Dan Arensmeier’s
Heart Stuff (Click HERE
for latest . . . )
June 28, 2016 – late afternoon, Dan had a
pacemaker installed, and it was discovered that he would need a bypass, open
heart surgery later in July. His LAD
(left anterior descending artery – or “widow maker”) is 90% occluded. They’re going to fix a mitral valve that has
not been functioning properly for quite some time.
July 1 – 2:13 PM – Mary texted that she’d just called
911, as Dan was having chest pain.
2:51 – My SMS to Mary:
When convenient, tell Dan that Hal Chase and I prayed for him in
Starbucks in San Rafael – I had work to do with Hal, whose father was in
advertising and Dan knew his work and people he had worked with. The two of them have been E-mail buddies for
years.
2:54 – Mary’s SMS: I
did and he laughed.
3:19 – Mary: CT scan
next . . . looking for a pulmonary embolus.
Enzymes normal, xray normal. Labs normal. Ekg
normal. O2 normal. But pain on inspiration.
3:22 – I was driving Hal to pick up Jan and Northgate Mall,
he entered: Thanx
for the info. We are praying. Hal.
4:41 – Mary: Redoing
all tests. Gave
morphine. Just put him on
O2. No results from CT yet.
5:08 – M: Pericardial
effusion. Fluid
building up around heart. Will do an echo to see if the fluid is impeding the heart function. A little less pain. Put him on O2.
5:10 – Tim driving:
Thanks Mary, we r still praying, Jan for Tim too.
6:45 – M: Admitting
him for observation
7:56 – M: Thanks…going
home to assure mom and dad and feed the cat.
They will call me..and
I will go back bright and early. L mary
10:36 – Tim: With you,
Sis. Will keep the
phone on, just in case you need to call.
July 2 – 7:36 AM – M:
To cath lab to drain effusion between 9 and
10. Echo early AM.do not know results. Chest
Pain at 4 AM. Medicated. I am here..will let no harm befall
him. L. mary
7:55 – T: Many thanx for your faithful attention.
8:03 – T: Should I
come back there? Would it be a help or a
bother?
8:06 – M: Thanx for he offer but I think we are holding our own will
notify immediately, if I need you.
8:08 – T: Thanks.
9:24 – Kirsten: How is Dan this morning?
9:25 – T: Not much
better . . .
9:25 – K: I’m sorry
Dad. Praying!
10:09 – M: Cathlab now scheduled for afternoon. Reposition pacer wires and maybe drain
fluid….
10:10 – T: Woo
11:24 – M: He remains
in pain with a lot of nausea. The fluid around heart about the same. Still
waiting for cardiologist who did the pacemaker to come in. Still planning to go back
to the cath lab this afternoon. Started prednisone.
11:48 – T: Yikes! Currently in Vallejo.
No chance of them just doing the work now and getting it over with now?
11:57 – M: I
wish…cardiologist on way in. Waiting. I am being
as big a pain in their butt as I can be.
I don’t like how he looks.
12:27 PM – M: Cath lab
in 5 mins.
12:35 – T: Still
praying.
2:07 – M: One of the
pacing wires in wrong position. Removed
and replaced. The cardiologist just came
in and asked if he was on blood thinners…I said no. He is perplexed. He is now going back in to drain the
fluid. Dan will then be transferred to
ICU.
2:24 – T: Awright . . .
3:08 – M: Just out and
taken to ICU. A lot of
pain. Heavily
medicated. Drain in. Mostly blood in fluid.
3:08 – T: Acceptable?
3:30 – M: Yes
4:20 – T: Are you gonna go home and get some rest?
5:10 – M: In about an
hour….he is sleeping.
5:11 – T: Good!
July 3 – 8:01 AM – M:
Good news feeling better. Less chest pressure.
Vital signs stable. Pacing looks
good. But the pericardial area is still
draining…until that stops he says in ICU.
8:05 – T: Appreciate
this update.
July 4 – 8:20 AM – M:
Still bleeding. Still ICU. Spirits
moderate. Vital signs a little
soft. No appetite. Still draining. Blood count a little low. I am here guarding him.
