Introducing myself

 

My husband, after having a complete, routine physical (and getting a clean bill of health) had some chest pain while mowing the yard.  It would stop when he rested and return when he would exert himself again.  After talking to his sister-in-law, who is a nurse, we thought perhaps that it was exercise induced asthma and that maybe an inhaler was needed.  He made a Dr.'s appt.  (they were much more anxious for him to come in then he was!)  They ran a stress test and he failed it within the first two minutes.  The Dr. said that it was possible that there was a blockage and they started him on some meds and scheduled a cardio cath.  Being only 41, having a clean bill of health only weeks before, and no symptoms prior to this, we thought that even if they were to find a blockage, it would have to be very minimal.  What they found is that his right coronary artery is 100% blocked, is left circumflex artery is 100% blocked is left anterior descending artery (?) is ok and he has a ramus artery (not everyone has this artery from what I understand).  The ramus artery was 90% blocked.  They were able to put a drug eluting stent into the ramus, but they were not able to treat the other two blocked arteries.  The right coronary artery developed some collateral blood supply on its own.  For now they have ruled out bypass because they say that he would not get great benefit from it at this point and since he is still so young, they say if they do it now they would likely have to repeat it when he got older.  After the cardio cath. he was on a 10lb weight limit as far as lifting, dragging, pulling, pushing, etc...that of course was so that he could heal from where they opened up the artery.  He is self employed and does a fair amount of lifting, but of course we could make alternate arrangements for a few days.  We went for a follow up check up and they say the weight restriction is for life.  That seems so unrealistic.  I know that if it means living vs dying, that's what he has to do.  Right now I think we are all reeling from the huge lifestyle changes we are making. 

 

Has anyone had similar experiences with restrictions on lifting?  If so, did the dr. ever revise or change the restrictions?  I'm also wondering about experience with insurance.  He has a term life insurance policy that will be expiring before too long.  How hard will it be to get life insurance after this? Being self employed, we pay for our own medical insurance.  I'm scared that at renewal time they will drop him or raise the rates so high that we won't be able to afford it.  I know I have lots of other questions and just can't think of them all now.