Long post, and unfortunately not about my scheduled elk hunt, but bear with me because I want to try and save someone's life here with my story.
I am a 40 year old male who doesn't smoke or drink and I have a normal body weight. But I also have Type II diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and my dad had open heart surgery at 61.
All of those put me at risk, right?
Well, on Aug. 14, I went to ER with chest pains - after four hours, told no heart attack, probably GERD, needs to be followed up.
Felt fine the rest of the week, went on a long-planned fly fishing trip to Alaska and spent the week there with no problems. But I had another episode of chest pains coming home at the airport. EMTs checked me out, again, no evidence I was having a cardiac event.
After returning home, on Monday, Aug. 28, I had another episode of chest pains, went to ER, was hospitalized. ER doc said no heart attack, but given my risk factors, he thought I should have a heart cath. Next day, cardio gave me a stress test that turned out "normal" (got up to 180 beats per minute, a full 10 minutes on the 'mill). Upper GI test and sonogram on my gall bladder were also negative. Again, told it was probably GERD, continue taking Nexium twice a day. Attending physician told me, however, that he didn't agree with the cardio, and that given my risk factors, he strongly urged that I get a hearth cath or heart scan.
On Friday, Sept. 1, went to GP and he said given my risk factors, I needed a heart cath and he would push for one the next week (if you're keeping score, that's three out of four doctors saying heart cath, cardio saying no).
On Sunday, Sept. 3, more chest pains. Called different cardiologist, he said go to hospital, get admitted through ER. On Monday, Sept. 4, had heart cath, which revealed four blockages, including one at 90%. On Wednesday, Sept. 6, had four by-pass surgery and am now at home recuperating and adjusting to significant lifestyle changes (including the prospect of little...if any...bowhunting etc. this fall).
My point? Don't become a statistic - I nearly did. God was gracious to me and allowed me to live to see my family another day. If you have chest pains, seek help, and if necessary, push for a second or third or even a fourth opinion. And don't necessarily accept a "normal stress test" prognosis at face value (they can be wrong).
For the record, I had a complete cardiac work-up two years ago and have had several stress tests in the last decade and NOTHING has ever shown any heart problems. A heart scan or a heart cath would have.
Would appreciate your prayers as I recover physically, mentally, emotionally and otherwise.
I'm a very grateful man who is thankful to the Lord that he was able to watch his kids go off to school today. And to still be dreaming of arrowing a big bull next fall.
Thanks,
Lynn Burkhead
I am a 40 year old male who doesn't smoke or drink and I have a normal body weight. But I also have Type II diabetes, elevated cholesterol, and my dad had open heart surgery at 61.
All of those put me at risk, right?
Well, on Aug. 14, I went to ER with chest pains - after four hours, told no heart attack, probably GERD, needs to be followed up.
Felt fine the rest of the week, went on a long-planned fly fishing trip to Alaska and spent the week there with no problems. But I had another episode of chest pains coming home at the airport. EMTs checked me out, again, no evidence I was having a cardiac event.
After returning home, on Monday, Aug. 28, I had another episode of chest pains, went to ER, was hospitalized. ER doc said no heart attack, but given my risk factors, he thought I should have a heart cath. Next day, cardio gave me a stress test that turned out "normal" (got up to 180 beats per minute, a full 10 minutes on the 'mill). Upper GI test and sonogram on my gall bladder were also negative. Again, told it was probably GERD, continue taking Nexium twice a day. Attending physician told me, however, that he didn't agree with the cardio, and that given my risk factors, he strongly urged that I get a hearth cath or heart scan.
On Friday, Sept. 1, went to GP and he said given my risk factors, I needed a heart cath and he would push for one the next week (if you're keeping score, that's three out of four doctors saying heart cath, cardio saying no).
On Sunday, Sept. 3, more chest pains. Called different cardiologist, he said go to hospital, get admitted through ER. On Monday, Sept. 4, had heart cath, which revealed four blockages, including one at 90%. On Wednesday, Sept. 6, had four by-pass surgery and am now at home recuperating and adjusting to significant lifestyle changes (including the prospect of little...if any...bowhunting etc. this fall).
My point? Don't become a statistic - I nearly did. God was gracious to me and allowed me to live to see my family another day. If you have chest pains, seek help, and if necessary, push for a second or third or even a fourth opinion. And don't necessarily accept a "normal stress test" prognosis at face value (they can be wrong).
For the record, I had a complete cardiac work-up two years ago and have had several stress tests in the last decade and NOTHING has ever shown any heart problems. A heart scan or a heart cath would have.
Would appreciate your prayers as I recover physically, mentally, emotionally and otherwise.
I'm a very grateful man who is thankful to the Lord that he was able to watch his kids go off to school today. And to still be dreaming of arrowing a big bull next fall.
Thanks,
Lynn Burkhead