8:41 – T: Thank you!
8:42 – M: No place
else I would rather be.
8:52 – T: I know it,
and love you for it.
8:59 – M: Echo showed
a little less fluid around heart.
9:00 – T: Yes.
10:08 – T: At the
Sonoma 4th Parade
5:10 PM – T: Back
home. How’s our boy?
5:24 – M: Same. No change.
July 5 – 8:07 AM – M:
Changes..still
bleeding. Hct down. Possibly taking him back to
surgery.
8:57 – T: Yikes! Hct is . . . what?
8:58 – M: Blood
count. I will keep you up to speed.
July 6, - 11:47 AM – M:
Giving blood to him. Drain came
out. HR high. Short of breath. Sitting in chair.
11:54 – T: Is this
good? Drain taken out, or just came
out? HR? Heart rate?? Sorry, but I’m not medically trained. Hate to be a bother.
12:30 – M: Drain taken
out. Good sign. .that he is not bleeding
as much into the sac around the heart. Heart rate still high.
Getting blood.
12:31 – T: Thank you.
4:10
PM –
T: Mary, when you think it appropriate,
tell Dan that only he could get his wires crossed in his pacemaker.
4:20 – M: He laughed.
5:10 – M: Out of
ICU. Treating rapid
heart rate with meds.
July 7, 2:14 PM – T:
And, today?
2:22 – M: Still rapid rate. On meds. Little fluid left around heart. Up chair and walking with assis. Still short of breath.
Eating. Puny. But progressing.
July 8 -
An E-mail from Mary:
Franki – has wise advice (she had encouraged
Mary to take care of herself, as the docs are taking care of Dan). Dan out of ICU last night…..My brother Jim
may be bringing him home today…we will see what the docs say this morning. We
have to get him strong for the next round.
Mary
E-mail to Mary asking about a visit from us, and
when Dan’s surgery is scheduled.
Reply: Not scheduled –
sometime in the next 30-45 days. He is
going home today. I will ask his
preference on your visit. Mary
July 10 –
Telephone call from “Mary Baum” who is Dan’s wife! Jan and I were attending a Stomper’s baseball
game (a rarity in our experience), when the phone vibrated and I saw Mary’s name,
and immediately clutched a bit, and answered, “Mary, what’s up?!” My brother, Dan, responded that it was him
using Mary’s phone as he hadn’t figured out how to use his. He was in good spirits, but indicated that he
was needing to work on getting sufficiently well after
10 days in ICU, so as to be well enough for this open heart surgery, to 1)
repair a mitral valve, and 2) do a bypass of his main heart artery. We had a delightful conversation, and his
suggestion was that we wait until after his surgery to visit. We’re meditating on that.
July 13 –
As Jan and I were arranging flights to go visit Dan, Mary and
company, Jan had the hot thought of checking in to see if he would be in town
July 19 – 23. I suggested she call him,
and he strongly directed that we not come as he was not in good shape, and had
just spent several hours seeing doctors.
Of course, we’ll honor his desire, but it only further encouraged us to
pray for him and Mary, as these are not being good days.
July 14 –
Dan called. He’s not
too encouraged by what the docs are saying, because they’re not saying
much. Lots of himming
and hawing and “that’s interesting . . .” But, little confidence building
stuff. He’s working at getting strong
enough for the mitral valve repair. They
don’t know if they’re going to try to fix the 90% blockage of the “widow maker”
artery. Some how,
they seem to think that that one being blocked may help the mitral valve repair
take . . . ??!!
In any event, Dan is comfortable that we should visit after
the operation, and I’m willing to live with that.
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So it
was not a heart attack but they did attack my heart! Pacemaker and hearth
cath – then home – in on Tuesday and home
on a Thursday and opps complications as a result
– back to hospital sirens and fire trucks – very dramatic – readjust the
Pacemaker and in the process start a resulting Paracardial
Effusion – bleeding outside of the heart into the Paricardium.
