Early Bath!

[Jack Peterson]

Hey Jack, I only just got to read this topic, hope you are doing well now. As I am Bob says, if your well and can afford what could be extra expense by moving to the PI then just get on with it. Something to look forward to or keeping busy takes your mind off these things so seems like the right medication to me. Now you have me thinking too as I near the ripe old age of 50 this month. :unsure:

:) JGF Thank you for the thoughts I am up and about now I have some Scans to attend Tomorrow Wednesday and more of the Ruby to give for testing. I have regained The use of my left hand and Arm so I guess I have been very very Lucky to catch it early and get the Treatment I needed. Subject to the scan Result and Blood tests on the problem I should escape and Surgery which would have been my Biggest fear. According to my Doctor all the Medication I require for a continued life are available in the PI so as Long as I am careful eat Properly and continue to exercise and stop Smoking I should be OK for another 15/20 years or so. I will put in for Medical Retirement as soon as The paperwork is done from the Hospital but will fly out from Spain as soon as I am able. The Social security people tell me that 55% narrowing of the Artery is the figure they base an early Bath on mine is 60% so I qualify, I will come home for 1/2even 3 months then if there are No Problems after that, all the paper work for Retirement can be done on Line now so Maybe this will be my last Long haul flight.looks like I will be having some SMBs with a few of you earlier than I thought I might.Lets hope Tomorrow goes well.

If I do need surgery for Stents well I will deal with this as, and when but things are looking Good so far for medicine treatment fingers crossed here.

Regards Jack P. :tiphat:

[Jack Peterson]

Get well soon Jack

Kevin

:tiphat: Thank you for the Thought I am a Fighter and will fight this now for sure I have a Future even at my age. It got caught early so I will work on prevention of it happening again.

[i am bob]

Good to hear the news Jack!

From what I hear, stents are now a pretty routine procedure and shouldn't be too much of a worry if they become necessary. Of course we all hope that they won't be necessary at all!

[Jack Peterson]

Good to hear the news Jack!

From what I hear, stents are now a pretty routine procedure and shouldn't be too much of a worry if they become necessary. Of course we all hope that they won't be necessary at all!

:thumbsup: Thank you Bob Always good to have some second opinionsI have never liked invasive surgery but good to hear that they are Routine in this sort of case Puts my mind at rest I can assure you

[Jack Peterson]

A friend sent me this on Face Book this morning and I sat and Thought never a truer Thing said, It just echoes things for me I thought I would share this thought with you

[earthdome]

If you don,t mind, What was your health like and how did you feel the 3 or 4 months leading up to the heart failure. Your answer could be a wake up call for some of us retired guys

Little bit late to this topic, but many have echoed my thoughts for Jack.

I had a mild heart attack 2 years ago at the age of 54. Complete blockage of a very small artery which supplied blood to the lower part of the heart.

I had been having symptoms but I had not recognized them as such. I was frequently feeling like I had tension in my upper back and shoulders. Like I needed to stretch.

When I had the mild heart attack that resulted in me going to the emergency room I started feeling symptoms during my morning shower. An ache in my left shoulder, in the middle of my back and in my lower jaw. And just not feeling well. No sharp pain at all. I didn't go to the emergency room until after the symptoms didn't go away for 6-7 hours.

At the hospital they said that they would not have been able to confirm a heart attack if I had come in earlier because the blood enzym markers would not have been detectable since the heart attack was small.

For me, there was no corrective action they could take. Artery was too small for angioplasty or a stent. Just 3 days rest in hospital, medication and lifestyle changes.

Now my heart runs at the low end of normal for its ability to pump.

The heart attack was minor compared to what they found from the chest x-ray they did in the ER. Weeks later I found out I had a spot on my lung. After another month and more tests it was 90% confirmed as lung cancer. Fortunately it was detected about as early as it can be and only surgery was needed. No chemo or radiation therapy.

It had not spread and the surgeon said this type of cancer if completely removed by surgery is like you never had it. Dodge a BIG ONE there. But I did have 20% of my lung capacity removed surgically.

One big thing I learned was ALWAYS get a second and/or third opinion. Search the internet, etc. I was getting pipelined to get treatment in my local hospital using old surgical techniques which are very traumatic. I ended up finding a hospital within 2 hours with the latest surgical tech which dramatically reduced the hospital stay and recovery time.

I was working out in the gym doing cardiorehab less than four weeks after surgery. The nurses were amazed at how fast I recovered.

These medical issues was a wakeup call and a big reason why I am planning on retiring early, move to the philippines, and find that special someone. Then ensure I spend plenty of time exploring all the sights to see in the PI and asia.

Jack, try not to dwell on the past or the problem, instead actively search for solutions to not only speed your recovery, but help ensure even better health going into the future.

