I haven’t posted in a while and I’d like to explain why. As Anne wrote in her last post, I had a health incident in January. Though it’s hard for a guy like me to admit, I fell apart. So, that is where I have been for a couple of months; wrapped up in myself with more than a tinge of self-pity. I tried to act normal, brave, and stoic around my friends as if everything was the same but was whimpering inside as I came to grips with my new reality.
THE FACTS
Last summer when I rode my bike somewhat vigorously, I noticed some chest pain but when I backed off on the effort, the pain receded. In January when riding in Los Angeles with Alan and Peter, two of my brothers-in-law, the chest pain came again but this time didn’t recede. This was a new phenomenon. I called my Minneapolis doctor and he suggested a visit to the emergency room. Next stop; UCLA Santa Monica Hospital (where I received excellent care by the way) to be checked out. They explained that I was suffering from the classic signs of angina and we needed more tests. Evidently, angina is caused by an artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle becoming partially blocked. Under normal conditions you don’t even realize it. The heart muscle has plenty of oxygen. When you physically exert yourself the heart muscle must work harder to supply blood to the rest of your body. When the heart ups its effort, it also needs more blood and oxygen. It is then that a restriction in blood flow is felt. There is just not enough oxygen getting to the heat muscle and chest pain results.
The most painful part was removing all those electrical patches.
