About Me (In My Own Words)
So here I am, sitting in the ready room by myself wondering how in heck did I ever get into this predicament.
A little background will help and this would be a good time to set it up…
As a little boy I was always told to watch it, you have a “murmur” and as little boys do I just went about doing what little boys do. As I grew both physically and (though my wife would disagree) mentally I understood my mummer was a regurgitation of the Aortic valve and that it was mild.
No bigie…never stopped me from doing anything I wanted and I’ve always had enough “cardiac reserve” to see me through.
As time went by I became a Respiratory Therapist (terrorist I’m now called) went to nursing school and ended up as an engineer…go figure. Somewhere in there I became a Paramedic and Volunteered with the local Fire Department for over 30 years.
To stop and smell the roses and compromise with my wife (she was tired watching me hate the traveling) I only do what I have a passion for, working Emergency Medical Services.
There’s the problem, I know just a tad tooooo much.
I've been seeing the same Cardiologist every year for the last 25 years. I took a two year break (ok, I forgot) because we made a major move closer to my full time medic job.
For the last year I’ve been feeling like I had no strength. I had occasional Shortness of breath with occasional “wheezing”. After seeing that I didn’t respond to his initial work up, my Family Doc (new one, remember I moved) ordered a scan. Again, no biggie…I’ve had this all my life. A couple of days later when he received the results he calls. He wanted to “discuss the numbers.
He started with the word “severe” ” and that’s where I lost my mind. I made an appointment and saw my cardiologist who of course asked “just what were you thinking not being here for two years”? Nice, just when I thought I was regaining control of mind. He repeated the tests (of course I was watching the screen) and the severity was enough so even with my limited skill I could see the problems.
One good thing, the heart is fine, it’s just the plumbing (aortic valve) that is kaput.
I deal with stress everyday but sitting here waiting for my 10,000 cardiac to call 911, all I can think about is this and its hitting home.
I know it’s just the shock and realization that I now need the help of others. All will be well…and I know it to be true.
This Friday is the angio, meeting the surgeon and we’ll discuss my options. More research, yada, yada, yada.
Best regards to all and good luck!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Hampton Bays, New York
