On the Road Again!

Six years since my heart attack. Easter Saturday 2015. Six years more living. I owe my life to the wonderful paramedics and ambulance crew that answered the 999 (UK version of 911) and to the cardiac surgeon and staff at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. To stay alive a bit longer I have been taking a cocktail  of drugs every day.  I need to do this for the rest of my life. Not much for the extra time I have been given.  :)

Yesterday was an important day for me. It's almost 13 months since I had my heart problems and the stent operation. I have had two cardiologist appointments cancelled since the turn of the year, but yesterday it was the day. In the morning I had a bit of a lie-in and then a quiet walk with Reggie including a haircut and beard trim. The whole hospital visit went quickly. An ECG and then to see the consultant.  The ECG was very good and the trace looked normal. The consultant was happy with the process, and surprised I had gone back to work earlier than maybe I should have.  The final step is to have another ultrasound and then maybe get signed off as "fit".

That's how I felt last Saturday. Easter Saturday exactly. There I was blissfully in the land of nod. And Reggie jumped on the bed to wake me. I awoke with a crushing pain in my chest. I got up and went to find Claire. Then came on a cold sweat. HEART ATTACK. That's what I thought. The paramedic arrived quickly and then the ambulance. By 0930 we were headed to the hospital. I was rushed into the OR, time only to sign a consent form, and then the angioplasty took place. A single stent in one vein and by 1100 I was in the Cardiac Care Unit. I felt immediately better. After four days I was allowed home. I have 4 weeks or so to get fit again. A life on hold until I am back to full fitness. Thanks to Reggie for waking me up. The paramedic and ambulance team and the entire medical staff at the William Harvey Hospital. Without all these people I most likely would not be here.

Yesterday I suffered a heart attack and was rushed to hospital. Today I am sitting up in hospital and have taken a photo on my phone and sent this epistle to Blogger. I will expand on this when I get home later in the week. I expect to be here until Wednesday or so.  I think more accurately the heart attack began as I walked the dog with my wife Claire along the military road in Hythe. I felt I had indigestion and slowed down a lot and made it home, I felt okay once at home.  But it was early yesterday that I felt a pain in my chest, then was very week. Embarrassingly I was on the loo when the paramedic arrived. I simply couldn't get off and felt I was going to die. Just like Elvis!!!! But here I am.