Complications because of that. Egad. So
that was monitored, probed and pumped – got to get rid of blood clots………..meds,
shots, the works……….so that was 8 days in the ICU.
So home
late last Friday…………feebly. I have had three doc appointments across town
this last week each one taking about, oh, three or four hours – am sure I will
have more next week. So each day is a bit of an improvement, I will
admit to a bit of anxiety about my continuing breathing…………….and am very happy
and thankful when I wake up in the morning!!
Good
knowledgeable Mary has convinced the docs to just leave my heart alone for a
while here and let me build up my blood and strength so they can figure out
what it is they want to do next. One option on the table is a one vessel
by pass (where there is Coronary Artery Disease) and a repair of the Mitral
Valve which seems to be the source of the problem………..we’ll see. That decision on or about July 22.
You
have all been terrific in staying in touch and keeping track of me and I
appreciate the love/support/good vibes/prayers a lot. I will admit that I
am leaning toward being rather monk-like in this process and have not been too
good about responding/following up with you all.
I do
love you all and know that you love me – and for that I am deeply grateful.
Love
Daniel
July
23, 2016
Some
very good news on the horizon…………..after some exhaustive research and
investigation by Mary – she came up with some very good questions of the
medical/surgical/cardiology team – everybody agreed that I had been through a
lot, that I was very fragile and weak……..(very true,
indeed) – so her first question was “why not just leave Dan’s heart alone for a
while?” Second question “is it really necessary to dive in and do open
heart – or least invasive (which are both the same by the way) – or is there an
alternative such as just repairing the Mitral Valve at this point”?.
There
was great receptivity openness to the question and to the concept and in the
discussion it turns out that there was an alternative that was not available
even a few years ago – and that is a “clip” that effectively tightens up the
valve leaflets in the Mitral Valve. It’s called a Transcatheter
Mitral Valve Procedure. Wow! They also talked about a possible
stint for the one blocked artery.
At this
point our surgeon and cardiologist are in discussion and about this and we
should know in the next few days when this procedure might take place. We
were definitely celebrating the visit to our surgeon far differently than we
had anticipated yesterday.
You
have all been wonderful in terms of following up, sending your love, support
and believe me it is so greatly appreciated. We wanted you to know what
was happening and we will keep in touch as we move forward!
With
much love,
Mary and
Dan
August
2, 2016
I believe Bekah is one of
the tenants in The Schlier Mansion, which Dan and
Mary own and rent out to various professionals who office there.
Thanks
Bekah……….so here’s the deal…………..I am getting stronger every day – have snuck
down to the Carriage House a couple of times……….they tell me that following the
kind of visit I had to the ICU at Rose Hospital – it’s about a six weeks
process to get your strength back. Yowee!
In my
case they are hoping to get me strong enough to have open heart surgery to
repair what is really wrong with my heart. The good news: they believe
that really repairing the valve in question – that there are real gains – long
term!
So………getting
stronger so I can do this all over again…………I am looking forward to writing my
report: What I Did on My Summer Vacation.
I
really do appreciate all of the support, concern, good thoughts that all of you
have been sending along
August
5, 2016
Well it
is time for the Full Monty here:
I am
scheduled to have open heart surgery August 23rd – single
vessel bypass and Mitral Valve repair. Turns out that after almost being
done in, in July – I have regained sufficient strength to get after this next
step. What a process! Turns out that the Mitral Valve is really
more of a system than a valve – which has been the source of the problem all
along.
Just
wanted you to know how much I appreciate your thoughts, good wishes and prayers
during this time of recuperation. The timing on this will allow Mary and
me to get emotionally ready for Round 2 and get this done.
We are
very happy with our cardiologist and surgeon – and yes, they have done this
before……many, many times! The good news: There are substantial long
term benefits from getting this done sooner rather than later. And: Mary
and I both know that you all will be pulling for me during this entire
process……….which makes all the difference and is greatly appreciated!
Love
you all and will keep you informed.
Dan,
and Mary, who has walked with me (well, actually ahead of me) every step of the
way!
