Cardiac Hill

[Lin]

Just wanted to give you a bit of news. I checked with Tim before posting this here.

Tim O (aka WHL) wanted to do his best to prove that the third hole at Gleaneagles Golf course was aptly named Cardiac Hill, so he put it to the test. It is kind of like doing an exercise stress test, while pulling a golf cart. (I took this photo while I was playing there last month, as I thought it was funny) It is not a long hole, but it is very steep.

Long story short: Tim didn`t feel too well after playing the third hole. He felt very short of breath and sweaty for a while after. He came out racing, on Wed night after golf, but there was no wind. So after floating around for an hour on the water the race was called off. A group of us (the skipper and all the crew) went out for a nice dinner and had a good time, but Tim still didn`t feel 100%. Later that evening I got a message to say he still was not feeling quite right. After some not so gentle prodding, he took two aspirin and hauled his ass off to the hospital. He had a small heart attack, thankfully minimal damage.

Trust this - being a Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist, I can tell you that he is one of the lucky ones. I visited him last night after getting off work, and he looks well. He is awaiting Heart Bypass surgery, also known as a CABG and they might throw in a new heart valve at the same time. He is in good health and although it is a fairly "big" operation I trust that he will do very well and will recover in a timely manner. He has a strong heart muscle still, which is very important in recovery.

He is bitching about the food in there, which is a good sign. I told him to HTFU, with a new twist ...Hearten The F Up.

He is in good spirits. He has a beautiful 7 week old Grandson, that is coming to visit on a regular basis, along with the rest of his family. Phone calls and emails from his other family and friends are helping to keep him upbeat.

I wanted to pass on some info which may help prevent someone else going through a similar event, to prevent a less positive outcome. There are usually warning signs for heart problems. They often go ignored. So pay attention, and get checked out.
** Fatigue, shortness of breath, heavy, squeezing or fullness in chest, pressure like something is sitting on your chest, sweating profusely, feeling unusually irritable or crabby. Pain in jaw or down the arms, especially the left arm. Denial is often a big part of it, so do not ignore warnings.
** For women the signs are usually a bit different - pain in abdomen or between the shoulder blades, tightness around throat, anxiety, fatigue.

Even people who are slim, active and fit and who take care of themselves are at risk because of genetics, so do not think that keeps you immune. It helps, but it is not a guarantee. I have cared for marathon runners and Olympic level athletes with heart problems. End of my public service announcement. ; )

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Tim. I look forward to you being back golfing and racing in the winter.

Lin

[JoeP]

Get better Tim! Sounds like you are in good hands.

Joe

[bob perry]

I've been chatting with him periodically.
I'll ask him if I can post his cell number here. That way we can all give him shite.

[kimbottles]

I just talked to him and he is in pretty good spirits (even with the near flip by Team NZ) and will have the procedure in the next couple days (looks like Tuesday right now.)

Let's all pull for him, he is a real keeper and we want him around for a long time to come!

Thank God Lin made him go to the Hospital, good on you Lin!

[Cherie320]

Fingers crossed and best wishes for a fast recovery. No one should have cardiac trouble from either golf or sailing. It's written somewhere in the rules.

[cap10ed]

We’re pulling for you Tim up here in the soon to be frozen North . The lesson here is a good one Lin. Thanks for the reminder.

[Tim OConnell]

Thanks everyone for wishes, and extra thanks Lin for the advice and the new twist on HTFU

If they do a new valve, I asked for the pig valve a) so offshore sailing won't be inhibited in the future with too frequent blood tests, and b) I want the rest of the pig for ribs, pork chops and more bacon

Talk about stress,what is ETNZ up to by lee-bowing Oracle twice while crossing on starboard tack, when the left side was favoured ??? Sheesh !!!

[JoeP]

Good to see you here Tim. Glad to know you are in good care.

[VALIS]

Best wishes Tim. Get better fast!

[Soñadora]

Hang in there Tim. And sadly, the nurses don't actually wear mini skirts. Man did I learn that the hard way.

[Jamie]

Geeze Tim, please take car of yourself! Try to avoid the HTFU mindset when you have symptoms.

Best wishes to a speedy recover and did someone say bacon?

[LarryHoward]

Tim

Take care of yourself. Sometimes those pushy women are also right. You know that the AC would be boring without a bit of on the water drama. We've seen all the off the water drama we need.

Lin. Good on ya.

[Orestes Munn]

And sadly, the nurses don't actually wear mini skirts.

...but cardiology fellows sometimes do.

Heal fast and well, Tim.

[kimbottles]

And sadly, the nurses don't actually wear mini skirts.

...but cardiology fellows sometimes do.

Heal fast and well, Tim.

You need a kilt Eric..........

[BeauV]

Thanks everyone for wishes, and extra thanks Lin for the advice and the new twist on HTFU

If they do a new valve, I asked for the pig valve a) so offshore sailing won't be inhibited in the future with too frequent blood tests, and b) I want the rest of the pig for ribs, pork chops and more bacon

Talk about stress,what is ETNZ up to by lee-bowing Oracle twice while crossing on starboard tack, when the left side was favoured ??? Sheesh !!!

Tim,

Glad to see you're on your toes about the racing - do get well soon!!

