| One must try to have a healthy body and a big | | | | nurses suggested we get a second opinion and |
| part of this process is having a positive outlook | | | | the new neurosurgeon stepped in and they found |
| on life. You must keep your mind active with | | | | that I had a brain hemorrhage. It was nip and |
| some kind of mind thinking activity. This article | | | | tuck because medication that I would be on |
| comes to my mind as I just completed my annual | | | | contraindicated each other and I would be in real |
| cardiology exam. The Dr. is still amazed that I am | | | | trouble. We had a pow wow and it was decided |
| still around working almost everyday, walking my | | | | to take our chances with both meds. |
| dogs every morn and very seldom get sick other | | | | I went home. Two years later the old by passes |
| than a cold. | | | | plugged up so had angioplasty and 4 stents |
| In 1988 I suffered a massive heart attack. My | | | | inserted. Couple years later I had a bout with |
| heart was so damaged that the muscle turned to | | | | blood clots in my legs so they put filters in so the |
| a texture like oatmeal. (This is the way the Dr's. | | | | clots could not go to my upper body. Two years |
| described the situation to us.) They kept me alive | | | | ago after my tests it was decided that I would |
| with a mechanical heart pump hoping the muscle | | | | be a candidate for EECP therapy as my heart |
| would repair itself as I also had an aneurysm | | | | was only functioning at about 29%. |
| which could only be repaired if my heart turned to | | | | EECP is a non-invasive , outpatient therapy to |
| muscle tissue, other wise they could not repair | | | | relieve or eliminate angina. This therapy is a |
| the damage or do a double bypass. | | | | system that pumps when the heart is resting, |
| Apparently, no one was giving up on me and I | | | | and stops pumping when the heart is working. |
| lived to get back on my feet and after | | | | This counter-pulsation increases blood flow to the |
| convalescing went back to work and all was well | | | | heart muscle and decreases the hearts workload, |
| until 1998. I did not feel well so went to | | | | plus creates greater oxygen supply and less |
| emergency care. While there I had another heart | | | | oxygen demand. My heart is now functioning at |
| attack, grand Moll seizure, mini-stroke and | | | | about 55% and I work almost every day |
| extremely painful headaches. After about a week | | | | managing our hair salon and work on my on line |
| they got me out of the hospital, but I was still | | | | businesses. If you have heart problems discuss |
| having the headaches, until one night I had to go | | | | the therapy with your cardiologist. My cardiologist |
| back to emergency care. The Dr. I had upon | | | | calls me his miracle patient and always tells me |
| discharge used the old adage, take a couple of | | | | that it is my positive attitude and being active, |
| aspirin and call me in the morning. | | | | (mind and body. |
| We can thank our lucky stars as the Dr's. and | | | | |