By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times
Last Friday seemed a normal enough day in my office at home until I listened to an old voicemail from my primary case physician. He had called the day before to ask why I had not gone back to the hospital for another blood draw after being told my potassium was elevated.
I sent back a text message that I would go as soon as I could before the day was over. However, I was distracted by other matters and didn’t make the short trip to what is now called UK —St. Claire HealthCare.
Shortly thereafter, I stopped for a quick but late lunch and went home to meet my personal trainer for my five-day-a-week physical regimen aimed at keeping my 81-year-old body as flexible as possible.
As I prepared to work out, I mentioned to my trainer, an experienced nurse, that I had briefly experienced some heaviness in my chest and some brief, but noticeable pains on either side of my chest.
Almost without hesitation, she ushered me out the door to the nearby Urgent Care Center. Thirty minutes later after some tests, I was delivered to the emergency room at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the heaviness and sporadic pain in my chest had subsided and I was beginning to believe everyone might be overreacting. A PA at Urgent Care told me my potassium was dangerously high and another heart enzyme was moving in the same direction.
After a few more hours of tests and consultations, it was decided I should stay overnight at UK-St. Claire so my heart could be monitored, and my potassium could be reduced through many trips to the bathroom.
I didn’t sleep well but was feeling better when the cardiologist informed me 10 hours later that I would undergo a heart catheterization to determine if any arteries were blocked. Without trying to be funny, I told my sister that this whole situation had become about as funny as a heart attack.
The heart catheter didn’t work through my wrist so it went up my groin instead and I’m joyfully pleased to report that no blockages were spotted. But I am modifying my diet to keep my potassium within normal limits.
Call it a lucky break or a near miss or whatever, I’m now committed to paying much closer attention to my physician.Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.
