Wednesday 20th October
After exercise on bike, usually 20 -30 MLS, chest feels tight like having a chest infection. Feel wheezy and arms feel heavy especially lower arms. Feel very lethargic and walking any distance feels laboured takes anything from 4 to 8 hrs to recover.
Today, I wasn't recovering. I had dinner and was ok when sat down but I knew that something wasn't right. I went for a short 10 minute walk with Marina and her friend Anne, who was visiting. She jokingly said to me"I hope that your not having a heart attack cause I'm not on duty". I could hardly do that walk.
That niy I went to bed and couldn't sleep a wink.
Thursday 21st October
Phoned Ardblair medical practice and managed to get an appointment with GP for 9am. Discussed what had happened and he got me to have an ECG. He noticed that my pulse had weaked and consulted a colleague in a hospital and discussed my case. They decided that I should go to Ninewells hospital, Dundee for further tests. I got Marina to drive me there. During the 14 mile journey, I began to feel nauseous and declining in how I was feeling.
I reported to the Acute Medical Unit ACU, where I was directed to a chair in a small waiting area. I was still feeling fairly nauseous at this point.
I got called to sit in a chair in a bay, where they put me on an ecg and took bloods. I was then taken down for a chest x-ray. The bloods indicated that it was a coronary issue and that I was indeed having a heart attack.
Things began to move quicker now. Staff from the Coronary Unit came up and gave me a blood thinning injection into my stomach, they also gave me some medication. Then I was put into a bed and wheeled down/up to the Coronary Unit procedure room where a team of about 5 staff were waiting for me. The got to work immediately, transfering me into another bed and doing something to my wrist. I believe they were preparing me for an angiogram. This is where the direct a camera tube up through the arteriol vein from my wrist to my heart and the had a look around. They discovered that two of my main arteries on the right side of my heart were blocked and not working. They then proceeded to open them up using wire stents. It all must have been about maybe an hour. I was awake and aware of what was happening. I couldn't really feel anything happening to my heart but it was quite uncomfortable at my wrist.
Job done, they wheeled me into the cardio ward where I was given a room on my own.
Now they needed to settle down the heart rate and ensure that all is as it should be before letting me leave to go home.
Friday 22nd October
Still in hospital but feel much better. Yesterday was a bit too traumatic for my taste. However the staff in the Cardio Unit are fantastic and doing everything they can for my welfare.
Thursday 21st October
Phoned Ardblair medical practice and managed to get an appointment with GP for 9am. Discussed what had happened and he got me to have an ECG. He noticed that my pulse had weaked and consulted a colleague in a hospital and discussed my case. They decided that I should go to Ninewells hospital, Dundee for further tests. I got Marina to drive me there. During the 14 mile journey, I began to feel nauseous and declining in how I was feeling.
I reported to the Acute Medical Unit ACU, where I was directed to a chair in a small waiting area. I was still feeling fairly nauseous at this point.
I got called to sit in a chair in a bay, where they put me on an ecg and took bloods. I was then taken down for a chest x-ray. The bloods indicated that it was a coronary issue and that I was indeed having a heart attack.
Things began to move quicker now. Staff from the Coronary Unit came up and gave me a blood thinning injection into my stomach, they also gave me some medication. Then I was put into a bed and wheeled down/up to the Coronary Unit procedure room where a team of about 5 staff were waiting for me. The got to work immediately, transfering me into another bed and doing something to my wrist. I believe they were preparing me for an angiogram. This is where the direct a camera tube up through the arteriol vein from my wrist to my heart and the had a look around. They discovered that two of my main arteries on the right side of my heart were blocked and not working. They then proceeded to open them up using wire stents. It all must have been about maybe an hour. I was awake and aware of what was happening. I couldn't really feel anything happening to my heart but it was quite uncomfortable at my wrist.
Job done, they wheeled me into the cardio ward where I was given a room on my own.
Now they needed to settle down the heart rate and ensure that all is as it should be before letting me leave to go home.
Friday 22nd October
Still in hospital but feel much better. Yesterday was a bit too traumatic for my taste. However the staff in the Cardio Unit are fantastic and doing everything they can for my welfare.
Consultant came around and asked me what had happened. I think he just wanted my version. I told him the story again. He then told me that I'd had a heart attack and went on to say what had they found and what they did to fix it.
He said that I should stay in hospital until the next day and possibly the following day. All was well.
Just need to recover now. Not sure how long that will take but they say 4 to 6 weeks may be required.
Saturday 23rd October
Great news, a different consultant came around and said he was happy for me to leave the hospital and go home.
This I duly did, armed with a big supply of medicine to take home. It was a great relief but I felt a bit apprehensive about leaving the round the clock care and going it alone.
Sunday 24th October
After a lovely relaxing nights sleep, I got up around 7.30, and sat in my chair and carefully doled out my new regime if medicine. 6 tablets in all ranging from Asperin to thin the blood, to beta blockers, stations, and other things I know not what but know that they all perform a function to keep my heart going as it should.
As I was feeling so relaxed and it was a bright calm day, I thought I'd try a walk. For a man who can cycle 30 miles, play tennis and badminton only 4 days previously, how hard could it be?
I got 30 yards down the path and was overcome with a feeling of anxiety. I could feel my heart rate increase, and I stopped dead in my tracks. What if something went wrong? I turned around and went home. I didn't go in, instead, I thoughti would walk around the houses next to mine fairly sedately.
This I did with no mishaps and returned home to think about what had just happened.
I now realised that this was going to be a slow process and I should not rush it
Back to my chair.
