In 1979 whilst in the RAAF at Edinburgh in SA, I had a quadruple bypass at the age of 31 !!
So it's not just old farts...
Started off 3 months earlier whilst carrying a box of veg & fruit from the farmers market out to the car, got a pain down the right arm. Stopped & put the box down for a rest then continued , all ok. About a week later I was trying to start a cantankerous old 2 stroke mower, finally got it going & half way through the job the pain returned. Had to stop & Trina took over. Couple of weeks after that the pain occurred again whilst I was walking & noticed it again a few days later.
Decided it was time to see the Doc, military type that is.
Told me I had pulled a muscle in my upper right chest & gave me a no marching chit for a week!
Few days later I saw the SMO (Senior Medical Officer) who did an ECG & sent me to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for tests, one of which was on the treadmill. After 65 seconds with me describing the pain as it occurred the Cardiologist stopped the test, laid me on the examining table with an arginine tablet - I think - under the tongue. They then did an angiogram.
Whilst sitting on my bed waiting for Trina to pick me up, the Cardiologist walked in, looked at my packed bag & said... "What's the bag for?" I replied that my wife was coming to pick me up. "Nope, your staying here & we're operating on you in the morning!!"
Then asked what work I did, told him I was in the RAAF...
Doing what?
Communications.
Specifically?
Classified.
It may well be related to your current problem so further info is required.
I gave him my SQNLDR's name & phone number but he refused to discuss it. The boss then had a meeting with the base commander, then rang Dept of Defence in Canberra who then called me & gave specific instructions as to what I could discuss. He seemed somewhat satisfied with that.
Next morning had the operation & 2 days later was out of hospital with 3 months sick leave. Three days later I had a meeting with my boss about returning to work with plans to change the current arrangements of me being the only person with access to the 'Back Room' as we called my secure area. Hence I was on call 24/7/365! That turned out to be the major contributing factor to my health at the time... as all the tests they did came back well within normal parameters. The changes were made after one of the other Sergeants received the necessary security clearances. Made a huge difference.
Asked the medical staff at the hospital how long the bypass would last & they said a maximum of 10 years then re-do it... the artery was taken from my right thigh.
Well, 22 years later when I was working as a Senior Communications Operator (Dispatcher) with the NSW Police Radio (VKG) - 19 years - I suffered a very mild heart attack with a subsequent quadruple bypass again, this time the artery was taken from the mammary glands in chest - ladies need them for breast feeding, obviously blokes don't. The reason for this event was very similar to the first one... stress related work.
I asked them how long this one would last.. their response was 10 times longer than the first. So if I live for another 220 years my arteries should still be functioning just fine thankyou.
So, as the others have said, if you feel it - fix it.
)
