A Testimony Of God’s Faithfulness Chapter Five.
In January of 2023, I began to feel chest pressure once again. It was similar to what I experienced with my prior heart challenges and I knew something was wrong. But my mind kept questioning how this could happen again so soon. After all, I had just gone through the cath lab in November and came out with three stents.
I convinced myself that this was related to the balloon procedures from November and couldn’t be a new blockage. So I powered through and just kept doing my thing always wondering what was really causing the pressure.
In February 2023 we went back to the farm to spend a week with the grandkids. Can’t really call it babysitting any more – probably more like senior care that they provided us. But contrary to my desire, it managed to snow (it is Iowa after all) and I was faced with the need to push some snow. That’s when I could tell my heart was in a different place. I took it easy and only did the bare minimum hoping it would just get better. As back in January 2020 prior to my first stent, I told myself I was not going to die pushing snow.
We flew straight to Phoenix for the IT Nation Evolve Q1 meetings the following week which I was to facilitate at for five very long and full days. Day two the pressure turned to pain and I admitted to a few folks that I couldn’t do all the things needed. Pete and Scott stepped up and covered some of my responsibilities and by pacing myself and being intentional with what I did I managed to get through.
My bride could tell something was wrong and required me to call the cardiologist in Florida on Wednesday. His schedule was full but based on my symptoms his PA forced me into the schedule on Monday after our return to Tampa. That was a God moment as it would have been weeks before I could have gotten in otherwise.
I had a brief visit with Dr. Philips on Monday February 27 who almost immediately said ‘you’re going back to the cath lab’ and again got me on the schedule for Thursday March 2, 2023 which was much quicker than the normal process.
That day started with an early ride over with my bride to the Clearwater Cardiology Cath Lab with a 7:15 AM arrival. I was prepped and first up for Dr. Bernardo Stein who would do the procedure. He was my doc back in November 2022 and we liked him. The prep process was smooth and the team in the lab remembered me (mostly my first name) and we had good interaction as they got things ready. It was around 8 AM when the procedure got underway.
I asked to have a bit more anesthesia this go round since during the November procedure I had felt a bit more pain than I was comfortable with and they had to scramble to bring that down during the process. They obliged and I honestly don’t remember much of anything that happened in the lab. I do remember them getting ready to transfer me from the lab table to the portable bed and asking me ‘not to help’ in the transfer. They certainly know how to make that transition effectively.
Back in the room I was waiting patiently for Dr. Stein to come in and report. I was there for a few hours lying flat on my back to allow the cut in my groin to reconnect. That actually is the ongoing pain of the procedure, but it isn’t too bad for long. He came in shortly before noon and reported that there were two 99% blockages (a little was trickling through) and he showed us the video before and after which went from a trickle to a steady stream of blood moving through. So it was an obvious need and result.
The perplexing question was why the one area of blockage occurred. It was in a stent that had been placed last November and Dr. Stein had no answers as to why it was already 99% blocked. He made a change of medication from Plavix to Prasugrel so hopefully that was the culprit. The second block area was in that same vein a little further down.
The relief was immediate and felt while in recovery. I was able to walk the next morning without chest pressure or pain which was a wonderful feeling. God was faithful and good as He always is. We were scheduled to head to Hawaii for 10 days on March 1, which was cancelled so we could get this problem corrected. I had hoped to go in spite of the heart issues, but God made clear that was a poor plan and guided the process to treatment. As always, God is good, all the time. I feel blessed by His love!