Okay.....I can maybe get it together to sit down and write this.....if I were in person across from you I would still burst out into tears.
Are you sitting? Should I just cut to the chase?
.......LLLLLOOOONNNNGGGGG story straight, my very athletic, thin, non-smoking, no high BP, low stress, no fat diet early 50's husband was luckier than lucky to have some very vague symptoms when he did his daily run...some "heartburn"...enough to get DIS NURSE"S attention! I sent him to an Internist and she was right on it....sent him for a Stress Test of which he flunked and then he was scheduled for a cardiac cath where they inject dye into your right radial artery to see the coronary blood flow to your heart.
I could go on and on about the details (I don't have the energy, as I feel as if I have just put through a cheese grater!)....cut to the chase, his Cardiologist was totally blown away at what he found! MAJOR plaque occluding three major vessels, requiring an urgent triple CABG! I about hit the floor with the news and they let me in the cath lab to review the pictures.
He went through Hell and back, as did I. Our kids were shielded from the whole thing.....spent the night with friends for the last week, as they had no business seeing thier dad in the ICU on a ventilator with chest tubes and various jugular IV's, etc. Such a tragic event for us!
I know way too much for my own good in the situation. I spent every night sleeping (or not sleeping) in his room for 6 nights. Yes, I was at times the fussy wife/nurse but I was his advocate and I am so gald I could be there for him!
We are home now.....and because he is so young and in shape, they have VERY HIGH expectations of him in the next month or two. Should get up to running again soon and the surgery itself went well. This was one of those genetic deals where you cannot possibly look at the person from the outside or look at their risk factors and could have guessed that major sludge was building up at the rate at which it was.
Some of you may be aware that we are schedlued to go on the Double Dip in just 11 days! Honestly, we have yet to make the final decision if we are going or not. His sugeon has given him the go ahead cause he is "their bread and butter" he called him, of patients. He has been released to walk 5 miles if he wants! The main consideration is letting the sternum heal. Yes, a saw was taken to his sternum and his rib cage was held open with clamps as they grafted other vessels from his leg and chest around the clogs. Can you even imagine going through that? He is my hero and we are all darned lucky that he didn't just die of a sudden heart attack. Could have easily happened on the Magic in a few weeks! OUCH!
He should be better than new in a month or two.....can't drive for 6 weeks, can't shovel snow for 3 months....to give you some examples. Again, all sternal precautions. His sternum is being held together with wire right now.
Can you even FREAKIN" BELIEVE this has happened? .....and right before our cruise? It has truly been an out of body experience and my head is still spinning around like a top!
Not asking for any of your guy's sympathy; just needed to share. If we do decide to bag the cruise, it's only $85 pp to rebook for a later date. I can get Delta to cooperate with a doctor's note.
I am leaving it all up to DH. There is a huge part of my soul that hopes we can go and this could very well be the BEST family vacation we have ever had! Certainly brings to the fore-front what is truly important in life. He knows I saved his bacon. No thank you's wanted....just glad I still have my husband and our kids have a great Daddy!
Sorry, STB, you have also had to go through such anguish. It is hard, isn't it?
Until later, I have a glass of wine calling my name. I also have a wrack of pills I must administer to my healthy, young athletic husband. Such a drag! Genetics play a HUGE role in this! Take home message......get your cholesterol checked and interpreted by a specialist! Listen to them if you think they are a good doc and get on a Statin drug if they say so. They have very liitle risk or side effects and they can save you from this kind of tragedy if caught early. You just never know!
Cross your fingers for us!
DIS NURSE
Not much planning that we needed to do. It's pretty much a repeat of last year - with calmer seas this time! We are coming in a couple of days earlier this time, too.
I guess I was too busy having fun! My other plan is to have Bob show up to the beer tasting this time because you won't be there to save me from drinking alone!
The schools here frown on such things......but my kids' teachers were cool about it. 
I want to float out to it to get as close as possible! The Flying Dutchman looks so cool! 
).
dh is going scuba diving up at lake tahoe next weekend so i told him he better plan for anything weather wise.
Me without control spells fear and loathing!
Hi! 
No hiding suitcases!! 
Thanks for the well wishes. Nope, opomistic DIS NUSRE didn't get trip insurance. "We are so young and healthy", I just always tell myself.
