Heart Attack

On June 26, 2011 James had chest pain and shortness of breath so I drove him to Medical City Emergency Room.  I told the ER about his 5.2 aneurysm in his Aorta Arch and he was rushed into the Heart Cath Lab.  The aneurysm was bulging and mildly sclerotic, but had no tears or leaks. The Left ventricular cavity size was severely dilated.  The left ejection fracture was 40-45%.  The left Atrium was moderately dilated. The LAD is 100% occluded.  The right Coronary artery was 100% occuled at the astium.  He was placed in the ICU and dr bowers escorted Michael and I to the waiting room on 4th floor.at 2 o clock am Michael went home and I called back asking to see James.  He refused oxygen and medication until the morning shift arrived and then he ate breakfast, took his meds and allowed the nurse to put on oxygen.  He was transferred to the Advance Heart Failure wing in Building E 5th floor.  That night he asked twice to make the bed stop moving, but the nurse explained that it was the air mattress circulation movement he felt.  He grabbed up his pillows and blankets and wanted to go outside to sleep.  His nurse said he could not allow James to sleep outside but that they would change out the bed.  He got James to bed and we went to sleep.  The next morning everything was fine, but there was a note on the door alerting everyone not to disturb until 5:45 am.  He was dismissed and went home with instructions to follow up with Dr Rosenthat.  I stated we had appointments at the VA and would follow up with the Vascular Clinic and Cardiologist care at the VA.  On July 7 he had a CT Scan of his heart.  July 12 he saw his doctor, July 14 the orthopedic specialist and then on July 15 the Thoracic Clinic.  His blood pressure was extremely low at all clinics.  His doctor asked that I bring copies of his heart cath to his Thoracic appointment and Cardiologist Appointments. On July 15 the Thoracic specialist said that the aorta aneurysm was smaller but the root was weakened.  Thoracic would follow Cardiologists lead if he had any heart surgery then they would repair the Aorta at the same time.  Tomorrow James and Michael will go to the Cardiologist Clinic and hopefully we will have some answers.  Today the Dermatologist Clinic called to set up an August appointment for his back moles.  I tried to get the cardiologist Clinic to change his appointment to one of the days we were already at the clinic but no...so I will get the news by phone as I take care of my own issues.

Broken Arm

10 weeks ago, While exiting the Waffle House, James slipped his flip/flop on the cement bumper and fell breaking his fall with his right elbow.  We went over to Medical City and after an ex-ray showing a fractured radial head, the nurse put James' arm in a brace from fingers to shoulder.  Poor James needed help with toileting and bathing which the girls did not volunteer to perform.  The next day we went to the VA to talk with his primary doctor who has to request consults.  She sent James for another ex ray and to the Orthopedic Clinic.  The doctor recommended that he continue to use the sling but removed the brace.  After 6 weeks the fracture was slightly displaced and not mending.  The doctor told James not to lift anything heavier than a dinner fork and return in 4 weeks.  James was declared healed on 7/14/2011.