I'm at peace with all aspects
of this upcoming open heart surgery except for how my throat will fare. Other times when tubes and scopes have been
placed down my esophagus and trachea I've suffered a killer sore throat for at
least two weeks. Of course my throat
would only hurt when I swallowed, talked, coughed or breathed.
Even POCD (post operative cognitive
decline/dysfunction) no longer looms large in my mind because I'm fortunate
enough to have a surgeon who is really on top of these things. Recognizing that I'm at risk, he added a psychiatrist
who specializes in this syndrome to my medical team. The psychiatrist has taken aggressive
preventative measures that have calmed my fears.
Advanced age and a history of
depression put a patient at risk. Also a
lower level of education. Darn, I should have finished those last two years of
college! Several potential causes have been identified. The length of time on
the pump oxygenator, also known as the heart-lung machine, is one. Microscopic cell debris and bubbles generated
by the machine are under suspicion. The rate at which the body is warmed may
enter into it, but no one knows for sure.
Nicknamed "pumphead,"
POCD can surface immediately or even years after open heart surgery. It can worsen over time and persist for years. Some of the symptoms are memory problems,
confusion, personality changes, inability to focus and overall mental decline.
Geez, I have some of those already!
Ongoing stress triggered by anger, anxiety,
guilt, worry or fear, is a major contributor to a decline in cognitive function
even when someone isn't facing surgery. Developing
a positive outlook, feeling hopeful, compassionate and caring, appreciative and
loving, improve the way our nervous system and brain function. Philippians 4:8 provides some good advice: Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Everyone knows that heart problems
wipe out more men in our country than any other disease. If you think the numero uno killer of women is
breast cancer, you'd be wrong because, for women too, it's the old heart that
takes the lead. Most men get the sudden
stabbing pain in their chests and down their left arms that screams, "Get
me to the hospital, PRONTO! But women
are more vulnerable because our symptoms are usually wimpy, like shortness of
breath and sometimes nausea.
I hope I've done an adequate job of
making you aware of several aspects of heart disease symptoms, causes and ways
to deal with them. You just never know when you might need to know some of this
stuff. With ongoing research and the
development of new technology the future of heart care continues to unfold more
options in treatments, medication, and solutions for healing broken hearts.
So Tuesday morning I'll be joining
the ranks of Bill Clinton, Barbara Walters, Regis Philbin, Robin Williams and half
a million other Americans who annually undergo open heart surgery. Only 1 to 2 percent don't make it. That's 5 to 10 thousand obituaries added to
newspapers every year. I hope I'm not
one of them.
Meds: Namenda, diuretic, beta blocker, vitamins and supplements, last day for
anti-depressant, give myself 1st and 2nd Enoxaparin
Sodium injections (blood thinner)