August
7, 2016
Mary
– Weak. Fluid still on left lung. They upped his Lasix. Appointment tues. They
will do an echo. They also may do
another thoracentesis. Still scheduled for surgery on the 23rd.
August
10, 2016
Mary
– Scheduled
for surgery early tomorrow. Tests today. Very Confident in team of cardiologists. Dan is in good spirits and positive. .
August
11, 2016
Mary
– 6:40 AM – They just took him back to the OR. And so it begins.
7:15 AM, after I asked how she
was doing: OK. My daughter is here..but
looking forward to it being over.
12:19
PM – Mary: Repair
of valve did not work..have
to put him bak on bypass and replace the valve. No coronary artery bypass. Extra 3 hours in OR. UPPED THE RISK. KIEEP PRAYING.
4:06
PM – Mary: Out
of surgery. Stable. Had 2 units of blood. To icu. On vet.
Will get to see him in 10 mins
9:00
PM – Mary called, Dan is in recovery /
ICU. He is still being ventilated. Will be all night. Has a bovine valve in where the mitral valve
fix, had not taken, and has an additional 6 units of blood. Mary is home and trying to get some
sleep. The hospital has her phone #, and
she will rise early to return to the University Hospital in Denver to ascertain
what is happening with Dan. They didn’t
work on any bypass of arteries on the heart – that may be done later . . . For whatever reason, he is still loosing blood, somewhere.
Your prayers are still valued.
August
12, 2016 –
Mary
– 9:53 AM – They just too the vent out. He is disoriented
but knows us. His bp
is stable. Still bleeding. He is relieved to have the
tube out. In at fib but pacing
Tim here - I’m told that the last phrase must
have to do with the pacemaker working the way it should . .
3:31
– PM, Mary: They
stood him up. Rough but he did it. Pain
severe but meds help. No
longer disoriented. Sips of water.
August
13, 2016 –
7:44
AM – Mary: New
day. New drugs sit walk Jello Outragious
pain Catheter out
2:30
PM – Mary: Less struggle with the pain today. Better pain control. But a rough day. I’m told part of the process.
August
14, 2016 –
8:18
AM – Mary: Lungs
working better today. Last night put him on a cpap. He hates it but it helped him sleep. Moaning
with some pain but they just medicated him. Still trying to
dry him out with Lasix. But still feet and hands swollen.
Another day….they will get him up again today.
11:38
– Tim: Many
people at church asked about him AND you.
You’re being prayed for by a number of people.
6:09 – Any word(s)?
6:19
PM – Mary: Much
better. Meds reduced. O2 reduced. Tired
and still has pain Meds for pain working in ICR for several more days.
August
22, 2016
2:27
PM – Tim: I
phoned Dan, and left a voice message.
Phoned Mary, and got her. She’s
semi-beside herself, as Dan is not doing all that much better. Looks good, while lying
down. If they stand him up by his
bed, his blood pressure drops to 75 over something too low, and he’s back in
bed. They have him on so many meds, it’s
as though they’re fighting each other.
She has her own job, and asked if they some move some furniture into the
hospital as Dan doesn’t seem to be getting ready to go anywhere. She gave me Dan’s phone # at the hospital, so
I called him there.
We had a
pleasant conversation, until he had to take more meds. He sounded good, just legitimately frustrated
that no one of the doctors seem to get on top of what’s wrong with him. He has essentially the same symptoms as when
he entered the hospital, albeit, he has had a bovine valve replace his mitral
valve and it only moos infrequently.
August
23, 2016
12:40
PM – Mary: Walked today after they took him off some drugs
with no BP drop..no light
headedness. YES
1:33
PM – Dan: Feeling
a bit better. Up a
bit, and getting a bath. Call
back later? I said, Yes.
3:45
PM – Dan: Feeling
like there is hope! May
be let out of the hospital to home in a couple of days. I mentioned that we’d be whiffling through in
September, stopping through on the 16th for a couple of days, after
our attendance at a Board of Direction meeting of Words of Hope in
Michigan. On that same trip, we’re
planning to visit Jim Downing, age 103, whom we met in Seoul, Korea, in 1963,
when he was really OLD! As in 50!
