I'm Fine from p.4
"Look, I'm fine, they worry too much. I'm going with Dan up to the school to help with a video project. I'll be home in a little while and you can diagnose me then." When we got home, my wife was on the phone. She had that look on her face. The one that always alerts me to "uh oh, this isn't good", as she hands me the phone she says "Dr. Nicklas wants to talk to you."
I take the phone, growl with my eyes at my bride. "Hey, Jeff. How are you?" Through the phone I hear, "How am I? NO-HOW ARE YOU? Shortness of breath - why aren't you at the hospital?" "Jeff, I"m fine. If I go to the hospital they'll admit me for nothing and I have too much to do to waste time sitting in..." He cuts me off with "I'm coming over to drive you. I've already lost two good friends this year and couldn't stand it if you are the third. I am leaving now."
"OK, I'll head to the urgent care. You don't need to take me." I hung up. Nodded to Dina, "You're right. I'm going." The physician at the urgent care came in to show me my EKG strip and my Chest X-ray. "Look at these!" "Yup, that guy needs to be admitted." I was promptly transported to University Hospital's Intensive Care Unit. I knew most of the staff there. They had been former students.
After three days of testing, the Chief of Cardiology entered my room. He sat on the edge of my bed and somberly said "Gene, I've got bad news".
I quickly responded, "and good news too. Alan, that's how this is supposed to go" Dr. Markowitz and I had worked together. He choked out "there is no good news. You need to call Dina. I have you scheduled for surgery. You need a defibrillator/pacemaker before you leave here. We will have you on a heart transplant list before the month"s end. You have a 15 to 20% ejection fraction. I don't know if your heart is strong enough to get you through the ICD Implant." When he got up to leave, he wiped his eyes and he was gone.
When you make your cardiologist cry, you are not having a good day. This was not the news I was expecting to hear. This was supposed to be an upper respiratory infection not heart failure.
Gene Shimandle is the Editor and Publisher of LVAD Living.
You can reach him by Email at [email protected]
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