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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dave Hamilton" data-source="post: 796168" data-attributes="member: 6118">Pete,My first Heart Attack was in February of 2004. I didn&#8217;t wait to get to the hospital. I died in the ambulance. After getting &#8220;restarted&#8221; the fun way I went through Cath and then quadruple by-pass that same day.Three of my four by-passes didn&#8217;t work. They started a serries of (what was then) new procedures and about two months later I was released to go home and rest and take it easy. They offered me a disability and I said no.A couple procedures later I complained about pain in the groin (you understand why after this week) and they checked for a blood clot. No blood clot, but they did find a stage two tumor in my right kidney.  (YEP -- CANCER!!!) Kidney had to go along with lots of other moveable parts!Since then I&#8217;ve have 16 or 17 angioplasty procedures. At last count I have 61 stents, and in July I had open heart #2. The recovery from this one has been hell, but I&#8217;m back at work full time. You're right about heart "events" vs "attacks". I 've now had may events, and no matter what you want to call them, I just want them to stop!Last month they discovered I have narrowing of the spinal canal and there will now be neck, back and spine surgery in my future.So my friend, the bad news is that you are a beginner in the Cardiac Event business. The good news is as follows:1)      They have most of these procedures down to the point that they are rather routine. Yes, they make you sign lots of papers about the &#8220;chance of death&#8221;, but the highway department should make us all sign them prior to driving home during rush hour.2)      The recovery of all the heart procedures has been made significantly easier over the past few years. Let them know what works for you, and what doesn&#8217;t. I had one medication that made me see bugs on the wall and smoke coming out of the TV, but I felt no pain!3)      Never allow them to send you home until you feel decent, and that you can take care of yourself.4)      Remember that you are eligible for home health care if you need it. I needed it this time and I was much better off working with them than trying to travel to my doctor for a few weeks.5)      Take whatever the doctor says to take in the way of rest days and add 30%. You need more time than they say you do.6)      WALK, WALK, WALK, WALK, rinse and repeat!7)      Use other heart patients as a sounding board. We have all been there, seen it, and done it. We all "Have the T-shirt". I&#8217;ll be happy to give you my T-shirt! Soon you will be the person others ask &#8220;is this how I should feel?&#8221;8) Share your story with others so they know not to be afraid. The fear of going to the hospital causes too many people to wait a little while to see if the pain goes away. Had I waited a few more minutes I would have died at home! Remember that with Heart EVENTS and STROKES the first hour is the most important. Making the call to 911 saved my life.Let me know if I can help in any way. I can usually explain medical terms when it comes to the heart pretty well!Good luck to you. My prayers are with you for a full, smooth, and comfortable recovery. Dave</blockquote>

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