Table of Contents
- Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional—this is my personal journey. Always consult your healthcare provider.
1. Health Issues: The Subtle Warnings
“I first noticed unsettling heart symptoms in October 2024—fatigue, vertigo, and sudden palpitations—and within months it escalated into a triple bypass surgery. Here’s how it all unfolded and what I learned.”
I already had a smartwatch on my wrist as part of my initial health makeover, but little did I know how crucial it would become in detecting these early warning signs. When I started feeling these issues, I started checking into just what functions the watch had. Ah! It had a function that would check for irregular heartbeats. But, apparently it only automatically detects it if it lasts longer than one minute. Mine never lasted long like that. However, it does have the option to run 30-second checks. Which I started doing to have a record to show the doctor.
So for months, I tried to catch every time I felt an episode hit on my watch. Although, a lot of times, I would have trouble keeping my hand on my watch to get it to make a recording. It started getting to where I was having trouble doing my job. Our walks are timed at work, especially for the chilled & frozen runs. I was starting to time out on larger walks. I just didn’t have the energy to move quickly enough.
When the symptoms started, I soon started looking to find a doctor. Generally, I never went to a doctor. You couldn’t probably count the times I’ve seen a doctor in the last 30 years on one hand. So, started looking for a good doctor, which led to another problem. Issues with the insurance I have through work and one of the 2 major medical facilities around here. I only had 1 facility to choose from now.
I had an episode at work with chest pain that scared me, so the next day(my day off), I went to Urgent Care at the other facility. But, unfortunately, they found nothing. They prescribed some medicine to help with vertigo and got me set up for a normal doctor’s visit about a month or so away. However, they did say, for any more chest pains like that go to the nearest ER.
Finally, my doctor’s appointment came along, I let them know, nothing has changed. All of the same issues. A quick EKG test, and again, nothing. But she wasn’t going to take any chances, she set up a Stress Test appointment for February 13th of 2025.
2. The Stress Test That Changed Everything
February 13, 2025.
The day of the Stress Test. From here on things escalated quickly.
Originally, I was told I would be taking a chemically induced test. But then I was told when they finalized the appointment that it would be a physical stress test on the treadmill, dress accordingly. Gotcha. I was nervous, but glad to finally have the process started to find out what my health issues were.
The nurse had me sit on the bed and I had an IV placed in my arm. She explained how the procedure would go. They would inject me with radioactive liquid and then take images of my heart. Then I would come back and we would do the stress test on the treadmill. After, she would inject me again with the radioactive material. Then we again do imaging of my heart after it’s been stressed.
I think most of the treadmill tests are basically the same. For me, she turned the machine on, it was set at a slow pace and level. She did tell me, starting out, my heartbeat had to get to 143 bpm. The whole process if I remembered right was split into sections: each section would increase, a little faster a little higher to keep raising my heart rate until I finally hit the 143.
The one issue I was having was almost kicking the front assembling constantly. I’m 6′ tall, so I was trying to move back just a little but she always wanted me to move on forward so I wouldn’t end up falling off the back. For the most part, it was fairly easy, somewhat like work on the pick walks. I don’t remember now how many levels I made. I do remember it started getting rough when my heartrate got to about 130. From there on it was rough, we went up another level, and as my exertion raised my heartbeat started raising up until finally it hit the 143 bpm.
She reset the machine, it lowered back down to level, and slowed down back to the start just to keep me active. Finally, she had me lay down on the bed. I was having mild chest pains, and my heart beat was staying elevated. Not at the 143 but high. Then I noticed the nurse was acting a bit more worried. She stepped out and called another nurse in. They looked over some things, and next thing I knew they had paged Dr. Retter and he stepped in. He started looking at the EKG readings, then started asking me questions. Something was afoot. But, finally, my heartbeat lowered and the pain mostly went away.
The injected me with the second dose of the radioactive material. We waited 30 minutes, and then I was taken to the imaging machine again. At some point, Dr. Retter had snuck in and looked at the imaging. And from here things escalated quickly.
Dr. Retter informed me the imaging showed abnormalities that were most likely blockages. I need a heart catheter immediately to check and make sure of the condition of my heart.
No work until further notice, he wanted me to be a couch potato until the Heart Cath on Monday. I was supposed to work this weekend, but now I had to miss the next 4 days of work.
3. The Heart Cath: The Big Discovery
February 17, 2025.
Going in, I was nervous about this one. From what I was told and what I researched online, I would be “awake” during this procedure. I remember getting an IV put in my left arm. Although the first attempt blew out. I was rolled back to the operating room. I should mention, that I hate the cold. The operating room was cold. I started shaking and couldn’t stop. They covered me with hot blankets, just leaving what was needed to be exposed. I was prepped, the plan was to go through my right wrist, but they also prepped my right groin site just in case something went wrong trying to use my wrist.
My right arm was taped to the table in some way. The nurse who had been taking care of me during this procedure appeared on my left side. He redid my IV, changing it from a single short one into a long 3-section one. I heard the nurse say he was injecting the sedative. I barely felt another person starting on my right wrist. I felt a poke as they started injecting a local painkiller. I faintly remember feeling some pressure on that wrist and then I woke up in recovery.
So, the sedative put me out completely. I woke up to Dr. Retter & a new doctor, Dr. Kim standing at the foot of my bed. Things had escalated. They informed me there was too much blockage, and doing an angioplasty or stents would not work. They would have to perform an open-heart triple-bypass surgery to fix it, and they wanted to do it ASAP.
4. My Open Heart Surgery: Facing the Operating Room
February 19, 2025.
Within hours, I was on the schedule for open heart surgery. I had to mentally shift from “I might have AFIB” to “They’re going to open my chest and operate on my heart.” It was surreal.
