This is a summary of my HEALTHY recovery after a heart attack on New Years Eve 12-31-2009. ~Wayne
* Heart Attack – True Story
* Baseline Visit – Part 1
* Biopsy – Part 2
* Heart Muscle Spasm
* Baseline Visit – Part 3
* Stem Cell Infusion – Part 4
* 2-Week Follow-up Visit
* March Follow-up Visit
* Cardo Visit 2 at County

This is a continuation of my trek through County (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services) for regular check-ups and for my prescriptions because I have no health insurance. ~Wayne McDonald

On Wednesday I went in for my second follow-up visit at County to see a cardiologist (heart) doctor.

Summary: My scheduled appointment time was 1pm. Total time spent for the entire appointment 5 (five) hours.

Time Table
12:45 Check-in
2:00 Nurse checks blood pressure and temperature
(Actually she was checking three of us at the same time – 1-Weight scale 2-Blood Pressure 3-Me, Blood Pressure — while writing in our three separate charts all the details)
2:30 Another nurse (tech person) does my EKG
3:15 Finally saw the doctor (resident in training)
3:30 Saw the DOCTOR over seeing the residents in training
(about 5 to 10 minutes visit)
3:45 Returned back to the waiting room for my EXIT PAPERS, next appointment time (you are given a time and not asked) and the doctors prescription request.
5:15 Given my EXIT PAPERS (After complaining and wanting to know why it was taking so long)

County takes a long time and appointments take a minium of 4 (four) hours. At 3pm I asked what was taking so long and the receptionist said to sit down and wait — Appointments are between 4 (four) and 6 (six) hours.

In addition, on this second visit I saw a new resident in training and another doctor over seeing the residents. I do not have an assigned doctor and quite honestly I do not have any rapport or confidence in any of the doctors I have seen. Each doctor I see is reading the notes from the previous doctor(s) and making their best educated guesses.

Note: This is an ongoing update of my HEALTHY recovery after a heart attack on New Years Eve 12-31-2009. Please click-on the category Heart Health to read all my updates. ~Wayne McDonald

This is a continuation of my participation in the Stem Cell Research Program (referred to as CADUCEUS) with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. I volunteered to be a part of this Stem Cell Research Program because I have NO health insurance and I wanted the best health care available at Cedars. ~Wayne McDonald

My 1 Month visit schedule for March:
(Standard schedule for all my upcoming monthly visits)

9:30 AM – Office visit with doctor and nurse practitioner

10:00 AM – 48-Hour Holter Monitor & 12-lead EKG

11:00 AM – Lab (Blood Draw)

11:30 AM – Go Home

Note: This is an ongoing update of my HEALTHY recovery after a heart attack on New Years Eve 12-31-2009. Please click-on the category Heart Health to read all my updates. ~Wayne McDonald, age 54 and 136 pounds – healthy.

This is a continuation of my participation in the Stem Cell Research Program (referred to as CADUCEUS) with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. I volunteered to be a part of this Stem Cell Research Program because I have NO health insurance and I wanted the best health care available at Cedars. ~Wayne McDonald

On February 26, 2010 I had a procedure done for Stem Cell Infusion.

This is my 2-Week Follow-up visit schedule:
(Standard schedule for all my upcoming monthly visits)

9:30 AM – Office visit with doctor and nurse practitioner

10:00 AM – 48-Hour Holter Monitor & 12-lead EKG

11:00 AM – Lab (Blood Draw)

11:30 AM – Go Home

Note: This is an ongoing update of my HEALTHY recovery after a heart attack on New Years Eve 12-31-2009. Please click-on the category Heart Health to read all my updates. ~Wayne McDonald, age 54 and 136 pounds – healthy.

This is a continuation of my participation in the Stem Cell Research Program (referred to as CADUCEUS) with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. I volunteered to be a part of this Stem Cell Research Program because I have NO health insurance and I wanted the best health care available at Cedars. ~Wayne McDonald

On January 27, 2010 I had a procedure done for Stem Cell Biopsy. Since that time the CADUCEUS team has been growing my heart stem cells.

On Friday February 26,2010 I went back to Cedars for Stem Cell Infusion. I was checked-in at 5:30am (ugh!) and had the usual paperwork to complete – cardo ekg – blood draw – etc. The procedure was at 7:30am with the entry through my right Femoral Artery. They proceeded to the LAD – Left Anterior Descending artery — where my heart attack was located and where a stent was placed. (As I understand I had NO heart damage and my heart was only “stunned”).

Normal time for Stem Cell Infusion is about 15 minutes. Well… After getting inside they decided to insert a 2nd stent (model XIENCE V) next to the first stent (model Medtronic Driver RX). This was a “Bonus” – not planned and the second stent is a metal stent which means I will be on a blood thinner (Plavix) for at least a year. The first stent was drug coated.

After the 2nd stent was put in place they did the Stem Cell Infusion. I was some-what-awake through the procedure – I asked later who put a mikey in my apple juice! I left the operating room at 9:00am and was checked into a room by 9:30am for 24 hour observation.

While recouping in my room I had a heart monitor attached and had my vital signs checked every 4 hours – temperature and blood pressure.

In addition, I had a blood draw every 8 hours to check my heart damage markers or cardiac enzymes.

I would also like to mention that the point of entry was “bandaged/sealed” with an Angio-Seal – a faster method to stop any blooding after a procedure.

Upstairs I stayed on my back for 4 hours, not moving and having the nurses checking on the SEAL to make sure there was no bleeding or problems. At 12 noon I was able to sit-up and have lunch. Spent most of the day sleeping – I was a little groggy. (I remember I was given an aspirin and a benadryl before the procedure).

At 6pm I was helped out of bed and sat in my chair to have dinner. I sat in the chair for about 2 hours.

On Saturday February 27th at 8am I had another blood draw, ECG/EKG and a Holter monitor put on my chest to wear home for 48 hour monitoring.

Throughout the day Friday, and Saturday, I have had no problems – no pain. Maybe a little bit of discomfort at the Angio-Seal.

I was checked out on Saturday at 11:30am and I am at home now resting.

My team of doctors at Cedars are the BEST and remarkable.

Note: This is an ongoing update of my HEALTHY recovery after a heart attack on New Years Eve 12-31-2009. Please click-on the category Heart Health to read all my updates. ~Wayne McDonald, age 54 and 136 pounds – healthy.