[sjp52]

If you don,t mind, What was your health like and how did you feel the 3 or 4 months leading up to the heart failure. Your answer could be a wake up call for some of us retired guys

Little bit late to this topic, but many have echoed my thoughts for Jack.

I had a mild heart attack 2 years ago at the age of 54. Complete blockage of a very small artery which supplied blood to the lower part of the heart.

I had been having symptoms but I had not recognized them as such. I was frequently feeling like I had tension in my upper back and shoulders. Like I needed to stretch.

When I had the mild heart attack that resulted in me going to the emergency room I started feeling symptoms during my morning shower. An ache in my left shoulder, in the middle of my back and in my lower jaw. And just not feeling well. No sharp pain at all. I didn't go to the emergency room until after the symptoms didn't go away for 6-7 hours.

At the hospital they said that they would not have been able to confirm a heart attack if I had come in earlier because the blood enzym markers would not have been detectable since the heart attack was small.

For me, there was no corrective action they could take. Artery was too small for angioplasty or a stent. Just 3 days rest in hospital, medication and lifestyle changes.

Now my heart runs at the low end of normal for its ability to pump.

The heart attack was minor compared to what they found from the chest x-ray they did in the ER. Weeks later I found out I had a spot on my lung. After another month and more tests it was 90% confirmed as lung cancer. Fortunately it was detected about as early as it can be and only surgery was needed. No chemo or radiation therapy.

It had not spread and the surgeon said this type of cancer if completely removed by surgery is like you never had it. Dodge a BIG ONE there. But I did have 20% of my lung capacity removed surgically.

One big thing I learned was ALWAYS get a second and/or third opinion. Search the internet, etc. I was getting pipelined to get treatment in my local hospital using old surgical techniques which are very traumatic. I ended up finding a hospital within 2 hours with the latest surgical tech which dramatically reduced the hospital stay and recovery time.

I was working out in the gym doing cardiorehab less than four weeks after surgery. The nurses were amazed at how fast I recovered.

These medical issues was a wakeup call and a big reason why I am planning on retiring early, move to the philippines, and find that special someone. Then ensure I spend plenty of time exploring all the sights to see in the PI and asia.

Jack, try not to dwell on the past or the problem, instead actively search for solutions to not only speed your recovery, but help ensure even better health going into the future.

I would like to thank you for sharing your experience. I,m glad you fully recovered. Your story has hit home to me as I am 54 right now and not in the best of health. Starting in the morning I will change things for the better. We all think it will never happen to us or if it does it will be late in life. Thanks again for the wake up call.

[i am bob]

So true!

I was 36 years old when my release from the Canadian Armed Forces went into effect - a medical category because I could no longer perform my primary class function in the military and changing to another was medically out of the question as well. I did learn one thing at that time - never let someone tell you that you can't do something... At least try! I no longer fall down all the time (I lost my sense of balance when I had meningitis and encephalitis) because I worked at it. The same with my short term memory. When I found out about my heart problem a few years ago, I worked at that too and I no longer need my defibulator - in fact it was recently removed! I have faith in myself and my ability to get past any medical issues that may occur! And this is what my specialists always attribute my improving health to - and have said that if everyone had the attitude that I do, then many would live much longer and enjoyable lives than they are! Too many doctors tell us we should curl up in a ball in the corner and just lick our (ahem) for the rest of our lives... If I had listened to them, I would probably have died 10 - 15 years ago.

Now if I can just get my hair to grow again... :mocking:

[earthdome]

Now if I can just get my hair to grow again...

You and me both brother!

[Jack Peterson]

"END RESULT"

Hi Guys and gals, whist I never set out for Condolences or Sympathy, I have to say thank you to you all, for the replies and good wishes. I was under the impression that my Company would just fly me home and that would be that but NO! they have done 1/2/3 better. They will Fly me to the UK On Tuesday for Surgery or at least, deep exploration Consultations at the main cardiovascular Hospital in London. Normally there is a 3/4 month waiting list for this . I am a Nobody in the organisation but it seems that my years of service and somewhat strange occupation, have paid off. For this opportunity I am very gratefuL i will therefore be off line after Tuesday Morning for a week or so, WOW! TGFT I hear some say. This Surgery is not to be sniffed at and I am very thankful that my overseers have foundit in themselves, to look after this sometimes. arrogant employee, who is only ever interested in doing the job they pay me for. It is a lonely place lonely Work and being 10.000+kms from my family gives me a Bad Lifestyle. I guess this has led to my current problem that I hope can be sorted on Thursday of next week. On Mothers day I pay tribute to my Wife who has had some issues in dealing with me being apart from the family and has to sit and can do nothing Thank you all and thank you to the forum for being there so that I could share this worrying thing

Regards Jack P. :tiphat: