A matter of the heart

**artme** · 24th April 2008, 08:45 AM

Well, I've just graduated from Phase II of my cardiac rehabilitation program and will begin Phase III next week or the week after.
The program has been very comprehensive covering risk factors, medication, psychological issues exercise, diet,blood pressure etc.
Appart from the prepared and already well covered information a lot of points came up that were not only interesting but, I think, worthy of publicity. So here goes:

Angina is not always confined to the chest region or even the neck and sometimes shoulders. It can manifest itself through back pain and ths is more common amongst women. It can also manifest itself through pain in the lower jaw. I had a painful left upper rear tooth - nothing wrong with it. After the operation the pain went. My dentist confirmed that this was probably refered angina pain from the bottom jaw. He always refers patients with lower jaw pain to their GP for a check of the heart.

I had little blood blister type spots all over my buttocks and outer thighs that had been put down to stress/depression. They disappeared almost immediately after the op.

I had psorriacess (spelling?). It disappeared after the op.

My vision changed after being operated on.

My gums have become really pink and the sensitivity around the gumline has gone. My mouth feels cleaner for much longer after cleaning my teeth.
I'm not a smoker so cigaretts had nothing to do with that.

My ankles don't swell any more.

I can breathe really deeply.

I know this is hindsight but I didn't really have any "classic' symptoms of heart problems. Had I have known I would have taken earlier action even though my cholesterol levels were OK.

MAny others who were at the rehab course with me had some of the symptoms I had. One had consistently tested with Cholesterol levels at 3.2 for years!

I hope this is helpful to at least some of my fellow forumites. Be warned there are more than "classic" signs to indicate heart problems.
Get yourself checked out!!

**Sebastiaan56** · 26th April 2008, 08:47 AM

Artme,

I missed some history here, what did you do / have done? sounds like what I need,

Sebastiaan

**prozac** · 26th April 2008, 12:07 PM

Artme it sounds like going in for a grease and change the oil has made a new man of you. I look forward to progress updates, and wish you well in the meantime.

prozac

**Bluegum** · 27th April 2008, 08:02 AM

Hope you continue to get better as well mate and thanks for the good advise here for the rest of us.

**artme** · 27th April 2008, 10:18 AM

Sebastian, went for acheck up as we had decided to take the Grand Trans Mongoliian through China. Mongolia and siberia up to St. Petersburgh to help out with my depression. Found blocked arteries - 4 blockages - so had a double bypass. Two blockages fixed with one graft, one not bad enough to worry about.

**Gra** · 27th April 2008, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by artme

Sebastian, went for acheck up as we had decided to take the Grand Trans Mongoliian through China. Mongolia and siberia up to St. Petersburgh to help out with my depression. Found blocked arteries - 4 blockages - so had a double bypass. Two blockages fixed with one graft, one not bad enough to worry about.

so Artme, did you ever get the trip? Gotta say it is a sensation, did it about 8 Years ago

**prozac** · 27th April 2008, 09:43 PM

Great to hear that you have booked a trip on the strength of the op Artme. Sorry to hear also about the black dog. Mate, get out and about, avoid a**holes like the plague, pop the tabs same time every day. Me I don't care about anything anymore...if it looks like it has stress in it I just reckon that there's nothin' I can do about it so it doesn't worry me. It's driving my wife NUTS though. I realise that this attitude must be ok because at least I can recognise it now. I think it's hard for all those common people to understand.

prozac

**artme** · 28th April 2008, 08:38 PM

Didn't and won't do that trip Gra. We were going by train because LOML has some clotting problems.so we decided not to fly.
Now it apeears that her problems can be successfully dealt with.
Current plan is to fly to Bangkok, Dubai, Turkey, Greeca, Prague, Estonia. Norway, Sweden. Will go to Gallipoli ( Grandfather was there) and of course do other tours around various places. Our exchange student from last year is Estonian so we will visit him. From Sweden to Denmark by train, vist Rasmus. Onto Germany then Italy then by boat to Brasil to catch up with the wife's family.
Back home via Miami, LA, Honalulu and Syney. Should be broke and pooped!!!

Prozac, the "black dog' is certainly a mongrel. I'm stabilized on my meds now and things are mostly good. have the odd off day but I know waht triggers them and can deal with things pretty well. At least I've got these forums and My woodturning group to spark me up.
Also lucky to have very good friends who were the world's beat ever neighbours.They now live on a few acres not far from here and its a great little haven for the day.
Just need to take a trip down to see my grandchildren and that will spark me up a little bit more!

**woodcutta** · 28th April 2008, 09:48 PM

Arthur,

good to hear you are on the mend.

Take heed to what Arthur says. My brother in law had a sore shoulder for 3 weeks and was going to the physio every couple of days, and was getting no better. He passed away last Tuesday from a ruptured aortic aneurism.

woodcutta

**tea lady** · 28th April 2008, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by woodcutta

Arthur,

good to hear you are on the mend.

Take heed to what Arthur says. My brother in law had a sore shoulder for 3 weeks and was going to the physio every couple of days, and was getting no better. He passed away last Tuesday from a ruptured aortic aneurism.

woodcutta

So sorry to hear woodcutta. Bodies are buggers aren't they? And hearts, when the pain doesn't even show itself in the right place. And one little thing can cause a cascade of other things.

Glad to see you are on the mend Artme. A well timed check up if there ever was one.

**munruben** · 10th May 2008, 11:03 AM

Just read this thread and found it very enlightening and thanks for making us aware of those things Arthur. Great to see you have continued to improve since your op. Keep us updated on your progress.

**artme** · 13th May 2008, 08:57 PM

to everyone for your kind words.

At times I must sound like a cracked record to some of my aquaintances, but severl have had check-ups and asked some probing questions of their doctors.
My wife and I are very lucky to have the GP we have. He listens to us!
In fact, due to my wife's experience with her PFO ( a type of hole in the heart) our GP is now more aware of signs to look out for and told us that because of LOML's information hehas referred patients for hole in the heart investigation, . Some have proved positive.

Keep well everyone!

**artme** · 5th June 2008, 01:28 PM

A mate has just had his Mitral valve repaired. Suddenly felt unwell one day and decidedly out of puff and unwell the next.
I'm now well into stage 3 of Cardiac rehab. Haven't felt so well in years.

**prozac** · 6th June 2008, 12:36 AM

Glad to hear that you are doing so well Artme. It is a terrific feeling when you have the realisation that how you feel today is a vast improvement on last month or last year! Keep up the good work.

prozac

**munruben** · 6th June 2008, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by artme

I'm now well into stage 3 of Cardiac rehab. Haven't felt so well in years.

Great to hear Arthur. Keep up the good work. Hard to keep a good man down eh?

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