Member Profiles
JIM-HOUSTON
A year ago I experienced the shock of my life.
I had been in perfect health and seldom visited a doctor. I had a brief case of
bronchitis, but with antibiotics and an inhaler the symptoms quickly
disappeared. I had intermittent shortness of breath from time to time, but
thought that age (66) had caught up with me and I ignored the symptoms. I had
previous EKG's and a stress test and nothing was wrong.
Short of vitamins and an anti depressant each day, I was in perfect health and
just completed the construction of a fence in by backyard. I had no problems
sleeping and all was well...or at least I thought.
Monday night, March 28, 2005, I woke up around 11:00 PM and was having
difficulty breathing. I got up, walked around and attempted to lay down again.
No sooner than I hit the bed I experienced serious shortness of breath gasped
for air and I jumped out of bed. I then went to the den of my house and tried
breathing the inhaler that I had left from my bronchitis...no luck. I sat in the
recliner, not much help, and then I moved to the rocker in our living room. It
had a straight back and by sitting up straight I was able to breathe a little
easier.
I decided to try my computer chair and I started surfing the web. I still had
difficulty breathing, but I could breathe and my wife asked me what was wrong. I
told her that I couldn't breathe, she thought I said I couldn't sleep, and she
immediately went back to sleep.
After a short time with my computer I decided to try going to bed. I no sooner
laid down and I began taking short breaths in my attempt to get oxygen and my
wife woke up and told me that I should take deep breaths and not breathe so
funny....no sympathy from her.
When it was finally time for her to get up I told her that I couldn't get my
breath and maybe she should make an appointment for me. I attempted to eat a
bowl of cereal, but I couldn't eat and breathe at the some time and I was
exhausted. At that point we both figured that I had pneumonia as a result of my
previous bout with bronchitis.
The doctor agreed to see me at 8:30 so my wife drove me to her office. They
immediately admitted me, checked my weight and blood pressure and found nothing
wrong. She then decided on an EKG and said that my EKG may be normal for me, but
she couldn't find any record of my previous EKG or stress test. It was obvious
to her that I was having trouble breathing and when my oxygen level fell so low
she called an ambulance. She told me that she didn't trust me to go to the
hospital on my own and I needed a supply of oxygen.
I was loaded into the ambulance, hooked up to an EKG, and a IV was started.
Fifteen minutes later I was hauled into the emergency room at Houston Northwest
Medical Center. I was immediately taken to one of the "rooms" and they started a
new EKG. Then they brought in a portable x-ray and took pictures of my lungs and
heart.
The emergency room doctor stuck his head into the door 15 minutes later and told
me that my heart was just fine and that I had pneumonia. For some strange reason
they then decided to do a CATSCAN and a few minutes later he returned and told
me that I had fluid around my lungs and heart. I was going to be admitted.
I was attached to monitors and oxygen in my room. They administered several IV's
and other than being winded, I felt just fine....until. I then underwent new
x-rays and eventually a echocardiogram. It was totally non invasive and I asked
my technician how my heart was and she told me that it was beating. She didn't
tell me that it wasn't beating right.
My next visit was from my cardiologist, Dr Kadakia. He had a "wonderful bedside
manner" and told me that my heart was badly damaged, my Ejection Fraction (EF)was
10% (normal is 50+)and had I had a previous heart attack or did I smoke. I said
no and he told me that if they didn't do something I would probably go home,
have another spell, and die before the EMT's could respond. Needless to say, he
got my attention and at that point I would have agreed to do almost anything.
He went on to explain that I should have an ICD implanted immediately and he had
just the man to do the job. He said that Dr. Ramesh Hariharan would be in
shortly to explain the procedure and that I would have a heart catheterization
that afternoon to determine if I had any other damage or blockage. I wasn't
going anywhere so why not?
Dr Hariharan, an Electrophysiologist appeared shortly and gave my wife and I a
brief explanation of the procedure and he was sure that the ICD would do the
job. It would pace my right and left ventricle to beat together and shock me if
my heart's electrical system got out of line. He would do the operation on
Friday (April Fool's Day) and that I could eat breakfast, but no lunch or
liquids after noon. He assured me that the procedure was easy and that I would
be awake during most of the procedure.
I had my heart catheterization that afternoon and other than minimal blockage in
my arteries I was a good candidate for the procedure. You can be assured that
the catheterization was painless and other than lying still for 3 to 4 hours, it
was not a big deal.
My wife and I waited all afternoon as I was to be taken to the operating room
after lunch. By 8:00 that night I was beginning to think that the
Electrophysiologist was pulling an April Fool's joke on me and he was not going
to show up. I was hungry, thirsty, and tired. Finally around 9:30 they came and
took me to the operating room.
The staff in the operating room was outstanding. They talked to me the entire
time I was prepped for surgery and then they covered me with a plastic sheet. I
couldn't see anything, my ear itched from the surgical hat, and the plastic
cover smelled like plastic. I asked them to scratch my ear as my hands were tied
to the table and move the hat away from my ear. They also made a hole in the
tent so I could see the anesthesiologist and breathe fresh air.
I heard the doctor arrive, he told the nurse to give me and IV cocktail and
someone stuck me in the chest, and apparently the surgery started. By this time
my butt was really getting sore from lying on the cold stainless steel table so
I began to squirm to get more comfortable. The had deadened my chest, but not my
butt and I was very uncomfortable. The doctor told me to stop moving and I
responded that my butt hurt and I was just trying to get comfortable.
He then told the nurse to mix me another IV cocktail and that is the last thing
I remember. No more sore butt and I missed the whole show.
I woke us as they were wheeling me back to my room around 11:30 with my wife and
son in tow. I returned to my bed, I was wound up like a clock and finally told
my wife and son to go home as I was tired and wanted to sleep. I did and had a
wonderful night's sleep.
The next morning my cardiologist, Dr. Kadakia, stopped by and told me that if I
didn't get rid of the oxygen tube and started walking he wouldn't discharge me.
Needless to say, the tube came out and with my wife's assistance, I walked down
the hall and back. I was released, told not to lift my arm, keep the dressing
dry, and contact the doctor in two weeks. I went home and felt wonderful. My
incision was not all painful and I left with my left arm in a sling.
I have had several interrogations by the Medtronic technicians, a few
adjustments, and everything works like it should. I cannot lay on my right side
as the lead that is on the outside vein of my heart touches the diaphragm in my
chest and I get a thumping sensation. I can live with that and I am reassured
that the device is pacing my heart like it should.
Dr. Hariharan and his staff have done an excellent job of monitoring my device
and have given me the emotional support I needed to adjust to the ICD. Dr.
Kadakia and DR. Sherwani (cardiologists) have provided excellent support during
follow up visits. I would be remiss in mentioning Dr.Veronica Bugenhagen for her
quick actions in calling the ambulance and having me admitted to Houston
Northwest Hospital.
I lost 25 lbs, use a treadmill, and limit my intake of sodium. I take 8
different pills a day and I feel great. I need to lose another 25 to 35 lbs, but
with the Christmas holidays I experienced a minor setback. Everyone says I look
great and that my results are outstanding.
I have now started and ICD support Group in Northwest Houston. You can obtain
information from my website http://icdzap.com
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