Daryl Hatton's
Growing Pains

Here is what was learned overnight about the breaking story at the Cardiac Hotel. A hot shower is one of the most unappreciated luxuries in our lives. My first one post op last night was an almost spiritual experience. In medicine trying to solve one problem frequently creates another. In this case the result was “thrush” which I don’t think I’ve had in 25 years. It is a strange experience to look at a damaged body part and have trouble believing it is part of you. My left hand/arm is so swollen it looks like a cheap prosthetic from a …

Here are a few numbers that describe the current situation at the Cardiac Hotel. 100% satisfaction with progress to date 6 : nurses on this floor I could fall in love with 2 : nurses I could marry 2 : nurses here I don’t like – had both of them assigned to me yesterday (just my luck or more likely just how I felt?) 7 : meds I take every day not counting stuff for specific short term issues 1 : fancy chest protector – looks like I might have separated my breast bone 8 : hours I slept first …

Photo of Get Well Card from my friends at Daisy’s Here is the breaking news on the story developing at the Cardiac Hotel Today was definitely better than yesterday(!) I’ve been disconnected from just about everything and finally have some mobility. However, my butt flapping in the breeze with these awful gowns has kept me close to my room. I’m still not in any shape for visitors and there is no room for flowers. Please donate to the little girl and Ride To Give – it will make me happy. With the helipad outside the window I feel like Radar …

This is your action news reporter Daryl (fixed heart) Hatton coming to you LIVE from the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit at Vancouver General Hospital post-op. Short report: I’m good! Next up: First results are in

Today I’ve been asking myself (gently – this isn’t a beating myself up session) how I got here i.e. what caused my heart attack? I thought I’d look through all the common risk factors to see how they apply. I just finished reading the Vancouver Coastal Health Cardiac Surgery Patient Guide and the Heart & Stroke Foundation Cardiac Care Guide suggestions for having a “healthy heart” diet. I’m not sure if I’m happy or sad that I’ve been doing most of these things for quite a while – no easy fix hidden in here. I would be considered a good …

Some good news and some bad news…Good news: They successfully did the angio, mapped out the areas that are constricted and think they may even be able to repair some of the damage from the heart attack with something they want to try. Bad news: The something they want to try is open heart bypass surgery. I go in sometime within a week. Why: I have a genetic (hereditary) heart defect where the artery group that feeds the front of my heart is, well, pretty clogged. The artery that feeds the back of my heart is in perfect shape indicating …