Although I have searched far and wide, I have still not found a site that that details heart attack pain for women to include what I went through. So, I reiterate, if you have a serious stabbing pain unlike what you experience that just appears, call for help. I got help fast and have very little heart muscle damage, although I sport two shiny stainless steel stents.
I did receive a second stent via catheter on Monday, February 12th. It went well and they showed me how the artery inflated on the screen when it was over. The side effects were not great. I got a nitro headache immediately when they loaded nitro to inflate the artery- like the old time cartoon when the character gets whacked on the head with a mallet and you see zig zag lines and stars. The other effect was upon arriving at my room and looking at my right arm (catheter went in right wrist), it looked like Popeye's. It was bleeding profusely under the skin and took a blood pressure cuff pumped up to stop it in a while followed by compression bandages, holding it up for 24 hours, and throbbing. The swelling went down, a whopper bruise, but worse, my arm aches and aches and it is difficult to type, sew, anything right hand related. When I was an art teacher, I learned how to cut and paint with the left so I could teach it, but I am limited to those skills.
This was the prayer shawl someone gave me when I was still flat out after surgery and I don't know who to say thank you for this keeping me warm. Thank you, you wonderfully generous crocheter!
Despite craving to sew, I can't use a rotary cutter with my arm, can't hand sew, and could barely make these two Scrappy Trips blocks. Thank you to everyone who responded with a kind word or two, prayers, and being a friend. I thank you from the heart- newly mended.
13 comments:
Good to hear from you - recovery is hard work. Take it easy and know that it will get better day by day. We are all so impatient with ourselves when we're ill or after any kind of procedure and your's was a BIGGIE. Continuing to keep you in my thoughts and prayers!!
It takes awhile to relax after a major event. I found that every little thing that seemed different or strange was a major event in the beginning when I got my pacemaker. Eventually I was able to relax a bit. Hopefully all of the right arm woes will disappear soon. You can always think of million things you would like to do when you aren't able to do any of them. Like Julie said, recovery is hard work.
So good to hear from you again! Thank you for sharing your experience with us, especially your words of warning! At this point, we don’t know which of us will need that information, but undoubtedly it will be needed. I don’t know how you found the energy or time to write us when you did, but thank you! The two blocks you made are beautiful. They will be keepers for you, hopefully part of a healing quilt. Please take care and let others do for you.
How wonderful that you are on the road to recovery even though it's long and slow. Sally has a great idea about a healing quilt. Thanks for sharing information about your heart attack; the symptoms are frequently different from men's and often overlooked.
What a spectacular sunrise over the city! We are thankful that you were there to see and document it. Take it easy on yourself! With time and a fair amount of patience, you'll be sewing with the rest of us before you know it.
Welcome back!
Thank you for updating us, look after yourself. I’m sorry you can’t sew at the moment, it’ll certainly be something to look forward to managing. It’s lovely to picture you receiving cards and gifts and that they boosted your spirits. Try and blog again soon. X
A big step today....a blog post! I do remember when I first came home and still could only type with 2 fingers.....so this post is a milestone considering what you have been thru. I know you want to do more and do it faster, but the gals said it right....recovery is hard work.
Just make plans for steps and stages. Those 2 blocks are an amazing journey for your first venture back. And we are all glad to see you are coming back...we have missed you:)
good news - take care and go slow.
beautiful photo glad it gave you comfort
Such an overwhelming experience you've had. I'm sorry things are slow to heal, and allow you to get back to life you were used to. I do hope it happens soon, though. The sewing will heal you too. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily.
Ouch with that arm. The other possibilities could have been so much worse. Just take things one day at a time, and cuddle up with some of your fabrics until then. I have thought about you (hence the earlier email). I can write (very slowly) with my left hand, but, can't use a rotary cutter with it (yes, I've tried several times).
So glad you hear you are in the recovery stage, even if slowly. There is yet much for you to do in this world.
True friends are more than gold or diamonds at a time like this. When my man Hugh had his heart attack, friends nearby, and further away, and family hours away ( 5 hours north for one daughter and 2 plane flights south for the other) were all
there. His pain was what we usually hear will happen. However I have had many attacks of what they think is angina, and not typical at all. I am so thankful you received help, and the hospital was waiting all prepared. Hugh had 2 stents, in his RCA, and the left descending, narrowed but too difficult to do via the wrist. Take care, love those squares. I can see the quilt in those gorgeous fabrics. p.s. I scrolled down from your post above this one.
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