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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Traumatic experiences of a Heart patient (The writer who is the Deputy President of the Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhawa and Secretary - General of the Sri Lanka - China Business Co-operation Council has been a Heart Patient for over two decades - spells out his experience). We have read numerous writings on various aspects of heart diseases - some even suggesting ways and means of avoiding the risk of heart ailments and others on how to take precautions against sudden attacks etc. written by eminent Cardiologists and Research analysts from the world over. Yet, to my mind, I am still to come across any such articles authored by an affected person - lest I may have missed such or may be my ignorance of the fact. Anyway, let me relate my part of the story - for I feel that it may help Patients to relieve the pressure even to a smaller extent. Firstly to prove that heart ailments can be hereditary. My late father and four of his brothers (barring one who died of a motor accident) died of "Coronary Thrombosis". My father who was a government servant was prematurely retired condemned by a Medical Board due to his ailment. He of course survived three heart attacks from the age of 45 to 69 when he succumbed again to a severe 'Cardiac Arrest'. As for me I started getting chest pains from about late 30s and I had sought medical attention forthwith. On most occasions after intensive investigations the Doctors had ruled that the pain had been due to some muscle contraction. Anyway I had been warned by the Doctors to take care as my family History points. Years later I was diagnosed as an "Ischemic Heart Patient" by an eminent Cardiologist in Colombo who was transferred to Galle somewhere in 1994. I was to go through regular check-ups and take continuous treatment. At the age of 54 years in 1995 after watching the Independence day recorded celebrations on TV, I retired to bed as usual. Just past mid night, that is 5th February early morning I was disturbed by a severe burning sensation coupled with perspiring and breathing difficulties with a slight pain running down the left arm from shoulder to elbow. My wife woke up to find me in pain and she immediately slipped in a TNT tablet under my tongue and I was rushed to Nawaloka Hospital. There I was taken straight to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit where I was put on a Heart Machine, injections administered and saline etc. given. A while later I fell asleep and woke up on the 05th morning to see a specially summoned leading Cardiologist by my bed side. After intensive questioning and thorough investigation the Cardiologist concluded that it may have been due to a muscle pain, but he wished to keep me under observation for a few days and accordingly transferred to a room. On 07th afternoon the Doctor told me that I will be subjected to a Stress or Excise ECG the next afternoon and I could be released thereafter. That very night just past mid-night I developed a severe pain on my left chest and I called the Nurse immediately who gave me a pill to swallow and a table-spoonful of a mixture. Since the pain was persisting a Doctor was summoned and an ECG was taken. Apparently the ECG was bad I was in severe pain and pandemonium prevailed with telephone calls being taken, the nurses running about calling for various things and people and I was rushed to the ICU where everything was already in place and several Doctors, Sisters and Nurses etc. waiting. I was put on oxygen and connected to the Heart Machine and other forms of medicines/injections etc. administered. All the while I was in pain and screaming. Meanwhile, I heard a Nurse shouting "Doctor, tall 'T' yanawa", the meaning of which I do not know to-date. A little later the pain started to subside and a Doctor asked me to just relax saying that I was now o kay, that they have dissolved a 'blood-clot' and slowly I went into a deep sleep. The following early morning the Specialist Cardiologist came, did a thorough investigation ordered necessary treatment and had told my family that I had suffered a severe heart attack and what saved my life was that I was already in hospital when it happened as otherwise it could have been fatal. I had to be in the ICU for five days and later transferred to a room and discharged a few days later with strict instructions, medications, food, exercises etc. and advised to be on regular consultations. A few months later, I was introduced by my brother-in-Law to a popular Cardiologist who had returned to the country after a long stint in the US. Ever since I had been a regular patient of his going for consultations every three months after taking FBS and Lipid Profile (blood tests) and ECG. Also I had to go through a 'Stress ECG and an Echo test' once every year. I was on medication right through and my Consultant sometimes increased or reduced or changed the medicines and doses dependant on my heart condition. In late March, 1996 I was again hospitalized for a chest pain which was later diagnosed as a 'mild heart attack'. In the last two years, that is in 1999 and 2000 I