We were in our early 20’s. Now,
we’re 25 years older than he was at the time!
August
24, 2016
8:16
PM – Mary: He is
home
August
25, 2016
8:09
AM – DAN!
Well
other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
So Mary
rushed me to University of Colorado hospital for emergency open heart surgery
on August 9th – a 6 hour plus surgery to repair and then
replace the Mitral Valve (yes a Bovine tissue valve….I am
expecting some swell cow gifts) – then to ICU and recovery. Then some
issues (which Mary helped resolve by the way) relating to medication which went
on for another 4 days – could not stand without losing it.
One
side bar that you will all appreciate…………In my post surgery
stupor I was dead certain that Obama and his entourage came to visit me – with
the press…….. the whole bit – and the University
Hospital because this surgery had never been done before anywhere. (trust me folks…………he and his team were there – room 1018!).
But the
good news………….Mary brought me home last night. Though weak and feeble I
now feel that I am the road to recovery – with of course Mary waiting on me
hand and foot…………..but now noticeable progress.
I am,
we are deeply appreciative of the love, support, good wishes and help you all
have provided during this ordeal. And I now feel well enough to respond
to email/txts/voice mail – it has been a tough two
weeks.
Thanks
again – I do love you and now more than ever!!
Dan –
and Mary
Dan:
All:
I have
been bragging about Mary but there is another person I want to publicly thank.
Lisa the Dan Whisperer…….
I have
to share with you an incredible experience in the miserable post
surgery recovery in the ICU. With tubes coming in and out of my
throat and other parts of my both………..I did think “this is it”. This is
after Lisa and Mary were there waiting on their edge of their seats for 8
hours…….as I was gasping for breath and life, it was Lisa who was there like
the “horse whisperer” quietly talking to me how to breath, relax, do not panic
– be calm, be calm. Believe me it was soothing, reassuring and so helpful – I
cannot tell you.
She
stepped up and took charge at that point in time………..and get this…………..the
nurses and medical team in the ICU took immediate notice –they were essentially
saying “who is this and how does she know how to do this” - and are still – and
I am not exaggerating – are still talking about it!
Now
clear of mind and stronger of body and free tubes down my throat – I am in a
position to say “thank you Lisa” it made a huge
difference. Keep up the good work, who knows the medical community might
need you.
With
much love,
Daniel
Saturday and Sunday, while
on our way back from Grand Rapids, Jan and I stopped in Denver to see Dan.
He was very weak, fragile,
and had lost weight which was visible.
He was obviously not well, nor feeling all that much like
his old self. Mary is working a full
schedule, plus taking care of him, and he tends to be feeling a little guilty
about that, but Mary is a brick, who just keeps going, with a delightful
attitude.
It has been busy out since,
and Dan and I have talked several times on the phone. Just today (September 26, 2016), he sent the
following:
Mary is
always telling me NOT to sugar coat my words and to take off my “rose colored”
glasses. You have all been great about following up with me and I have
been hesitant to respond – lately - unless I had something more positive to
say.
My
recovery is not going that well and I am not getting better stronger each day.
If anything it has been a bit of the opposite. I have developed
another effusion near my lung which has caused shortness of breath, weakness
and a persistent cough. Today- after another week of thinking/talking
about it by the medical community - I go in for a second Thoracentesis to
hopefully remove the fluid and get me back on track.
And yes
I have been a bit grumpy – and I find it difficult to have a glowing positive
mental attitude and yet tell you all the truth.
I am
hopeful that today will get us back on track.
In the
“grumpy” category – I swear Mary never even comes close……….and I have never
seen her busier.
Yikes
2.0! So yesterday they pulled 1860 ccs of fluid out the sack around my
left lung!! That out to relieve a bit of pressure and let me do things
like ……………breathing……………..that is a lot of fluid that was shloshing
around back there………..hey one more day!
Dan
(That’s
almost a half-gallon, or two quarts of fluid!)
tim
Web
posted: July 1, 2016
Updated: September 27, 2016