It's a bitch getting old...

[BoSoxGal]

I would offer to pick up the grammar mantle and run with it, but I've found myself making typos pretty frequently these days.

And I don't care . . .

[TPFKA@W]

Huh... goes to show. I just learned that another old friend died suddenly in NY City where he and his wife had gone to see the Pope. Stroke, apparently. So I turn to the old health insurance account page to send a message to my knee doc asking if there are any more xrays I need and what do I find? Why, the results of the nuclear/ECG test which seem to show that the left ventricle is kinda dead and a massive intramural infarct. Oh bother!

I am sorry about your friend but the health issues aren't bad enough to give you a free pass on being an arsehole. Worry if I do give you a free pass.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Thanks @w! Normality is to be encouraged... not subverted. Not much point being an arsehole if people don't recognize it. (And thus far it's the only bodily component that seems to be functioning)

[Big RR]

Ah, but it's an important part/function. when it ceases to function you quickly become full of ...

Hang in there Meade; I'm sure you still have a lot of good years before you.

[MajGenl.Meade]

An eternity, in fact. I have one book to finish and two more to get started and done. When I think of all the good times that I've wasted, having good times...

[Big RR]

That's the spirit!

[Lord Jim]

All the best Gen'l...

At least your attitude remains healthy

[MajGenl.Meade]

I guess all that bad medical language isn't as bad as it seems!

You might have had an old heart attack, however the test is not perfect.
There is no concern for new blockages.
Your pumping function is normal based on the echo.

There is no reason for concern.

[wesw]

nice

[Lord Jim]

[MajGenl.Meade]

"Might have had an old heart attack". I suppose at one point it was a new one? It's unsettling that such a thing could happen without being noticed - or perhaps misunderstood. But onward and downward... death's a comin' anyway and @w almost has me convinced to throw in the towel while I can still lift one

[Guinevere]

I guess all that bad medical language isn't as bad as it seems!

You might have had an old heart attack, however the test is not perfect.
There is no concern for new blockages.
Your pumping function is normal based on the echo.

There is no reason for concern.

See, not so bad after all.

[rubato]

Yes seriously. And I think "no reversible perfusion component" means "nothing to be done except stop drinking so much wine, cut out the fats and the nice chocs, get a little mild exercise and write a will". (3 and 4 are seen to; 2 is pretty good but that first one is a bit of a shambles).

All this when I've got my cholesterol under control and the liver enzymes are happy as clams through diet and exercise.

FINDINGS:
There is a large, fixed perfusion defect involving almost the entire inferior wall the left ventricle associated with prior transmural infarction. No reversible perfusion component is seen within this region or within the remainder of the left ventricular myocardium.

On the gated images, hypokinesia of the basilar segment of the inferior wall and the entire inferolateral wall. The left ventricular ejection fraction is calculated to be 43%. The left ventricle is mildly dilated, with an end diastolic volume of 144 mL.

Report electronically signed by >>>>>>M.D. on 11/3/2015 1:22 PM11/3/2015 1:22 PM

IMPRESSION:
1. Large transmural infarction involving the inferior wall the left ventricle. No evidence of stress-induced ischemia.
2. Hypokinesia of the basilar segment of the inferior wall and of the entire inferolateral wall.
3. Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of 43 percent. Mild baseline dilatation of the left ventricle without stress induced left ventricular cavity dilatation.

Whatever it it is, it ain't all that marvelous. The EF is within the 40-55% "not necessarily going to keel over right this minute maybe" range.

Far worse things happen in Syria.

I'm sorry to hear it. You are relatively young, 64? To have this kind of news and you quit smoking ca 15 years ago, which is a huge positive.

Don't give up the glass of wine with dinner (or un coup de champagne!) but do see a nutritionist who can put you on a diet which sheds weight. It's not that hard you just have to build in the right habits and the weight comes off pretty painlessly.


"write a will", ok I need to do that too.


yrs,
rubato

[BoSoxGal]

If you can manage it, Dr. Joel Fuhrman's plan is outstanding, according to my D.O. It requires a huge change of lifestyle for most people, being largely plant-based with only small amounts of dairy and meat, after you've reached goal weight.

[RayThom]

If anything really bad happens you'll probably be the last to know. In the immortal words of Rodney Dangerfield prior to his heart surgery, "depending on how this turns out I'll either be sleeping for two hours or I'll be asleep a lot longer."

Now relax, you ain't on the table, yet. Here's to better health.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Oh, you chuckleheads... all encouragers. Weight loss is important. I'm down 20 lbs and the GP is delighted. Diet is important and the move from eating the large meal in the evening to eating a smaller one around 2pm is working. Salad in the evening. Nice tasty organic carrots as little munchies during the day. Cut down on the wine and the coffee. I have this wagon - and fall off it quite a few times - but it's working

[Guinevere]

Be more French.

And I mean that seriously. It's been working for moi.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Glad to see the body is doing ok MGM. At your age (and I am approaching your age) it's all we can ask for.

I am happy I can still do the things my duaghter needed to have done on her house (new floors, cabinets, re-doing the bathroom......) But I think she would love me just the same even if I was unable to do those things for her.

Now were did I put those prunes?

[TPFKA@W]

Thanks @w! Normality is to be encouraged... not subverted. Not much point being an arsehole if people don't recognize it. (And thus far it's the only bodily component that seems to be functioning)

They say hearing is the last thing to go but really it's pooping that is the last thing to go. Most people that I have observed continue to fart and poop after their last breath.

You should be encouraged that your pooper poops properly. Many your age complain that their poopers have pooped out and require chemical assist.

[rubato]

"... Many your age complain that their poopers have pooped out and require chemical assist.

Roughage! Arugula and spinach, Kale and broccoli, black rice and Brussels sprouts! I've been a life-long lover of salads and whole grains and my anal sphincter gets a good daily workout!

I'm down 20 lbs and the GP is delighted.

20lbs is good. Congratulations. Have an extra coup de champagne tonight to celebrate! And when you drink toast: "confusion to our enemies".


yrs,
rubato