could not go through my 'Stress ECG' in full having abruptly stopped three-quarter way and half-way respectively due to breathing problems, exhaustion and tiredness. In early July 2001 when I met my Consultant I complained to him of a few new developments, getting tired fast breathing difficulties, slight chest pain whilst walking, sporadic back-aches, occasional dizziness etc. After intensive investigation the Cardiologist concluded that I have "Angina" and was asked to take an "angiogramme" forthwith. Angiogramme is a test performed in the Cat-Lab by a Cardiologist who gives local anesthesia and open up a blood vessel from the top of the right thigh near the groin area and send a tube into the heart. The patient is conscious throughout and he too watches the operation on the large TV screens provided and the whole episode is recorded into a cassette that is provided by the patient. My Angiogramme report revealed six blocks in three vessels including a 95% block on my main artery. Upon seeing the report, my wife and son insisted that I go through open heart surgery (By-Pass Operation), but for some strange reason my Consultant and two other eminent Cardiologists who were summoned all disagreed saying why do you want to just 'cut and chop' when the blocks could be cleared and cured through "Angioplasty Surgery" which was again like the Angiogramme, cut open the blood vessel and send a balloon into blow off the blocks. The cost of the angiogramme is about Rs. 30,000 - and Angioplasty surgery was to cost Rs. 225,000. As per the advice of my Consultants, I booked into enter a private hospital on 05th August, 2001. Fortunately or unfortunately for me, in the wee hours of July 31st (say around 2.00 a.m.) I woke up with a severe ache on my left chest running all over and on my left arm. I was yelling in pain, when my wife again slipped in two TNT pills under my tongue and I was immediately rushed to hospital. Here at the OPD all normal admission procedures overlooked, I was put on oxygen and rushed to the CCU/ICU on stretcher still shouting and writhing in pain. Here again everything was in place and some doctors, sisters and nurses gathered round my bed, the Heart Machine fixed and necessary emergency medication administered. Meanwhile I noticed a House Officer phoning up my Consultant and explaining the machine readings and seeking his instruction. After a few minutes the pain lessened and I was requested to relax and sleep since I was out of danger now. The following morning my Consultant and other two Cardiologists came and after going through all reports and investigations agreed that I had suffered a massive cardiac arret' which had caused extensive damage to my heart muscles. After six days in the ICU, I was taken to the Cat-Lab for the Angioplasty surgery by the two Cardiologists who laboured for a nearly two hours but abandoned the effort since according to them my system was not responding and hence it would be a risk. Back in the ICU for four more days, I was later discharged with instructions for weekly consultations with INR (blood thickness) tests done on every Monday and Friday. After about two weeks the Consultant wanted me to admit to Hospital again to undergo the Angioplasty Surgery as I was, according to him fast on the recovery track. Accordingly I got myself admitted to Nawaloka again and all three Consultant Cardiologists tried to perform the angioplasty surgery on me again on August 24th, 2001. They again struggled for a near two hours during which time I was physically tormented and they were again forced to abandon the attempt as I was developing a heart failure and my pressure was dropping to alarmingly low-levels. I was rushed back to the ICU and stay put there. I later learnt that the Cardiologists had just managed to stop the attempt on angioplasty on time, as if a minute late I would have gone. After a few days in the ICU, I was again discharged and fortnightly consultation ordered, under strict medication and with INR tests to be taken twice a week. I consulted the Doctor as instructed ten days later and the Doc appeared upset and exited. After thorough check-up, I was directed to admit to Hospital immediately as I was short of breadth pulses low and running a low-pressure. My family rushed me to the same, private hospital again and I was straight taken to the ICU. My Consultant had followed me to the Hospital and after giving necessary instructions for emergency treatment, he had made an endorsement on my bedhead ticket referring me to a Surgeon, who arrived immediately and after going through my reports ordered urgent 'by-pass' surgery. The next available date was 06th September in the evening, but at the request of my family the surgery was put off for the next day, 07th September morning. On the 06th late evening the anaesthetist came to my room and had a heart to heart chat with me and my son explaining the various intricacies and seriousness of open heart surgery. He was very warm, kind and understanding and we built up a friendship. He asked us not to worry as the Surgeon was very experienced and capable. The surgeon, I came to know later, had told my wife and son that he was taking a high risk in my