Why quadruple bypass surgery?

Why? Oh Why? Do I have to have my chest pried open with surgical steel? Well, the answer goes back several years. In 1995 I was giving blood at a blood drive at my place of employment. As part of the service, Carter Blood Center provided a lipid panel telling us all what our cholesterol levels were. I should have paid attention when I saw a cholesterol level of 375. But like so many Americans, I went on without another thought. Eating like a pig at any fast food joint that had a vacant seat available and smoking cigs to the tune of a pack a day.

Fast forward to 1998 and I take a job as a field tech for a major diesel generator company. My days consisted of elbows deep dealings with high sulfur diesel fuel, What those in the industry would call farm grade, or ruby red. As a result of such deep exposure to high sulfur levels, I contracted Membranous Glomerulonephritis. It's a kidney disease that has many side effects. One of those side effects...elevated cholesterol levels. Not good news for someone who already suffers from high cholesterol as part of a family history.

Only a few weeks later, and I am walking across the parking lot of a local shopping mall. A walk that might have been 100 yards created a pain in my chest. I had to sit on the curb at the entrance because I just couldn't go any further. My wife helped me make an appointment with my primary care doctor and I was referred to a Cardiologist named Dr. David May at Cardiovascular Specialist in Lewisville, Texas. Dr, May turned out to be a God send. After some testing, he determined that I was in need of a coronary stent. I went into the procedure scared of what might happen. But, the procedure only lasted 20 minutes and I went home later that same day with a new coronary patient card that I have to carry the rest of my life. It turned out that all 4 of my coronary arteries were at least 75% blocked. One of them was 97% blocked and THIS was the one that was causing the problem. Dr. May inserted the stent and advised that I would likely need more stents in another 10 years of so.
I managed to last 12 years to 2012. Yeah! A REAL success right??  But. along the way, my wife and I both quit smoking. But, that's a story for another time.

I was working on building a deck on the back of my mother-in-laws' house. In the heat of August, nonetheless. Just as my wife is pulling in to the drive after a day at work, she finds me white as a sheet and struggling to breath. I take off my tool belt and she gets a cool wet towel to cool me down. I'm quiet as I cool down because I recognize the feelings I am experiencing. Tightness in my chest, hard to breath, light headedness. Yep! I think it's time for another stent.
Not able to get into the doctor for another week, we attend a 70th birthday party in Memphis for my father-in-law. I struggled the entire weekend to keep up with the family as we walked to streets for different attractions and activities.

Upon returning home, I went to my appointment at Cardiovascular Specialist which lead to another procedure for an expected stent. This time with Dr. Shirley Williams. I layed in the prep area prepared for the same experience that I had gone through years ago. The anesthesiologist put me under, just as before. But, this time I woke up in a hospital room with my wife at the foot of the bed telling me that the doctors say that I am no longer a candidate for a coronary stent and that I'm being scheduled for quadruple bypass surgery. THIS SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME!!! But, having little choice in the matter, I had 2 days in the hospital to come to terms. So, this blog chronicles my dealings after to recover and my determination to live a healthier life.

Now, I try to inspire anyone I can as I run and aspire to participate in my first triathlon next year. I've even caught the attention of the local media in my small town of Royse City.