There and back again.

by John

I was using my big Chinese lathe to make some mounting plates for the wheels of a catamaran beach roller about 2 weeks ago.

It was a very warm, very humid day, but the job was going well.

Suddenly, I felt a nasty pain in my upper abdomen or low central chest. It was severe, constant, and associated with profuse sweating. I felt faint. I did manage to stop the lathe spindle, but the pain was so severe that I moved away from the lathe and out of the shed, to the home building about 20 meters away. I was aware that I was staggering and close to losing consciousness.

I had a cold drink of water, sat down, then lay down flat on the floor. The pain was unremitting.

Heart attack? Seemed a bit low, but very likely. No heart history, but I am 73, and have high blood pressure. Rang my wife, but she was too far away to come. I mentioned the ambulance. She said “just do it”. Yep. Rang 000, was transferred to the ambulance service, and within maybe10-15 minutes the ambos arrived. Meanwhile I rang my neighbour, who came immediately. I asked him to turn off the workshop machinery and lock up the buildings and vehicles.

The pain was still intense and constant, but movements made it worse, so I lay very still, and closed my eyes in order to concentrate on coping. Apparently, I was as white as a ghost when the ambos arrived, and filthy of course, and drenched in sweat, laying still. They told me later that when they first saw me, they feared the worst.

Some oxygen, intravenous fluids and a pain killer improved the situation a bit. Then with sirens blaring they took me to the local public hospital, about 20 minutes away. Immediate admission to the Emergency Department. Some concern because my pulse was dipping as low as 20, and my BP up to 200/110. ”Am I going to die?” I wondered. But it was all out of my control, so I left it to the expertise of my professional ex-colleagues.

A cardiac event, or dissecting aneurysm, or upper abdominal event were the different diagnoses explored, and I underwent continuous heart monitoring, vital signs, and blood tests. Powerful pain killers were effective and I felt vaguely removed from the action. Then a CAT scan, an Ultrasound, and the next day an MRI scan and the diagnosis settled on pancreatitis caused by gall stones with a severe vagal effect causing the very low heart rate, and pain pushing up my BP. I seemed to have blood tests every hour or two.

A day in Emergency, 2 days in the surgical ward, then a recommendation for removal of my gall bladder and stones when the pancreatitis had settled somewhat.

My gall bladder was removed with key hole surgery (laparoscopy), one week after the initial event, and I was discharged home 2 days later, where I am now typing this record. I was so dosed up on painkillers that some details might be out of order. One day I remember seeing people and actions that I knew were not real. I was hallucinating. But it was very interesting, entertaining even. It was like watching a strange TV show inside my own brain. I kept that detail to myself.

Now, I am still on painkillers, but mainly for the pancreatitis, which might persist for another week or two, according to the surgeon. And the 4 small cuts on my belly give a twinge if pushed. But I feel SO much better. And so grateful that I live in a country where adequate and expert medical and nursing care, and ambulance services exist. And that we are not being bombed out of existence by a neighbour who is clinging to his dictatorial power, or at war with a neighbour who has a different name for God. 

But when I finally caught up with the news, I was disgusted and angry to learn that a statue of one of my hero’s, James Cook, had been vandalised with an angle grinder. I do hope that they arrest the culprits very soon, and jail them. Whether they are agents provocateurs, or radical activists, they have NO right to vandalise the statue of arguably the greatest navigator in human history.

Normally on Australia Day, 26 January, I hang out an Australian flag, AND an Aboriginal flag. This year I am not in the mood. For the record, IMO, Australia Day should continue, but if 26 January is offensive to a majority of the descendants of our original Australians, then I would support a change of the date. 

Enough of my rambling rant. Back in action after a few days rest. I hope.