My Christmas gift

[Pat Kelly]

On Dec 14th I was unloading my truck when I felt some pressure in my chest. What concerned me was a pain in my left arm . Called the boss and told them they'd have to hire the lumpers as I didn't feel well. They sent someone to finish my dispatch and one drove me back home. Went to my Dr that afternoon and it appeared that I had angina (heartburn) and cleared to go back to work.
Christmas day I got that pain again, only a little worse. Decided to go to the ER while the event was happening (ironically the hospital I used to work at).
I had 2 blockages in a major artery. One was 65% blocked, the other was 99% blocked. Three days and 2 stints later I'm back at home. Cleared to drive again in a week and ok to throw freight in 4 weeks.
My Christmas gift was my life and seeing my family again.

[3Phase]

Whoah! Nice save there, Pat! Let the lumpers lump and Merry Christmas and heap'o nude deer for you!

[natemoen]

Glad you caught it before it got worse!

Merry Christmas to you and hope you have a great new year!

[Cobia]

Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Very glad you caught it in time and hopefully will enjoy more Xmases with your family.

[Poprock]

Close one, Pat. Glad you caught it in time. Happy new year to you.

[DeanR]

Heck of a gift Pat. Glad you got it worked out..

[tom clisham]

Great Save & Happy New Year!

Pat, glad all worked out. A lesson to all us "tough guys" about heeding those little signs.
That's what insurance is for!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Pat,

Glad to see you'll be able to keep on "truckin' " ! Yep, without the proper diagnostic equipment, your regular Dr. can't really detect blockages, can only do an EKG, and if no damage was done to the heart during the ANGINA attack, then nothing abnormal would show up on the test.

FYI for others, Angina is NOT heartburn, it's pain near/around the heart LIKE you had with radiating pain down the arm...but can also go up the neck. There can also be a very strong heavyness in the chest....difficulty breathing and such. Heartburn is usually just a burning feeling in the upper abdomen or chest...but doesn't radiate anywhere.

Going to the ER was the right thing, cardiac cath scan was able to illustrate the partial blockages BEFORE they totally blocked/clogged and then caused critical heart damaging loss of circulation to the heart muscle=heart attack!!

Pretty sure once your PCP gets the report from the ER, he'll be doing some cholesterol level testing...but the blockages can also form without necessarily having elevated cholesterol!

Merry Christmas....and have a Happy New Year, enjoy your gift of life!
T.C.

[bikerphil]

Glad that you are OK my friend.

[Rasputin]

Wonderful news that you caught that in time. Scary news but good in the end. Take care of yourself!

[xs11jack]

Jeeze Pat, you scared me with your post. I am shore that you will recover nicely. It would be nice if your company would pay lumpers for you from now on. Just tell your customers that It's Your frieght, you unload it! Good health in the future.
Ole Jack

[Brent]

Life is Good

Pat,
Glad to hear of positive prognosis for full recovery. Please be sure to heed Doctors advice to take it easy, at work AND at home. I lost a riding buddy who was doing remodeling construction at his house soon after recieving stints. Follow directions, really. Likely many, many, happy miles lie ahead for you.

heal well & keep us posted

[Pat Kelly]

I forgot and got a little rambuntious with our puppy. My groin hurt that evening. That is where the catheter was inserted into my femoral artery. Don't want that opening-up as I would bleed-out in a matter of minutes.

Other than that, all is going well. I see my primary care physician on Wed., Cardiologist the following week. This vacation is about over.

Depression hit me the 1st time I went grocery shopping. Can't have any food I like anymore.

Thank you all for the well wishes

[latexeses]

That really was an amazing Christmas gift!

Glad it worked out so well.

Take care.

[DiverRay]

Pat,
Glad your OK!! Don't worry too much about the food, you can adjust(look at me). Just remember plenty of garlic will help keep the bad cholesterol down, but keep the kisses away as well. DO take your time doing things, and go slow on the exercise at first. Walking seems to do a lot to keep you in shape, and is easy on the body.
Hope you can make one of the rides this year!