I was thinking the same thing about NZ's choice of tacking. It occurred to me that they also rushed the tack a bit and it seemed that even before the wing not popping through, they seemed more than a little heeled over because NZ had to rotate a bit too quickly. This kept their speed up a lot and the new leeward foil was pushing the port hull upwind fast before they could get the boat sorted out. Finally, it occurred to me that there may have been a problem with the wind controls far sooner than we thought and perhaps NZ was having trouble bearing off to duck OR. Of course NZ won't be talking about it, but for that entire beat the NZ boat was simply sailing oddly. It would explain the not ducking and also the observation a friend of mine made from the weather mark stake-boat that the NZ wing just wasn't moving around much (not like normal) as puffs went through.

BV

[bob perry]

Tim:
Don't forget the "Please, could you plump my pillow?" trick.

[Orestes Munn]

Tim:
Don't forget the "Please, could you plump my pillow?" trick.

...and if no one comes for the call button, a water pitcher hurled out the door or, in extreme circumstances, a pantsless appearence at the nursing station, usually gets results.

[kimbottles]

Tim:
Don't forget the "Please, could you plump my pillow?" trick.

...and if no one comes for the call button, a water pitcher hurled out the door or, in extreme circumstances, a pantsless appearence at the nursing station, usually gets results.

Hey, don't be coaching Tim to do something rash!!







He might follow your advice!

[Lin]

Tim:
Don't forget the "Please, could you plump my pillow?" trick.

...and if no one comes for the call button, a water pitcher hurled out the door or, in extreme circumstances, a pantsless appearence at the nursing station, usually gets results.

Dare I ask if you know this from your personal efforts or mere observations? ; )
After over thirty years in the field, I could write a very interesting book.

Kim, just to confuse you a bit - Fellows are often females. Kilts would work on either.

[kimbottles]

Tim:
Don't forget the "Please, could you plump my pillow?" trick.

...and if no one comes for the call button, a water pitcher hurled out the door or, in extreme circumstances, a pantsless appearence at the nursing station, usually gets results.

Dare I ask if you know this from your personal efforts or mere observations? ; )
After over thirty years in the field, I could write a very interesting book.

Kim, just to confuse you a bit - Fellows are often females. Kilts would work on either.

That does not relieve Eric from a kilt, he might find it freeing.......

[Orestes Munn]

Tim:
Don't forget the "Please, could you plump my pillow?" trick.

...and if no one comes for the call button, a water pitcher hurled out the door or, in extreme circumstances, a pantsless appearence at the nursing station, usually gets results.

Dare I ask if you know this from your personal efforts or mere observations? ; )
After over thirty years in the field, I could write a very interesting book.

Kim, just to confuse you a bit - Fellows are often females. Kilts would work on either.

Oh, just observation over my own 30 years and my parents' illnesses. I behaved fairly well during my one inpatient stay.

Nursing is the heart and soul of any hospital and if I wore a kilt, I'd want the rest of the Japanese schoolgirl thing, too.

[Jamie]

Tim:
Don't forget the "Please, could you plump my pillow?" trick.

...and if no one comes for the call button, a water pitcher hurled out the door or, in extreme circumstances, a pantsless appearence at the nursing station, usually gets results.

Dare I ask if you know this from your personal efforts or mere observations? ; )
After over thirty years in the field, I could write a very interesting book.

Kim, just to confuse you a bit - Fellows are often females. Kilts would work on either.

Oh, just observation over my own 30 years and my parents' illnesses. I behaved fairly well during my one inpatient stay.

Nursing is the heart and soul of any hospital and if I wore a kilt, I'd want the rest of the Japanese schoolgirl thing, too.

Hmmm....not that I've met you in the meat world, but I still have trouble picturing you like this:

[Ish]

Don't let these barbarians scare you, Tim. There's more to life than Japanese schoolgirls, apparently.
Best wishes with the porcine implants, I can probably smuggle you in some bacon if necessary.

[Slick470]

Glad you're ok and best wishes for the upcoming gas induced nap.

[Tim OConnell]

Thanks everyone for the wishes. The current estimate is to be out of circulation (lol) on Thursday for a 6 hr nap. Zzzzzzz

[Rob McAlpine]

Thursday? Bummer, I think that's the day they're serving Biryani for lunch.

[cap10ed]

Tim looking forward to hear from you after the operation. Best wishes from Pam and Ed. Remember to allow the anesthetic to wear off before posting.

[Lin]

Thursday? Bummer, I think that's the day they're serving Biryani for lunch.

Yep, I concur the food is awful in there. As you know Rob, Tim loves curry and he would walk far with that IV pole for a good Biryani right about now. It seems he has stealthly orchestrated various friends and family to bring him in bits of yummy, healthy food at various times of day, so he is not suffering too much.

I just got home from the hospital after visiting the old fart ....eeerrr Tim. He is in good spirits, giving the nurses a chuckle, doing his homework and seems well prepared for the surgery ahead. He is lamely backing out of our last Wed night race tomorrow.

It's a big surgery to recover from, and it takes time, work and patience. As they say ... getting old or sick ain't for sissies. I think he knows what's in store for him, and is up to the task. Phone calls and emails have buoyed him tremendously. He has had time to learn a ton of stuff while in the hospital, like how to lose graciously in Cribbage.

[JoeP]

I just talked with Tim on the phone and he seems to be in pretty good spirits and ready for the surgery. He said he is looking forward to more plastic cheese. Not!

[LarryHoward]

Tim

We will be thinking of you tomorrow. Be well and we will be waiting for the reports of your successful surgery.