I was just thinking about health and technology. Health, because
mine is in a declining trajectory, and technology because I question
everything.
In particular I was thinking about the heart. I don't mean
the heart like, 'She broke my heart.' I am talking about the heart that has
attacks. If you are anything like me you probably don't give it that much
thought, and won't until you have a heart attack of your own. Yes I have had a
heart attack, and unfortunately I know not when, or where for that matter.
I found out about it after my doctor at the VA Medical Center
had me take a stress test. She didn't order the kind that makes you walk on a
treadmill like some crazed hamster. No, we went for the nuclear version.
I didn't hear anything about results for several weeks. By
chance I was seeing my doctor on an unrelated matter. I told her that I hadn't
heard anything about my stress test results so I was assuming that was good
news. She looked up my history on her computer terminal for the first time and
said, "Hmm, looks like you have had a heart attack."
Now it was my turn, "Hmmm, when was that?" She
explained that she did not know when it was or any details but gave me a
consult for a cardiologist.
My mind began to wonder when I could have had a heart attack
that I weathered without the aid of an emergency room visit. I had a stroke in
2004 that put me in the hospital for nine days, but didn't kill me. You would
think I would begin perceiving myself as a bit immortal. You know kind of like,
"OK heart attacks and strokes, you can't kill me!" But no.
I saw the cardiologist who promptly prescribed nitroglycerin and
an additional blood pressure pill to bolster the one I was already taking. Now,
I felt 82 instead of 62, walking around with a 'heart attack pill' in my
pocket. She also ordered me an ultra-sound for my heart
(echocardiogram).
The 'echo' as we in the know call it, showed that no damage was
done to my valves. Yeahh!
The cardiologist explained that the valves being intact was
indeed a very good thing. She did say that she would like for me to
have a heart catheterization. A Cardiac catheterization involves
some scary stuff. Inserting something
into my groin and driving it into my heart gives me pause. Sorry.
The cardiologist has explained to me, after I asked, that the
death rate is 1/5000. So one person
out of 5000 don't know what the results were. Let me talk statistically if
you will. That is like saying 200 ppm or 200 parts per million. For
every million people who opt for this
procedure,there are 200 who would have been better off not having it
done. Reminds me of Andy Warhol, went in for gall bladder surgery and
didn't answer the bell.
With technology having escalated to the point it has, why can't
they see blood flow and what-not from something outside the body, less
invasive? I would liketo see a medication developed that would remedy anything
wrong. For example, if you have a headache, take the pill and Bam, headache
gone. Leg real sore, take the pill and presto, no more leg pain. Whatever
the problem, one pill does it all.
I would like to think I will live to see that pill, but my heart
tells me differently.
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