News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Have questions or comments about the site?
User avatar
Mike Ratledge
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5496
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:25 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
White Whale: OG USPCC Vanity Fair [mint]
Decks Owned: 7800
Location: Awendaw/McClellanville (Charleston county) S.C.
Has thanked: 1911 times
Been thanked: 760 times

News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Unread post by Mike Ratledge »

Literally about ten minutes ago, Donna's doctor called a second time to tell us what would not be good news at all unless the alternative was that she had indeed had a heart attack: she has a bad hiatal (sp?) hernia. Now, lack of chocolates, caffeine, tomatoes and spicy foods _might_ kill her, but at least it will be a slow, enjoyable ride. (sorry, it's time I got to make some joke out of what has truly been a nightmare for both of us!)
>Mike<
"You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself"
They say "Ignorance is bliss". Obviously, some people are much happier than others...

Members are encouraged to
Show Us Your Cards!


Our UC2021 Decks entitled
"Odd Fellows"
by Lorenzo Gaggiotti / @Stockholm17
Coming soon: AKA
«Eighth Annual Decks»


UC members help maintain Portfolio52
THE Playing Card Database Online
Contact ecNate for details and access


UC2019 "Seventh Annual Decks"
by Montenzi Design
Funded 207% on KS: HERE


>>> UC Deck Sales <<<


Insert disclaimer here...
All information posted as fact is accurate at the time of posting to the best of my knowledge.
User avatar
chach
Member
Member
Posts: 1999
Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 2:22 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
White Whale: Vietnam Era Secret Weapon
Decks Owned: 0
Location: Armpit of California
Has thanked: 237 times
Been thanked: 280 times
Contact:

Re: News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Unread post by chach »

Sorry to hear what she (and you) are going through, Mike. My prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.
WTB/WTT: Vietnam Era Bicycle Secret Weapon Deck
User avatar
ecNate
Member
Member
Posts: 2099
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 1:46 am
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
Decks Owned: 400
Location: Wisconsin
Has thanked: 420 times
Been thanked: 440 times
Contact:

Re: News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Unread post by ecNate »

From what I understand that's a much better outcome than the fear and something that can be managed. We had a similar scare here that ended up being very serious, but moving forward should be manageable and a fairly normal life for the family member involved. I hope you two take some time when things settle down and relax now that you know what you are dealing with, it's a critical step!
User avatar
Mike Ratledge
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5496
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:25 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
White Whale: OG USPCC Vanity Fair [mint]
Decks Owned: 7800
Location: Awendaw/McClellanville (Charleston county) S.C.
Has thanked: 1911 times
Been thanked: 760 times

Re: News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Unread post by Mike Ratledge »

ecNate wrote:From what I understand that's a much better outcome than the fear and something that can be managed. We had a similar scare here that ended up being very serious, but moving forward should be manageable and a fairly normal life for the family member involved. I hope you two take some time when things settle down and relax now that you know what you are dealing with, it's a critical step!
Yep, both good and bad, really. The hiatal hernia explains all the pain, but not the bad EKG. There's definitely something else wrong with her ticker, and like most women, it was a 'silent' heart attack. She just woke up (thankfully) one morning exhausted, out of breath and couldn't walk up and down the stairs without sitting down. Our physician, who we've both been with for 25 years immediately did an EKG, which didn't "look right" for lack of better words, which is how it all started. Radiology is required because Medicare (Donna's 65 as of October, I'm 61 back just before Christmas) won't let you see a cardiology specialist until you exhaust all other possibilities. Glad she did it, clearly not aware that she had torn her diaphragm - which is what a hiatal hernia is - basically not pretty - part of the stomach is poking through that hole and causing severe gastric distress.

The fact is it does not explain the anomalies in the EKG, though. Cardiologist this morning at 9:30 already done, with a follow-up scheduled next Monday at the same time. I suppose we'll hear more Wednesday or Thursday. He's got to know what he's up against before he can proceed with treatment. She's already on a special diet - which of course eliminates all the foods she loves: spicy tomato-based stuff, chocolates, fatty foods, caffeine and for some reason peppermint, which of course turns out to be her favorite - those old "Altoid" mints.
>Mike<
"You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself"
They say "Ignorance is bliss". Obviously, some people are much happier than others...

