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 By Argile Stox Dec. 16, 2005 It was a usual Saturday. On December 10, 2005 I was installing a bottom of a front door draft jam to keep out the strong South Dakota Winter wind. I was on my knees manipulating the hard plastic cover below the door, when I felt a sharp pain down my left arm. Then, my jaw and teeth began to hurt, with an accompanying pressure in the center of my chest. Recalling the recent news reports about taking an aspirin if you suspect a heart attack, I did so. About five minutes later, the pain in my left arm intensified and the pressure in the center of my chest became unbearable. “Tracy, I think we need to go to the hospital – I have severe chest pain,” I said, in a moderate tone of voice. “Oh, no,” Tracy said, as she abandoned her gift wrapping and raced to get the SUV out of the garage. We arrived at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota in less than five minutes, at 4:30pm. Calmly, I walked through the Emergency doors and flashed my Medicare card. “I think my heart is attacking me,” I said in a normal tone. Without breaking my stride, the admitting clerk grabbed my insurance card, asked my date of birth – I was placed in a wheelchair, and rolled swiftly into triage by a team of other nurses. Within ten seconds, an intravenous line was installed in my right arm; a nitroglycerin tablet was placed under my tongue, and oxygen line was placed in both my nose nostrils. A blood sample was drawn and a portable X-Ray unit was whisked into the room to take a few pictures of my heart. A few minutes later, another nitro tablet was placed under my tongue, and more blood was drawn. Meanwhile, Tracy was talking to the admitting nurse behind the curtain, advising of what medications I was allergic too. A third nitro pill was placed under my tongue, and I was asked if the pain in my chest and arm was diminishing. I said, “Not really,” as my mind began to cloud over with exhaustion. I was jolted out of my sleep by a doctor who said, “Argile – You are having a heart attack. Through X-Rays, we have determined that two arteries that supply blood to your heart are blocked, and we need to balloon them. Please sign this paper so that we can do the procedure.” My vision was blurry; however, I managed to scribble my name on the consent form. Another doctor said, “Argile – We have an experimental drug trial that has proved to be very affective in reversing damage to the heart during a heart attack. However, it is a “double-blind test,” and we do not know if you will be given the actual drug or a placebo. Would you like to participate in this drug trial?” With all the life saving measures that the doctors and nurses were performing, my brain was alert enough to digest the information that was transmitted – and I said, “Yes”. I then asked if Tracy could come into the triage area before they wheeled me into the operating room. The doctor gave his permission, and Tracy was escorted to my side. I said, “Tracy – I hope that I have been a good boyfriend to you.” She said, “Yes, you were – Err, YES YOU ARE!” We laughed for a moment as the statements were digested through our collective minds. Then, my body was lifted off the table on to a gurney, and I was wheeled into the operating room. I asked, “Will you put me out during the procedure?” The nurse said, “No, we need you awake; but, a local anesthetic will be injected and you should not feel any pain.” Meanwhile, my mind was packing its bags, preparing for death. A list of things began to form in my mind as to what will happen if something goes wrong, and I expire during the procedure. For some strange reason, my mind was satisfied that there were no loose ends to tie-up; and if I were to meet my maker – Well, I was ready. I had lived a very full life. The doctor then said, “Okay, we are going to insert a tube through an artery in your groin – But first, you have to be shaved.” The pain in my chest had subsided a little, and I was able to laugh as the nurse moved the cold blade around my inner thighs. There I was, the lower half of my body exposed for all to see. I wondered if any comparisons were being made of the size and length of my penis, to others that have been on that table. My mind needed some comic relief! “Okay, we are going to inject a local anesthetic into your right thigh,” the doctor said, “and you may feel a slight pinch.” Slight pinch my cold butt! As the needle pierced my skin and the fluid escaped, I felt a severe burning sensation. Then the tube containing the balloon mechanism began its journey through the artery to my heart. I felt the pressure of the balloon pressing the substance against each artery wall, and I began to cough. A few minutes later, the pain in my right arm and the pressure of a five-thousand pound elephant sitting on my chest, was diminishing. “We are done! How do you feel?” The doctor said. "Much better, thank you,” I said, with a deep sigh of relief in my voice. About fifteen minutes later, I was wheeled into the Intensive Care Ward, and was lifted into a bed. Once my body was settled, I gazed at the entire array of tubes running out of my arms, hands, and the monitoring equipment. The room was lit by a single white lamp behind the bed. The heart attack was over and my two arteries were ballooned; now it was time to heal. Tracy was allowed into the room and she slowly walked over to my bed. Her hand gently touched my chest, as tears began to well in her eyes. I reached around and tried to give her a hug – but, the bed posts were in the way. Tracy leaned over and we embraced. I said, “Are we okay?” Wiping away her tears, she said, “Yeah, we are okay! You only get one heart attack in our relationship!” I looked at her and be both started laughing. Within a few days, I will detail my four and a half day stay at the hospital. I will say this; the nurses, doctors, and everyone connected with the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota were very professional, kind, and compassionate. They really did their jobs extremely well, and I am alive to report my experiences. ------------ Email Argile Stox: argilestox@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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