yalp, and can rob you of any memory of them happening. I found out 10 days after the fact. Hospital told me. I then went back and read the very detailed diary/log I used to keep. There it was in all my OCD black and white. Mine was like I had ate too much and an ankle that hurt too much to walk on. Gained 30 pounds of water weight in 10 days. They said if I had made it to sleep the night I went to the hospital, I would not have woke up.
What ever the doctor says, do it. If you won't listen to him, fire him and get one you will listen to. Remind the doctor of your level of medical education. Some of them are out of touch with the layman. Mine acted like I knew what all that fancy talk meant. Then he got fat. I fired him.
Ditto on the doctor comment. My Primary care Doctor is one I've followed from office to office because she WILL tell at me and I will listen.
This summer, she calls me at 9:30 at night, tells me she just got my blood test results, and to go to the ER, NOW, she's called and told them I'm coming. NO YOU CAN'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW! I'll skip the details but I overheard what seems to be a recurring theme in my life. "He walked in here?"
One tip for reducing salt intake. Spicy. Salt enhances flavor. So on low salt use more salsa. And go ahead and use salt! The difference between a sprinkle on a piece of meat at home and the table spoons in pre-prepared food is huge.
Tip #2
In Ye Olde Days, people used salt cellars, a lidded box on the table & not shakers. You'd put a pinch in your palm, look to see if that's how much you wanted, then sprinkled it on by hand. Excess went back if it was your personal salt container. Or was discarded if using public cellars.
Where do you think the superstition about which shoulder to toss salt over came from? ( hint, it has to do with the side waiters serve your food on. )
Shake some in your hand. Use what you want. Seriously. Shoulder tossing optional. I dump the excess on the edge of the plate to control consumption.
Yes, I learned this at Medieval feasts, and learning about customs. Feel free to skip the section on covering the taste of bad meat with sweet sauces.
Never a dull moment! I’ve said for years that getting old ain’t for sissies! Glad you had a good outcome. That could have been very different. That’s how we lost Don Tilly a few years ago. Do the rehab, adjust your diet add some exercise. You just got the Uly back up and going, no time to give up now!
I remember when my dad broke his leg cutting trees in the back 40. He had to drag his ass out of there, and they had to do surgery to the knee. Of course they did an EKG first, and told him he had also had a heart attack. Naturally he argued about that with the doctor.
"My heart beat isn't right and there's 3 different ones going on. I'm going to suggest it is from listening to too much Frank Zappa with all of the weird time signatures; otherwise, they'll keep me here forever."
I think it'll be pacemaker and they'll drive themselves crazy trying to figure out my blood pressure. I wake up 76/47 and feel fine but the staff here goes berserk.
Glad to hear your going to recover, you certainly sound like you have the right outlook. I've got a couple buddies with heart issues. Messed them up for a long time. Some Pink Floyd should help straighten out that arrhythmia. ( I know you ALL hear the end of "Dark Side of The Moon" in your heads now)
Welcome to the Coronary Club, Steve. I have a mechanical Aortic Valve ticking away in my heart and life sure looks a lot brighter than it did before the replacement.
Glad things are looking up and that your condition is treatable.