A Simple story that can happen anytime , anywhere;
Since 2014, while I was living in the Philippines, my cholesterol was high and my doctor at that time advised me to take some vastatin to reduce my bad cholesterol.
I was thinking everything almost was good. I had no palpitation, no fatigue no reason to have any worry.
In 2017 I went back to my country Switzerland and decided a checkup with my family doctor. He advised me to see a cardiologist and had some electrocardiogram and bicycle efforts.
Surprise, surprise I ended with an Angioplasty.
What is an Angioplasty?
“People with blockages in their heart arteries may need angioplasty if they are having lots of discomfort in their chest, or if their blockages put them at risk of a heart attack or of dying.”
“How is it done? 1. A doctor numbs a spot on your groin or arm and inserts a small tube (catheter) into an artery. 2. The catheter is threaded through the arterial system until it gets into a coronary (heart) artery. 3. Watching on a special X-ray screen, the doctor moves the catheter into the artery. Next, a very thin wire is threaded through the catheter and across the blockage. Over this wire, a catheter with a thin, expandable balloon on the end is passed to the blockage. 4. The balloon is inflated. It pushes plaque to the side and stretches the artery open, so blood can flow more easily. This may be done more than once. 5. In many patients, a collapsed wire mesh tube (stent) mounted on a special balloon, is moved over the wire to the blocked area. 6. As the balloon is inflated, it opens the stent against the artery walls. The stent locks in this position and helps keep the artery open. 7. The balloon and catheters are taken out. Now the artery has been opened, and your heart will get the blood it needs.”
Unfortunately, the doctors concluded to continue with a Bypass operation. No other choice my heart arteries were blocked and it was the best solution.
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Finally, I had my Bypass-Operation January 8/2018. It took 5 hours. Simply a bypass surgery is a surgical procedure to restore normal blood flow to an obstructed coronary artery.
• “The doctor will take a vein or artery from another part of your body and use it to make a detour (or graft) around the blocked area in your artery. Your doctor may use a vein, called the saphenous vein, from your leg.
• To reach this vein, a surgical cut will be made along the inside of your leg, between your ankle and groin. One end of the graft will be sewn to your coronary artery. The other end will be sewn to an opening made in your aorta.
• A blood vessel in your chest, called the internal mammary artery (IMA), can also be used as the graft. One end of this artery is already connected to a branch of your aorta. The other end is attached to your coronary artery.
• Other arteries can also be used for grafts in bypass surgery. The most common one is the radial artery in your wrist.”
After staying in the hospital 8 days, I continue 4 weeks in Montana for my rehabilitation.
Now I am continuing my Physiotherapy and Ergotherapy.
My reason to live is to see my loved ones and help my family, friends, and people to raise awareness about health.
No doubt, health is the most important issue in life.
When we are young, we don’t care but if we want to live in good condition and have a healthy life we need to be careful and be informed.
The main reasons to have real problems with our hearts
1/ Smoking
2/ Alcohol
3/ Hereditary (my case)
4/Stress
5/High blood pressure.
6/Diabetes.
My simple advice stops smoking ,drink less, take care of your body and stay healthy.
Life is precious. Love yourself first..
