Publication of the Woodstock Advocate was interrupted slightly last week by a rather inconvenient, and surprise, event on Saturday morning - a heart attack!
About 10:30AM I experienced some pressure in my upper chest area, some fatigue (OK, well more than "some") and perspiring. Since I was standing in my living room and having a pleasant conversation with my stepson about his new electronics gadget, these symptoms got my immediate attention. I laid down, got up, laid down, got up and told him I needed to go to a hospital. I called 9-1-1 (learning experience with that one), got disconnected, and called WPD from the house phone.
Within minutes Ofc. George Kopulus arrived and asked me a few questions, while Joey kept his eyes peeled for Woodstock Fire Rescue. I walked out to the stretcher, was rolled into the paramedic vehicle, and they began tests and communication with Memorial Medical Center.
After a few minutes they were ready to go. When they closed the back door and turned on the interior ceiling flood lamps, I said, "I see the light!" They didn't know I was joking and said "Stay with us," so I opened my eyes and agreed!
To make a long story short (but longer in another writing), I was at Memorial (which doesn't do heart work) and was then flown by helicopter to NIMC. A heart catheter was inserted, a balloon placed and two stints, and it was off to the ICU until Tuesday, when I was moved up a floor to a semi-private room.
Looks like I'll be heading for home on Thursday.
My brother, Jim, drove in from Annapolis and is staying at my place.
Not being a student of anatomy, I still don't understand everything that has been done. It looks like I won't be riding the motorcycle for a short while. I'm hoping there will still be time for a late-summer motorcycle trip.
Many thanks to you who noticed I wasn't posting anything or answering email. Thanks for your calls!
The race is still on. Good thing it hasn't even started yet!!!
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21 comments:
Despite the fact I think ur a Tool, I'm glad you're gonna be ok.
Keep some aspirin around... that may help if you experience another attack.
glad to hear you are okay, Gus, and wish you a speedy recovery.
Maybe time to start thinking about trading some time in the little red Beetle for some time on a little red bike? :-) (Hope its not too soon for joking around, but based on your comment to the EMT, I'm guessing I'm safe here.)
I want to thank all three men in the EMS van, and I can't find the notes with their names. Jason was in the back, Kip was the driver, and the third man's name temporarily escapes me. Dave, I think.
They did their work rapidly and professionally. THANK YOU.
Thanks, Phil. It's never too soon for a joke or a laugh.
TMB, thanks for the tip about the aspirin. They have already told me here to plan on buying a large bottle of aspirin.
Did you ask them to keep the speed down on the way to the hospital? How about the cop that arrived first, did you ask him if he got there so fast because he was doing around 70 mph? Were there any children playing in the street when he went so fast?
And just so you know, they took you to Woodstock Memorial because they have to. In an unstable Pt, like you were, they have to take you to the closest appropriate hospital, which was Woodstock.
Get the baby/buffered/enteric aspirin... low dosage of 81mg. Generic is fine. Aspirin can be tough on the stomach over time so you'll need this kind. I'm under my Dr's orders to take one every day as a preventative measure.
I am not a doctor, but I intend on playing one on this blog. DOH!
Thanks, Doc TMB. But I'm getting advice from a nice-looking nurse here about the aspirin. She told me if I took a whole bottle at once, I could go "home" a lot sooner. : )
And I imagine the cardio doc will add in his $250 worth of aspirin advice.
Gus Gus!
Wowzer, I was wondering why you didn't answer my email. What a rush...god, you musta been freaked out totally!!! Glad you are feeling a bit better...are you home yet? Anything I can do?
xoNanner.
DA, I'll remember to ask those questions next time. I'll put a little card by the door with my Medical Directives that "DA" said to ask three questions.
Gee, I also forgot to take pictures and record statements. I'm failing, I'm failing. I hope all the advertisers don't give up on me.
I have never observed even one example of WFRD vehicles driving in other than a careful manner, and they did so with me. Turns were slow, as was the stop at MMC.
DA, you may know that operators of emergency vehicles are allowed to excess speed limits and proceed against traffic signals under certain conditions. It's when those condition are violated that accidents occur.
Now it's Nygren's turn. Don't tell him about the aspirin thing.
That would be MISTER Doc TMB to you Buster!
Didja know a quick antedote for Aspirin overdose is 7Up? Dont know how it works, but maybe you could try? :)
Perhaps the antedote really meant for you to have a 7 & 7... sort of a "toast" before you head off to your eternal reward. DOH!
Jeez, Gus... I'm glad you're gonna be okay. Otherwise, we might continue to be stuck with Nygren!
DA -
You're still disturbed, and still an ....
Can't wait 'till all your unhappiness kills you.
Most excellent to see you back Gus!
Funny,
No major investigation as to why Police were racing to help that day. Big surprise.
Gus Philpott you're my hero.
Gus said...
DA, I'll remember to ask those questions next time. I'll put a little card by the door with my Medical Directives that "DA" said to ask three questions.
Gee, I also forgot to take pictures and record statements. I'm failing, I'm failing. I hope all the advertisers don't give up on me.
I have never observed even one example of WFRD vehicles driving in other than a careful manner, and they did so with me. Turns were slow, as was the stop at MMC.
DA, you may know that operators of emergency vehicles are allowed to excess speed limits and proceed against traffic signals under certain conditions. It's when those condition are violated that accidents occur.
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So, you have no problem with them rushing to get to YOU when you are having a grabber.... Let us see what you had to say less than 2 weeks earlier, shall we?
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2009
Must be something going on
There must be something going on in Woodstock shortly after 5:00PM. Guess I'll have to break down and pop for a scanner.
Two police cars just roared up Lake Avenue f-a-s-t toward the Square. From the engine sounds and how fast the sirens came and went, my guess was 60MPH toward the Square. Sure hope no kids in the 300-400 block of Lake Avenue were in the street.
Anyone know what was going on? Couldn't have been a bank robbery. The banks are closed.
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When the cops race to you and get there on scene before the WFD, that is OK. When they do it for anyone else, you post on the blog about how f-a-s-t they were going towards the square.
What a hypocrite! Lucky for you they do not let people like you prevent them from doing their job anyway, otherwise your positive outcome might not have been so positive.
UR1096
Nope! No investigations at all! LOL! On that day, Gus was 100% behind them speeding to get to him! "Screw those kids playing in the 300-400 block of Lake Avenue!! Get your @sses over here and save my fat @ass now!!!"
DA's losing it here too!
CoQ10, aspirin, and fish oil are all wonderful things.
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