case as my heart had been already severely damaged and I was physically weakened due to the two abortive attempts at Angioplasty. Thanks to the surgeon and my stars, I survived a very serious heart surgery which had lasted about 8 1/2 hours. Although I was able to open my eyes and observe things that night itself, I could not speak and was semi-conscious. I think I gained consciousness on the third day, post surgery. I was compelled to be in the CCU/ICU for about 10 days since I had got an attack of pneumonia due to physical weakness. I was transferred to a room and discharged from hospital with necessary instructions after a further five days. I must here record that although my Consultant Cardiologists had made some mis-calculations and attempted angioplasty surgery on me which considerably weakened me physically as I had to undergo torture, the house officers, sisters, nurses and the minor staff of the CCU/ICU of that private hospital were a special lot who looked after me with devotion, dedication, precision care and love right through my hospitalization in the ICU. All my needs and requirements were promptly met and in the process they always tried to comfort and sooth me. I am greatly obliged to this band of great men and women. In the normal circumstances, a by-pass patient is advised to revert to his normal routine after three months and to walk about 2 miles a day to exercise his new heart and enable normalize the breathing process and also the medicines gradually reduce and completely stopped after a few months. But unfortunately this was not to be so in my case. I have to still undergo complete medical therapy for at least another couple of years, I have to present myself for consultations once every month, I am not allowed to walk or work saying that physical stress is bad for me, blood tests and ECGs taken every month and occasional Echo tests-all because my heart muscles have been severely damaged due to my second massive heart-attack, and to add insult to injury, I have been rendered physically weakened due to two unwarranted abortive attempts at angioplasty surgery. All these have cost my family a near million rupees. Now let me give some advice to Heart Patients through my experience. 1. Heart diseases can be prevented if proper food is taken with less fat and if regular exercise is taken - one must walk at least two miles a day, every day in the open air with deep breaths taken. 2. Heart ailments can be hereditary. 3. Smoking is highly dangerous - will cause heart diseases and cancerous ailments. 4. Take precautions against diabetics, check regularly for sugar and take treatment. 5. Slight chest pain, a burning sensation, any back-aches, feeling of giddiness or lifelessness, consult a Doctor forthwith. 6. In case of severe pain in the left chest, left arm (shoulder downwards) and burning sensation, seek hospitalization or medical advise immediately. 7. Rest, rest and rest, relax well, stop worrying, give up hard work and take things lightly. 8. Walk for exercise, do some neck and hand exercises 9. Make it a habit to have regular check-ups/consultations. Now I consider it my bounden duty to a pay a glowing tribute to my wife and children who rallied round me in one voice, did everything possible to make me comfortable and happy making many a sacrifices themselves. My relations and friends are all remembered with deep gratitude for their concern, sympathy and good wishes. Many are the pujas, prayers, services etc conducted by our numerous friends and relations in temples, churches, kovils and mosques all of which stood in good stead for me and came as blessing on me. I am living another day to see the light of the world due to all the love, devotion and care showered on me by my loved ones and all. Of course all above are well and good, but certainly they are very costly, yet worth the price. I am deeply obliged to the Bank of Ceylon for that outright grant, Officers and the Staff of the Corporate Imports and Staff Departments for their concern, care and assistance. True that the President's Fund help those in need for medical care and treatment. Since there can be unwarranted delays, abuse, political pressure, bureaucratic bungling etc. in the President's Fund in the disbursements of such grants for emergency medical treatment, I suggest that a special fund be established as a separate Unit of the President's Task Force to help those genuinely in need of funds for urgent medical treatment or surgery. It can be in the form of a People's Health Care Fund totally exempt from all taxes. I am confident that Philanthropists, Businessmen, Trade Chambers, Diplomatic Missions, various NGOs as well as other foreign Donors will contribute lavishly to swell such a fund it legitimately established under State patronage to be managed and administered by a specially picked independent Group of Trustees. Such a special Fund will be able to, independent of any pressure from any quarter, evaluate applications purely on their merit and recommend grants accordingly on a case by case basis. This will certainly be a most welcome gesture and a blessing to the need. Ranjit C. Disanayake |
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