Heart Problems, Wife Is Upset. Just Had My First on Line Dr's Appointment.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

After wearing a heart monitor for a month, last week I had to go for a “Heart MRI”. Today due to this current pandemic, I had to have a FaceTime heart appointment with my cardiologist, a first in my life. My wife was sitting next to me, when the Doctor said, “you had a number of episodes, and the MRI confirmed that your Sarcoidosis has affected your heart”. So I said, OK what now, she replied, “you have to have a defibrillator installed in your heart”. So I was rather “matter of fact” about it, she (my wife) was and is upset. She asked, why aren’t you upset? I told her, I have been trough so much, I just don’t worry anymore. From what I hear it is not that big a deal, as far as medical procedures go, so I told her, why worry. My concern is going into a hospital before this pandemic is completely gone. In fact, I think I will refuse to have anything done, until I am sure this pandemic is gone, as in completely gone everywhere. 

[Calm]

2 minutes ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

After wearing a heart monitor for a month, last week I had to go for a “Heart MRI”. Today due to this current pandemic, I had to have a FaceTime heart appointment with my cardiologist, a first in my life. My wife was sitting next to me, when the Doctor said, “you had a number of episodes, and the MRI confirmed that your Sarcoidosis has affected your heart”. So I said, OK what now, she replied, “you have to have a defibrillator installed in your heart”. So I was rather “matter of fact” about it, she (my wife) was and is upset. She asked, why aren’t you upset? I told her, I have been trough so much, I just don’t worry anymore. From what I hear it is not that big a deal, as far as medical procedures go, so I told her, why worry. My concern is going into a hospital before this pandemic is completely gone. In fact, I think I will refuse to have anything done, until I am sure this pandemic is gone, as in completely gone everywhere. 

That might be more than a year.  Gone from your hospital seems a better time frame if the heart issue is significant.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

32 minutes ago, Calm said:

That might be more than a year.  Gone from your hospital seems a better time frame if the heart issue is significant.

I just got a call, I have to go see the guy who will install it on April 16, they seem to be a real hurry about this. So I don’t know what to do, I guess they see this as more serious than I do. Not sure what to do?  Maybe the issue is more serious that I had supposed. 

[rpn]

What they have reported to you is that you had many episodes when your heart stopped.   Of course that is serious.   But you're entitled to a second opinion about whether you can wait for the operation (though the DR is right that most people wouldn't accept waiting knowing that the next time it happens, might be your last moment alive).   You're weighing risks of the virus against risk (which you don't know about its real risk to you) with big known fatal risk.   Most people wouldn't see those comparative risks as you do.

Edited April 7, 2020 by rpn

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

1 hour ago, rpn said:

What they are have reported to you is that you had many episodes when your heart stopped.   Of course that is serious.   But you're entitled to a second opinion about whether you can wait for the operation (though the DR is right that most people wouldn't accept waiting knowing that the next time it happens, might be your last moment alive).   Your weighing risks of the virus against risk (which you don't know about its real risk to you) with big known fatal risk.   Most people wouldn't see those comparative risks as you do.

I am sure you are right, and I know my body (in reality) belongs to my wife. So, I will do as she wishes, least in not doing so, she may kill me herself. 🤣

[USU78]

Welp. My first FIL had a pacemaker put in over thirty years ago. Pretty meatball then. Not nearly as rough now. You're going to do great with it. And you'll qualify for Teen Titans. Which is great.

I'm off for my follow-up EKG next Monday followed by a tete-a-tete with my stent guy.

It's our time of life, ol' buddy. And you know what? It's ok. We're going to be just fine.

[The Nehor]

7 hours ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

I just got a call, I have to go see the guy who will install it on April 16, they seem to be a real hurry about this. So I don’t know what to do, I guess they see this as more serious than I do. Not sure what to do?  Maybe the issue is more serious that I had supposed. 

One reason they may be in a hurry is anticipating getting slammed over the coming weeks. Getting this done quickly may be safer for you and free up more people to help if the hospitals start to overflow.

[Jeanne]

19 hours ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

I just got a call, I have to go see the guy who will install it on April 16, they seem to be a real hurry about this. So I don’t know what to do, I guess they see this as more serious than I do. Not sure what to do?  Maybe the issue is more serious that I had supposed. 

I know what you are going to do...you are going to listen to doc...and your wife is wise!!!  You take care of Papa...!  Jeanne says so!!😍

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

2 hours ago, Jeanne said:

I know what you are going to do...you are going to listen to doc...and your wife is wise!!!  You take care of Papa...!  Jeanne says so!!😍

I may not want too, but I will do as I am told. Especially by my wife, least I put my life in danger. After all my heart belongs to her, and her alone. 

[Kenngo1969]

Best wishes, and Godspeed.

[The Nehor]

On 4/7/2020 at 1:35 PM, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

I may not want too, but I will do as I am told. Especially by my wife, least I put my life in danger. After all my heart belongs to her, and her alone. 

If you do feel very uncomfortable about it though a second doctor's opinion is an option. I hope it goes well.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

If you do feel very uncomfortable about it though a second doctor's opinion is an option. I hope it goes well.

I did, and my uncomfortable feelings come from the hatred of hospitals. Due to my my many conditions, I always end up spending longer int the hospital than I am told they expect. Also, I never sleep in hospitals. Once after three days of a a 10-15 min nap or two, my doctor says, “according to your nurses, you have been awake for three days”. I told her, “I told you I can’t sleep in hospitals and would not sleep, but you did not believe me”. She then said, “well I just assumed you were just being melodramatic”. So that evening she slipped something in my IV, don’t know what it was but I slept for 12 hours straight. But this time I worry about having this surgery during this pandemic. My doctor’s assure me that they will take every step to make sure I will be protected, but i worry it will include my wife not being with me, or slipping real food to me to me, as hospital food is HORRIBLE!! I don’t worry for my own life, but if something happened, and I was gone. She would not have my Social Security, my disability from my last job. She would be left with nothing but my police pension, and insurance, which is not enough to live on. I could not bare for her to be left without a means of support, I need to survive until she can get her Social Security, I need her to be safe, and taken care of, as (to me) little else matters. My kids and grandchildren are OK and will be without me, but I need her to be OK, before I “shuffle off from the mortal coil”, or however the saying goes.