A stroke here, a heart attack there — what to do? What to do? An update!
Posted by editor on August 29, 2010 · 17 Comments
David F. Rooney
KAMLOOPS — There’s nothing like a stroke and a heart attack to prompt some major lifestyle changes.
As Revelstoke Current readers know by now, I suffered a stroke on the night of August 21. What they aren’t aware of is the fact that subsequent CAT, MRI and Ultrasound scans at Royal Inland Hospital here in Kamloops show that I also had a heart attack. Blood flow through the ventricles of my heart is now about 15 per cent — not the 60 per cent it should be.
I am scheduled for a cardiac test on Tuesday that will determine whether I will be sent to Kelowna for an angiogram and/or a little surgery to insert a stent into one of my arteries. An angiogram calls for the insertion of a tube from my thigh all the way to heart and the injection, then, of a dye that will show where the major blockage is.
Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? And all because I refused to heed my physician’s warnings or the pleas of those who love me.
But why would I do that? Vices like smoking and drinking were activities I managed to justify to myself as understandable responses to stress — a kind of self-medication — even if I tried to hide them from others. And I was always ready to quietly delude myself into believing that I was a tough guy. Nothing was going to touch me.
Tough guy. Yeah. Right. More like a weak character.
That’s why I found myself lying on the floor unable to make a telephone handset function.
There’s nothing like a stroke and a heart attack to efficiently puncture and deflate the delusions people like me manufacture to justify our addictions.
Once revealed for the evil thoughts they are, the only rational response is to repudiate them completely and strive for a better life. That will take time and the understanding of my friends and family. Does that sound like a mea culpa? I guess that’s what it is.
Fortunately, I am also in good hands here. The physicians overseeing my treatment and the nurses and occupational and physical therapists in the Rehabilitative Medicine Program’s stroke unit on RIH’s fifth floor are compassionate, dedicated and very, very professional.
The patients they care for are a mix of mostly late middle-aged men and women — although a couple are clearly younger — suffering from various degrees of incapacitation. One is severely in capacitated. The three men I share a room with are worse off than me but are cheerful and we have fun mocking the quality of the food.
Take the Saturday night meal, for instance. We were served things called “ribs” that were very clearly made from some kind of ground-up mystery meat pressed into vaguely rib-like shapes and slathered with BBQ sauce. The peas were real but the jury was out on the scalloped potatoes. Some thought they were mass produced in a factory, others muttered about trolls in Vernon where all of our meals are prepared, then frozen and shipped here because that somehow makes more sense to the bean counters than cooking real meals here.
Fortunately, I’ll only have to eat this stuff while I’m here. Once I’m back in Revelstoke I’ll have to take some additional time off and do more cooking for myself.
I can already taste it. Now all I need to know is how long it will be before I can go back home to Revelstoke.
UPDATE:
Since I posted the above column on The Current on Sunday morning I’ve learned quite a bit more about what is happening:
- My heart has only 15 per cent of its normal function and some portions of it are not working;
- I’m having a MIBI Cardiac Stress Test on Tuesday or Wednesday. This will help determine what parts of my heart are working and which aren’t;
- I’m being sent to Kelowna for an angiogram on Thursday (I presume I will be transferred back here but I could be wrong). The angiogram will show my physicians how extensive the blockages are; and
- The results of these tests will determine whether I require:
- a stent; or
- a full bypass operation; and/or
- installation of a fibrillator (AKA a pacemaker) in my chest.
Either way, the invasive stuff will be done in either Vancouver or Victoria after this coming Friday.
In my absence, Laura Stovel has agreed to cover some events in town as they occur. If you have an event planned and would like to ensure it is covered by The Current please send the details by e-mail to lstovel0@gmail.com (please CC it to me at drooney1@telus.net so the What’s On section is can be updated). You can also reach Laura by phone through her parents, Marg and Bud Stovel, at 250-837-3515.
Wow David, get better soon….miss seeing you around town.
Brave article David. Well said. Thank you.
