A real scare

[Guest guest]

Well, I almost made it a year before staying in the hospital for a week.

Last Friday (Thurs night) I was having trouble sleeping and a lot of pain in

my jaw. I had taken a few nitro tablets, but I didn't feel much better and

was more pissed that I couldn't get comfortable and get back to sleep than

anything else. We called my family dr in the morning and he sent me to the ER.

My cardiologist decided to keep me at least for the weekend for observation

and wanted to do a cardiac catheterization on Monday, but there were a few

issues to consider. One issue was that the dye that is used in the cath is very

toxic to the kidneys and very likely could take my kidneys aver the edge into

renal failure. This would require emergency dialysis, requiring a port put in

my neck and out my chest, and then a fistula on my arm.

Another cause for concern was the fact that the procedure required a large

dose of heparin, which is a blood thinner. Heparin is what caused the bleeding

on my retina, which resulted in losing the sight of my left eye. And there was

no guarantee that if they found any problems while doing the cath, that they

were fixable. Needless to say, it was a very tense weekend. I even discussed

a living will with my mom.

Looking at the downside, I could have ended up with a heart attack or stroke

during the procedure, blind and on dialysis. My cardiologist said I had a

tough choice to make. I didn't feel I had any options, just to find the lesser

of the evils. It was a choice of dealing with a life-threatening issue vs. a

life altering one. We went ahead with the procedure on Monday. The doctors

used some special techniques and cameras so they could minimize the amount and

length of time that the dye and heparin were in my system.

SUCCESS!! They found a blockage in my heart, but were able to do an

angioplasty (balloon) procedure and place a stent to open the artery. I had to

lay

still until my blood pressure was under control and the heparin was out of my

system. For while, the clotting factors (heparin) were not getting any better

and they thought that my kidneys were in failure and just circulating the

toxins around, not flushing them out. I had to stay in the same position for 27

hrs until everything was back under control. During that time, I pinched a

nerve in my back which sent searing shooting pains down my leg into my stump.

The most painful thing I have ever experienced. They then repositioned me and

gave me a dose of dalaudid (pain killer).

The lab work concerning my kidney function is slightly changed from that of

before the procedure. My serum creatinine was 3.4 when admitted and 3.6 after

the procedure and stayed there for the week at least. My clearance was 28.

It had not changed in the last few days, so we think we are over the dangerous

parts. I have to go for lab tests 2x a week for the next few weeks to watch

things closely. I have follow up appts with the kidney and heart drs and a

surgeon for the fistula. I still will eventually need dialysis, but in 18-24

months, not immediately. I am going to start a cardiac rehab program in a few

weeks, and go back to coaching in about a week. The biggest problem I had when

they discharged me was from lying in the same position on a mat all sweaty for

27 hours...diaper rash. A small price to pay for a miracle.

Sharon