Think you need heart surgery? Let’s try a test or two…
Posted by editor on September 3, 2010 · 15 Comments
Lying abed at Royal Inland Hospital for a couple of weeks allows your mind to brood on all kinds of things: your state of being, your health, your relationships — you name it and it’s eventually going to wander through your brain.
It's just 7 am an I'm already waiting for one of the two cardiac tests that will help doctors decide whether I can get with some stents or need to go to Victoria or Vancouver for heart surgery.
Since the cardio-vascualr incident that sent me here on Aug. 21, I’ve discovered that what I initially thought was a stroke was actually some kind of event triggered by a heart attack that left me with 15% function in the ol’ ticker.
Now that was a shock. Could I get by with a a couple of stents? Or was self-inflicted damage to my heart such that I would require a heart bypass and a pacemaker or fibrillator?
Two tests: a MIBI Scan and an angiogram would answer those questions.
The MIBI is a stress test that lets doctors know how good the blood supply is to my heart. First they took pictures of my heart using a hybrid CAT scanner.
Then, they injected me with a radioactive dye called Sestamibi (aka MIBI) and chemically stimulated my heart with a drug called Persantine to mimic its state after a light exercise. They they photographed it again.
This, I was told by the nuclear technologists at Royal Inland, would give physicians an excellent idea of the state of my heart — to a point. To acquire a clearer picture they sent me on a day trip to Kelowna on Thursday for an angiogram
This procedure involved threading a very narrow tube up my radial artery to my by heart where it measured the blockages in my heart. If the blockages were minor I would get away with a stent or two. But if they were severe, I’d likely have to have a bypass and the installation of a fibrillator in my chest.
This is a hybrid CAT Scanner used to determine how much of my heart tissue is still functioning. The MIBI results were encouraging, but the real acid test was always going to be the angiogram which involves threading a near-microscopic camera through my femoral artery to my heart to inspect the blockages that have reduced mu heart function to just 15 per cent.
Just thinking about someone sticking a tube in an artery and manipulating it up towards your heart has major Creep Factor
This pictures hows the location of blockages in my heart. The upshot? I need a heart bypass and a fibrilator. The question is: when? David F. Rooney photo
overtones. But the team of at Kelowna General Hospital who performed this procedure ensured it was virtually painless.
So… the upshot of all this?
I probably need a heart bypass and a fibrilator but I don’t need it right away. I am being put in touch with a cardiologist in Vancouver whom I’ll have to go see and he’ll make the final recommendation as to what — and when — the next operation will be.
As I write this last words, I am just waiting for the woman I love more than anyone in the world, Sue, to come pick me up and take me back home to the town I love.
Thanks to each and every person who contacted me directly or indirectly. Your prayers, good wishes, small gifts (yes, Sarah, even the weird soup in a bag! And most especially the movies Bob and Joan Eley brought me!), jokes, stories, etc., really helped me weather this little adventure in one piece.
And finally, I’d like to thank the nurses, physicians and technicians at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke and the various BC Ambulance Service paramedics I met for their professionalism, dedication and compassion.
Now all I have to do is get better and hurry up and wait for the step in this process!
We look forward to seeing you home being cushioned with the warmth and love you deserve……..all the power to Sue for being there as a support and encouragment figure.Your journey toward health is one in which it appears you have many to lean on for strenght.
Our prayers ,energy, and hope is being sent out to you……..
One Day At A Time,
John and Bonnie
Looking forward to seeing you back in this beautiful valley. Now remember you have to take it easy for awhile, avoid any kind of stess.Live in the moment, and just enjoy the beautiful fall colors. The people of Revelstoke including my self will wait for your stories to appear on our screens. The most important thing is for you to get in top condition again.Sending you lots of healing energy.Live in the moment, one day at a time.
Namaste Mieke
I look forward to a visit, Sunday or Monday! Keep smilin`
We were so sorry to find out about the severe setbackyou experienced. Judging from your articles you are in very good hands. We hope for a successful and quick recovery and look forward to more of your excellent journalism that this town benefits from. But perhaps take it a bit easier in the future.
Cheers and all the best!
Hey David,
Even up here in Smithers we are thinking of you and praying for a speedy recovery. We’ve always appreciated your perspective on news from home. Thank you for sharing your ‘heart wrenching’ trials with us. Take care and soak up the love you need to heal.
Susie & JD Green
Smithers
Just got back from two weeks in Ontario to find this article…sorry to learn of your illness. You will be glad to get back to Revelstoke to continue your recovery at home. We appreciate all that you do for the community but be sure to take time for yourself, too! Thanks for sharing your experience with us – we will be thinking of you.
All the best to you and Sue!
Jennifer, Joe, Alice, and Adelaide
Pleased that you are on your way home Dave …. there is nothing like the comfort of your own home, and being with the ones you love. Your articles are very informative, and interesting !
Take care of yourself … we all miss seeing your happy face around town.
A precedent has been set.
Dateline; Kamloops BC. DOCTORS AT ROYAL INLAND DISCOVER A REPORTER WHO ACTUALLY HAS A HEART LOCAL PSYCHIC CONCURS
President and founder of The Revelstoke Current, the little paper that did, David Rooney, aka Scribe, surprised medical staff when it was revealed that he has a BIG heart that was able to survive the onslaught of an attack. Naturally, The Great Bendini knew it all along and predicts a full recovery. (Please feel comforted in the fact this this is the first prediction Bendini will get right)
The Revelstoke sooth sayer and better half, she who must be obeyed, wish the town’s premiere punditt an uneventfull recovery and a rapid (not too quick) return the assigment desk.
TOP FIVE PREDICTIONS FOR ROONEY AND THE CURRENT
5. After any electronic implants David will be able to start his computer by remote control by merely thinking about it but the coffee maker, starting unintentially in the middle of the night, will be a constant source of irritation.
4. Bacon, Eggs Benedict and Poutine will be relegated to the The Scribe’s dream world. (Sue will assist Bendini in validating this prediction)
3. He will enter the next Kelowna Iron Man event. (The best defence is a good offence)
2. The Revelstoke Current will change focus, become a spread sheet for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and change it’s masthead to The Revelstoke Pacemaker, giving a whole new meaning to reporter on the beat.
1. Journalist Rooney will have a full recovery then run for Mayor. Imagine, a media type entering politics. Scary. (Yikes! this could be Bendini’s second accurate prediction. His reputaiuon could be ruined)
Glad to hear you’re comin’ home David!
You are missed!
-Museum Staff-
David,
Sorry to hear about your health problems…Hoping you will take better care of yourself!
Anne
Just found out you had been ill. I’m really glad you were able to come home. I will be praying that your wait for the next step isn’t too long.
Wishing you a speedy recovery Daffydd, all the very best to you and Sue and Do stop and smell the roses
David, You must walk with angels. I miss you on the streets. I’m still looking forward to our Aromatherapy Session even more now…get you into a healing state.
David,
Good to see you up an around again; good luck this coming week. You will be in our thoughts and prayers and once again sending healing energy to you for a speedy recovery!
Patti Sue
David,
Glad to hear you are home! Wishing you a speedy recovery and looking forward to seeing you out and about very soon.
Linda and Alan