I am sure those who know you best will appreciate this most. It takes a stronger man to admit he is weak. I look forward to your return David. We miss you and we wish you a speedy recovery.
Dear David we miss you and wish you a very quickly recovery. Take your time. Hope is a wonderful thing.
Hope is always nice if you hope well for others. We hope to see you soon.
Hi David So sorry to hear about your recent health problems and I do wish you a very speedy recovery. I was so impressed the way you described your ordeal and how you ignored smoking etc. that would never bother you!! I hope some people will heed your words and prevent this happening to them. You are really missed and Laura is doing a fine job for you. Cheers to you Judy Vigue
We wish you strength as you recover, and thank-you for continuing to share your insights and your humour. Your words always strike a chord. We are thinking about you here in Revelstoke.
David, David, David! I couldn’t beleive it when I heard what had happened to you. One minute strolling about town, ears and eyes open, sniffing out yet another local story, and the next minute on your back with strangers poking and prodding you. Wholey! Yup, a major lifestyle change awaits you, and I wish you the strength, courage and determination to make it. Good health is a precious thing, one to be nurtured and cherished. I wish you bucketsfull of good health and healthy choices. Our bodies are indeed our temples. I’ll miss your great writing and constant presence on our streets, get well, do what you have to do, cheers, as you love to say,.Barb L.
Thinking about you David, and sending you lots of healing and positive energy. You are in good hands. So let those nurses take care of you. Rest, breath, live in the moment, and get better. We Revelstokians will be here when you come back. And the Revelstoke current will be waiting for you to come back, for Revelstoke can not live without this paper. Why: Because it is the best. Get well soon.
Wow, what an unfortunate anniversary gift!! You never know when life is going to give you a smack upside the head, and I speak from experience!! Nice to see that these bumps in the road have left your sense of humour intact, and your attitude positive. Hang in there, we are all rooting for you and will be continuing to send our positive energy your way. Patti and Mas
Dear David,
Satish, Shawn and I send our best well wishes and speedy healing to you for a quick recovery. It’s never fun being cooped up in a hospital when one wishes they could be at home!
An event such as this make us realize just how precious our heath is and how short life can be. Making the most of it all while we are here.
Best wishes to you and Sue. Hoping to see you up and around very soon!
Hi David! I heard about your adventure from some friends and relatives back in Revelstoke. Having gone through the same thing 8 months ago, I have a good idea what thoughts are running through your mind. The good news is you will loose some weight as the food is the same at K.G.H. as Kamloops ! However, The staff, Doctors and nurses in the Cardiac ward in Kelowna are super and very concerned about your well being. The care I received there was fantastic. Take time to smell the coffee….( No cream of course!) and have a good recovery. Keep the updates coming. You are one of the few tell it like it is journalists and everyone wants you back when you are ready!
When you are back in Revelstoke & up for visitorsdrop me an email!
Take care
Herb
Our wishes are with you David…. Thanks for being a true honest man for admitting you’re weak at times like us all.
I was once told that everthing happens for a reason , and maybe yours is you need some rest. We miss you, but take the time needed to recover. Our prayers are with you,
John and Bonnie
All the best wishes from Warsaw. We are hoping for a speedy recovery for you. We know you are in good hands and we know also that Revelstoke is the kind of place that supports it’s own. This is especially true for those who play such an important role in this fabulous community.
Big hugs,
Jeanette, Emma and Evan.
Hi David,
We at Parks Canada were very sorry to hear about what happened, and are sending best wishes for a full recovery! I am glad to see that your sense of humour is still intact.
Marnie
Be well David, thoughts of you. Cheers, Kendra.
David and I are old high school buddies. He has a nasty habit of always making me feel mortal. He’s outdone himself this time. Get well, soon, David. I’m praying for you, old friend (we can still do that here in Texas)
Mark
Our Best of Wishes and a speedy recovery on your way to a whole new healthy you. Come back home soon! Your sense of humor stings with its truthfulness and our own denial of our lifestyles that will most likely catch up to us also one day