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Richard (Dick) Briggs
Thanks Dave.
It has been an interesting summer, health wise.
Every Monday morning, I get together with a group of veterans and retirees from State Farm. Well, on May 24th, it was my turn to bring donuts. We used to meet at Panera's in Normal. If you visit it, we have a large group picture hanging in the rear area. But with COVID-19, we are meeting in Heyworth at a WWII vets house.
As I was eating my donut, I turned to one of the guys and said I have a pain in my lower right back/hip area. Being the tough Marine, I got up to walk it off. Didn't work, so I told the group I'm going to head home. By the time I got to my car to put the chair in the trunk, I got very nauseous. Actually, I lost my donut. Glad it wasn't a Long John.
While I was rolling around in the grass, saying give me a minute, the group was in the garage doing "Dr. Google". "Briggs, you are having an appendecitis attack. We are taking you to the ER." How can you argue with a bunch of vets?
Once at the ER, they asked for my symptoms. Told me it was probably a kidney stone and needed tests to confirm. When they told me the results of the CT scan, they confirmed that it was a kidney stone. "But, has anyone mentioned to you about a large mass in your abdominal area"? Me: "A What?, Where!!!"
Sir, you have a large abdominal aortic anuernysm (AAA) (Dave Long - sound familiar?). Had to get an additional CT with more contrast. I was in the cardiovasulcar surgeon's office the next day (Tuesday) and scheduled for June 6th. On Thursday, I met with the kidney specialist. He wanted to remove the stone ASAP before the AAA. "Whoaa" said my cardiologist. He needs a stress test before anyone does anything.
Well, I had the chemical stress test and failed. Hmmm, let's try putting some stents in. Off to the stent procedure. Couldn't put stents in. Needs 3 bypass surgery.
Got to get the kidney stone first. Don't want to have a kidney stone attack while recovering from open heart surgery. So off to the surgery for the kidney stone. They couldn't find it. Said I must have passed it. Anyone here pass a stone and NOT KNOW IT?
So, on July 12th, I was ready for my 3 bypasses. Woke up with 4. Off to cardio rehab.
On September 23rd, I finally got the AAA fixed. I restart rehab next week.
With all the surgeries, I had no stiches and no pain except in the leg where they remove the vein for the bypass.
During this whole time, I felt like a Clydesdale horse pulling a Budweiser 18 wheeler with 17 flat tires. That is, I felt healthy as a horse, but everything else wasn't working. I had no symptoms until the kidney stone pain. So, the stone and my friends pushing me to the ER probably saved my life. I was a ticking time bomb.
The CT told everything. Guys, get a CT scan and stress test.
I will definetly enjoy this birthday and hopefull, many more. I am having great recovery time, thanks to my nurse, Dicksie.
I do monitor the site almost daily.
Dick
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