Mark Caudill: COVID-19 complicates return of heart issues
Country roads won't be taking me home anytime soon.
The last eight summers, I have gone to New River Gorge in West Virginia to hike the mountain trails and take in the magnificent beauty of the region.
Even though I'm a writer, I have a hard time expressing how important that trip is to me. I need it for my soul. It is the highlight of my year.
Unfortunately, a combination of a reoccurrence of old heart issues and COVID-19 have kept me at home this summer.
I started walking a couple of miles at a time in early May to get ready for the trip.
I knew something was wrong. I began having significant chest discomfort for the first time since late 2013. In 2010, I had a heart attack at the age of 44.
On two occasions, I couldn't finish a 30-minute walk. My cardiologist ordered a stress test, which came back abnormal and showed evidence of blockage of a coronary artery in front of my heart.
The next step was a heart cath, scheduled for July 6.
COVID had other ideas. I began feeling symptoms on June 26, the day before my birthday.
I had a terrible night filled with coughing and little sleep. When I got up the morning of June 27, I felt miserable.
Symptoms included debilitating weakness, coughing and a sore throat. I had been around my 85-year-old mom the day before and was concerned I might have COVID.
Positive COVID test complicates heart issues
I took a home test, and it came back positive. Not knowing what to do, I called my nurse practitioner. Her assistant said I should head to the emergency room immediately because of the combination of COVID and heart issues.
This was rapidly turning into the worst birthday ever.
I went to University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center in Ashland, where a nurse practitioner told me one of my enzymes that should be below 20 was above 250.
That took me back 12 years ago. Enzyme levels then showed I was having a heart attack while in the ER.
Could it be happening again?
I had to wait in Ashland until a bed opened up for me at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, which didn't happen until 13½ hours later.
I tried to pass the time by half-watching the movie "9 to 5" and half-sleeping.
My transport vehicle arrived at 6:20 the next morning. The trip felt eerily similar to my transport 12 years ago except I wasn't emotional this time. I had been here before.
The next five days ran together. I didn't leave the hospital room for more than three days and didn't see the sun for four days.
Doctors didn't want to take a chance on the heart cath while I was in the throes of COVID. I lay in bed hour after endless hour, waiting for the next blood draw.
Including blood draws, IVs and the actual procedure, I was stuck 25 times. I looked like a heroin addict.
Even though I was receiving excellent care, it was a miserable experience. I got to OD on Wimbledon coverage. For a tennis nut like me, that should have been nirvana, but it wasn't.
While flipping around the dial, I also determined Comedy Central airs reruns of "The Office" at least 12 hours a day.
Trip to restroom results in IV trouble
One morning, I staggered toward the restroom in one of those flimsy hospital gowns, dragging my IV stand along. I didn't turn on the lights and accidentally pulled out one of my IVs.
There was a lot of blood, a less-than-perfect way to start the day.
My other concern was Katy, my rescue cat. She was home by herself. My ever-faithful mom, who has always come through for me, and her friend Elaine picked up my keys and fed and watered Katy.
Linda Chambers, executive director of the Humane Society of Richland County, later took my cat to Phillips Animal Hospital, where Dr. Jordan Phillips graciously offered to board Katy, allowing me to focus on my health.
On the fourth day of my stay, which was July 1, I finally got to leave my room for the heart cath. It was a relief to feel some cool air as I was whisked down the hallway in a wheelchair.
Before the procedure, Dr. Yohannes Bayissa told me I would feel pain and burning. He gave me fentanyl for the pain.
Dr. Bayissa determined I would need to come back for another procedure in which two doctors would check out my stent from 12 years ago and insert a second, new one.
First off, I had to rest for a week, which meant I would be off for two weeks. For a workaholic like me, that's no good.
Longing for annual trip to West Virginia
It gave me too much time to think about not being able to go to West Virginia. I had reservations for this week.
Not helping matters was a TV commercial encouraging people to "plan their heavenly escape" to West Virginia. If only I could.
A close friend of mine said I am set up to enjoy many more years of hikes, but I can't help but be reminded of my mortality again.
To have a heart attack at 44 was alarming enough. To have more problems 12 years later makes me think I won't live a long life.
I went back for my "coronary intervention" on July 12. Assisting Dr. Bayissa was Dr. Gregory Eaton, a familiar face to me. Dr. Eaton was on call when I had a heart attack.
The doctors determined my stent from 12 years ago had collapsed, so they replaced it and inserted a second stent.
I don't recall much from the procedure. The last thing I remember is Dr. Bayissa slathering iodine on my right wrist.
I am feeling better already. For many months, I have felt so tired and have slept so much.
Reuniting with Katy the cat
Once I was cleared to drive, after 48 hours, I headed to Phillips Animal Hospital to pick up Katy, whose fifth birthday I missed while in the hospital.
Katy seemed confused when Missy the vet tech brought her out in her carrier. She looked around as if she didn't know where she was. I had to remind her it was me. She did give me an earful on the drive home, though.
When we got home, Katy walked around my apartment for a good 30 minutes, checking everything out.
I was like, "Katy, you've been gone for two weeks, not two years."
She finally lay on the back of the couch and stretched out to relax. Katy is happy to be home, and I am happy to have her.
After undergoing two heart procedures in a week and a half, I hope to have my medical procedures out of the way. It's been a pretty rough stretch.
Here's to better days ahead.
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield News Journal reporter deals with COVID, heart issues