Members are encouraged to
Show Us Your Cards!


Our UC2021 Decks entitled
"Odd Fellows"
by Lorenzo Gaggiotti / @Stockholm17
Coming soon: AKA
«Eighth Annual Decks»


UC members help maintain Portfolio52
THE Playing Card Database Online
Contact ecNate for details and access


UC2019 "Seventh Annual Decks"
by Montenzi Design
Funded 207% on KS: HERE


>>> UC Deck Sales <<<


Insert disclaimer here...
All information posted as fact is accurate at the time of posting to the best of my knowledge.
dougfrye
✔ VERIFIED Designer
✔ VERIFIED Designer
Posts: 56
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:21 am
Has thanked: 15 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Unread post by dougfrye »

I'm so sorry to hear about this. My best wishes and good vibes for a quick return to vitality :)
jerichoholic
Member
Member
Posts: 2672
Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:13 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
White Whale: Many
Decks Owned: 4800
Has thanked: 218 times
Been thanked: 346 times
Contact:

Re: News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Unread post by jerichoholic »

So have had you had any updates lately? Here's hoping for some good news.
Save 10% at Playing Card Decks here - https://app.marsello.com/Portal/Custom/ ... 561772eaee
Save 10% at Card Addiction here using code VJOSE32 - https://card-addiction.com/?ref=1efow7c06m
Check out my collection - http://portfolio52.com/profile/124
Check out my reviews - https://www.youtube.com/vjose32
The Card Club - https://www.facebook.com/groups/vjose32
Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/vjose32
Game Collection - https://boardgamegeek.com/collection/user/vjose32
User avatar
Mike Ratledge
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5496
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:25 pm
Collector: Yes
Player: Yes
White Whale: OG USPCC Vanity Fair [mint]
Decks Owned: 7800
Location: Awendaw/McClellanville (Charleston county) S.C.
Has thanked: 1911 times
Been thanked: 760 times

Re: News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Unread post by Mike Ratledge »

jerichoholic wrote:So have had you had any updates lately? Here's hoping for some good news.
Cardiologist Tuesday afternoon, mostly good news. He's not too worried, wants to do a standard EchoGram and stress test, but let them be scheduled three weeks off, so obviously she's not as bad as our GP thought heart-wise. He said the EKG wasn't exactly right, but it wasn't exactly strange for a retired women, either.

We're both suffering from terrible lung infections, which of course doesn't help her hiatal hernia at all, but for me it's just a PITA as my allergies usually are this time of year. Diet has to be changed radically for her, for me it's mostly keeping her on course. We have her back at our GP on Monday for a follow-up and blood-work that afternoon, so by the time we see the cardiologist for his 1-month follow-up he should have a much better handle on her heart with both blood-work and the EchoGram & stress test results from next week.

Definitely not out of the woods yet, especially since the second opinion on the hiatal hernia was that it would require surgery since her diaphragm is torn laterally instead of side-to-side, but - we're taking things one day at a time.
>Mike<
"You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself"
They say "Ignorance is bliss". Obviously, some people are much happier than others...

Members are encouraged to
Show Us Your Cards!


Our UC2021 Decks entitled
"Odd Fellows"
by Lorenzo Gaggiotti / @Stockholm17
Coming soon: AKA
«Eighth Annual Decks»


UC members help maintain Portfolio52
THE Playing Card Database Online
Contact ecNate for details and access


UC2019 "Seventh Annual Decks"
by Montenzi Design
Funded 207% on KS: HERE


>>> UC Deck Sales <<<


Insert disclaimer here...
All information posted as fact is accurate at the time of posting to the best of my knowledge.
User avatar
Sunz
Member
Member
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2016 3:56 pm
Cardist: Yes
Collector: Yes
Magician: Yes
Decks Owned: 50
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: News about Donna (my wife) - good & bad

Unread post by Sunz »

Best wishes Mike, We all hope for a good recovery! I know how stressful is to live in these conditions!
You know what? You both gotta be strong! It's in difficult situations that you understand the true value of a man. I repeat this sentence in my head every time i go through a bad period, it helps for me, hope it will be the same for you!
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: WoPC and 22 guests