Me, my son and one of my daughters came up and stayed the night before. One, because my surgery was supposed to be first and prep would start early, had to be there by 5:30 am. (I ended up getting bumped however, and didn’t have to be there until 7:30. Two, they were calling for bad weather, which they were right about. We still ended up there early and they ran me back almost right away. They had me all over the place, getting different tests completed before the surgery. One of the last things I can remember is putting all my clothes in bags, putting on my wonderful gown, and then them shaving me. (Knowing how I was going to end up, I would have just shaved myself completely at home. They got almost every single hair on my body, but some odd patches were left.)
I can barely remember getting the first IV’s. Everything started going fast, I barely remember when they put the sedative in. I can’t remember the operating room at all. I woke up in the CICU.
Waking up was not very pleasant. At this point, I realized, I do NOT like having a vent tube down my throat. It was so hard not to fight with it. Luckily, I don’t remember being awake long before they pulled it. I didn’t notice what all I was still hooked up to for awhile. I had a foley catheter(which I am so happy they waited until after I was out to put in!) I had 3 chest tubes coming out from under my ribs, a neck IV, IV’s in my arms and my new large suction bandage running up and down my chest from where I was split open. If I remember right, I also had a tube in my nose.
5. The Path to Recovery: Small Steps, Big Wins
It doesn’t seem like it was very long after I woke up before they had me get up and walk around the CICU. I think I slept most of my time while I was in the CICU. They were pretty booked with rooms so I was left in the CICU until Thursday night.
Finally, I was moved out of CICU and into my room. This would be my home for the next 4 days. It was hard to sleep. Even during sleeping hours, I was being awoken for breathing treatments and checks. Plus, I had inflatable bags on my lower legs to help circulation and prevent blot clots. It seems like I was always tensing up with them as they inflated.
I can not remember, but I think they had already pulled my chest drainage tubes before I left the CICU. I do know, although at first I felt more tired, it didn’t hurt as much to walk. At first, I only made it down the hall to that nurses station But soon, I was walking all the way down to the large balcony. Very quickly, I started doing a lap around the floor each time. Some of the people were better to be with than others. They were all nice, but some would pace wrong. So i’d have wires or hoses getting pulled.
An aggravating part was waiting for help to the bathroom. There were several times when waiting for someone to come unhook me from everything I started to worry if I wasn’t going to make it to the bathroom.
Soon enough though, I got informed I would be getting released. Went in for surgery on Wednesday, and was being released the following Sunday. A total of 5 days in the hospital.
I’ve been working on this post for some days now. As I write this today, it’s been 13 days since my operation. I have my first follow up appointment this Wednesday. I’ll know more after that appointment I think. Looking at the discharge paperwork and what I’ve researched on the internet, I have a rough timeline for what my recovery should look like.
Starting off, I was instructed to try to do normal activities around the house but do NOT, try lifting anything heavy, to keep it under 10 pounds. (A gallon of water is 8 pounds) I need to walk daily, as much as possible. I’m trying to take a walk through house about every 30 minutes. I’ve seen timelines where they talk of returning to work generally 8 to 12 weeks. Full recovery in the 3 – 6 month range.
6. The Future: Lifestyle Changes & Ongoing Care
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I started making changes to my lifestyle even before all this happened. If you’re new here, feel free to check out my earlier posts—I talk about the steps I was already taking. It turns out, though, that I was still behind on what I really needed to do. This surgery has reminded me that I need to be disciplined, focused, and ready to adapt to my new reality.
My entire blog and social media presence revolve around one main goal: improving both my healthspan and lifespan. This operation has certainly changed my perspective on both. According to the stats I’ve seen, the average person has about a 15-year lifespan after a surgery like mine—but I’ve also heard stories of people who’ve surpassed that milestone by a wide margin, and I’m determined to do the same.
In the near future, my priority is straightforward: rehab and recovery. But it’s also a wake-up call to double down on the plans I’ve been making for my health. No more putting things off—this is the time to follow through.
7. Key Takeaways: Knowledge Is Power
- Listen to Your Body: Subtle symptoms can signal life-threatening conditions.
- Trust (and Verify) Technology: Smartwatches and other health trackers aren’t foolproof, but they can catch irregularities you might miss.
- Advocate for Yourself: If doctors don’t find anything, but you still feel off, keep pushing for answers.
- Understand Insurance & Seek Second Opinions: Insurance issues can complicate care—stay informed about your coverage and don’t hesitate to ask for a second (or even third) opinion.
- Stress Tests & Heart Caths: These procedures are vital diagnostic tools that can save your life when interpreted correctly.
- Recovery Takes Time: Healing involves physical, mental, and emotional rest. Be patient with yourself, lean on others, and follow professional advice.
- Lifestyle Matters: Prioritize nutrition, exercise, and stress management to support long-term heart health.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Looking back, it still amazes me how quickly everything changed. One day, I was just dealing with mild symptoms, and then suddenly I was in the operating room for a triple bypass. I’ve never been the type to rush to a doctor for every little thing, and at first, it felt like I was just being overly cautious. Now, I’m thankful I paid attention to what my body was telling me, even if it took me a while to really listen.
I’m sharing this story simply to show what it’s been like from my perspective—no medical expertise, just lived experience. It’s taught me that we all have our own timelines when it comes to facing challenges. I’ve had to learn patience, not just with my recovery, but with myself. And if this resonates with anyone else who’s out there dealing with health worries or big life changes, well, I hope it lets you know you’re not alone.
Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey. I’m still processing everything, but writing it down helps me make sense of it—and maybe it helps someone else, too. If you have questions or just want to share your own experience, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Life is different now, but I’m grateful to still be here for whatever comes next.
- Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional—this is my personal journey. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Leave a Comment