A little stumble on life's road

[lesmeyer]

Hi all.
Just to let you know that on 3 March I suffered a heart attack. It happened early morning while still in bed and I was due to see the cardiologist later that afternoon. Ambulance arrived pretty quickly and rushed to hospital and by 10 am I had 2 stents inserted in the left anterior descending coronary artery. I am feeling well and on the road to recovery. I will have one more stent inserted in the right coronary artery on 22 March.
Apparently I can commence with "light woodwork" on 15 March.
Does anyone know what constitutes "light woodwork"?
Regards
Les

[Lignum]

Thats no good Les, get well

[Big Shed]

Sorry to hear about your "stumble" Les.

Rest assured that there is life after stents

I had 3 stents inserted, fortunately before I actually had a heart attack - daughter is a nurse and recognised the signs, about 4 years ago.

Have been as right as rain ever since, although a few changes have been implemented, better diet, exercise (bike riding) and the like.

Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery.


Oh, almost forgot, light woodwork - doctor is probably from Tassie and he means only use Huon Pine.

[ian]

snip
Apparently I can commence with "light woodwork" on 15 March.
Does anyone know what constitutes "light woodwork"?

best wishes Les for a full recovery

in other contexts, "light duties" generally means no exertion
lifting 40kg bags of cement is out — but a 5 kg piece of wood ?? (remember to bend your knees)
manhandling a full sheet of ply through the table saw would be a bit silly, but a 1/4 sheet ??
flattening a board by hand would count as exertion, taking your time smoothing said board with a finely set #4 would probably not

be sensible
if you need to stretch to your full reach to do something it probably counts as exertion
if you're raising a sweat, it's exertion
potter arround in the shed on small scale tasks, have a chair or stool near by to rest on and be extremely careful around the router and table saw



Note: I'm not a medical professional

[Cliff Rogers]

Woah... glad you are still here to tell the tale.

[Larry M]

Great to hear that you're still with us Les. I suspect that shopping for new toys tools would qualify as light woodwork . Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery so that you can get into some "heavy woodwork"

Cheers

Larry

[HazzaB]

Hey Les,

Glad you are OK, Just do what they tell you, and all will be good.

HazzaB

[wheelinround]

Les good to know you doing well

Light wood work that would mean no Jarrah you could how ever make minatures

[artme]

Not agood thing to happen Les but it is REALLy good to see you are Ok.

Had 2 bypasses in Dec 97 and 2 stents Feb 08. I'm still here and intend to be for a while yet.

Just follow Docs. orders.

[Calm]

.......................
Does anyone know what constitutes "light woodwork"?
Regards
Les

Les good to hear you are still with us.

As to your question - i cant believe no one has thought of the obvious - light woodwork would be anything with the curtains open - wouldn't it? or would it be daylight hours only

Cant believe 9 hours an no-one came up with that one.

Cheers

[dugjac]

Les,
Good to hear you called an ambulance (or SWMBO).

Light woodwork would mean trying not to elevate your heart rate, you will most likely be on medication to control your heart rate anyway (beta-blockers). Most importantly is to stop immediately if you get any pain/discomfit in chest,neck,jaw or arm especially as you are still waiting to have another stent.

The doc should have told you what to do if this happens i.e. anginine (GTN), rest and ambulance back to hospital either straight away or if it continues past 10mins and three doses of GTN - don't drive with pain as you put everyone else on the road at risk if the worst happens.

[Chesand]

All the best Les.

If there is a cardiac rehab course available in your area you will find it helpful

[Scribbly Gum]

Life will go on for you Les, you just won't be doing any lumberjack work.
There are actually lots of woodie things that you can get up to.
Most furniture building would be fine, woodturning of course, intarsia, scrollsaw work, box making, pen making, making chess pieces and chess boards, restoration and re-habbing antiques, tool restoration, and these are just off the top of my head.
You are going to have a ball.
Don't forget, life is what happens while you are making other plans, so get in and give it a burl.
Onya Les
SG

[lesmeyer]

Thanks for all the good wishes.Recovery is going well. Following doctor's orders and my wife keeps me on the straight and narrow regards the food. I am sure a full recovery is on the cards. I like the "shopping for new tools" as a form of light woodwork.
Regards
Les

[Bob38S]

I had 3 stents inserted, fortunately before I actually had a heart attack - daughter is a nurse and recognised the signs, about 4 years ago.

Very fortunate - what are the recognised signs? - if that is not too personal.

Regards,
Bob