There I was, going about my business one day a few weeks
ago, cocksure that what ailed me was a touch of the flu bug and too stubborn to see a
doctor. Then matters worsened.
The symptoms: shortness of breath, a burning sensation in the right chest
area.
Finally giving in to the common sense need for a professional check, it
didn’t take long for Dr. Frank Batcha to figure out my self-diagnosis of a lingering
bug was silly.
An electrocardiogram and a treadmill stress test quickly pointed to a
suspected blocked heart artery.
Within a few days, I was in Boise meeting with a cardiologist, Dr. Steve
Writer, who checked me into St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for an angiogram that
confirmed, sure enough, a blockage in my right coronary artery.
The same day, Dr. Writer and his team then did what was
needed—implanting a two-inch-long stainless steel stent that expands like a spring
once inserted and holds open the pinched artery.
Then, after an overnight stay, I was discharged and on my way.
For whatever it’s worth to others who might need—but are
avoiding—a checkup because of unpleasant symptoms, this episode taught me three
invaluable lessons.
First, although we may lead a generally healthy, illness-free life, small
bad habits begin to accumulate and effect our bodies in time. Mine was a gradual buildup
of cholesterol through years of carefree eating habits. Although I faithfully have annual
physical exam, the artery problem hadn’t shown up before.
Second, none of us like bad news, and often we unwisely postpone visiting
a physician out of fear that an exam will turn up what we don't want to hear. But
discovering a deficiency early is what preventive medicine is all about.
And finally, if the news is unfavorable—as in my case, a blocked
artery—any apprehension about surgery or treatment is silly.
Today’s specialists have a way of thoroughly explaining to patients
the problem, the treatment and the outlook, and modern technological marvels minimize, if
not eliminate, risks in most procedures.
By the time I was rolled into a catheter lab for the procedure, Dr. Writer
had spent time explaining my problem and the procedure What’s more, I’d watched
a video of how the procedure works and had been smothered by the attention of St. Al
nurses and technicians.
And Dr. Writer threw in a final reassurance: I watched the entire
procedure on a video monitor as he painlessly threaded a catheter through my groin area to
my heart and then implanted the metal stent.
Not exactly like Super Bowl football, but watching my own heart being
repaired—live!—beats anything I’ve ever seen on the tube.
