“Don’t wait until it’s too late”
George McKay didn’t believe it at first.
“I thought I had a terrible cold that I just couldn’t get rid of,” he said.
Doctors tested him for bronchitis and other pulmonary diseases, but the results were all negative. After a while, he said, he “couldn’t lie down without catching his breath.” When he finally was referred to a cardiologist, the doctor told him what was really going on — McKay was dying.
“I didn’t even know what heart failure was,” McKay recalled, pointing out that he had no history of heart troubles.
McKay is 66 years old now, and he and his wife have five grown children. For years, he worked as a troubleshooter for Raytheon, but had to reduce his workload to part-time after the diagnosis and then retirement.
“I can’t do half the things I used to do,” he lamented. “It can be depressing.” He can still cut his grass at his New Hampshire home, largely because he has a riding lawn mower. And he still walks for exercise.
To this day, no one knows for sure what triggered the condition. It was diagnosed 16 years ago, and McKay’s life has not been the same since.
The doctors “thought a virus may have attacked the right side of my heart, and caused enlargement,” he said.
Either way, his heart problem is complicated by the diagnosis 11 years ago of hypertension and diabetes.
It’s not all bad news for McKay. Over the years, he has had scores of tests. The results from the test that measures the capacity of the left ventricle to pump — the ejection fraction — has remained about the same. “The good news,” McKay explained, “is that it hasn’t worsened.”
The other bit of good news is that the defibrillator initially implanted was recalled because of a defect. A new one was implanted, and so far, so good — especially considering all of the changes he has made in his lifestyle.
He weighs himself every day. If there is a sudden weight gain of three to five pounds, he calls his doctor right away.
“You have to watch carefully what you eat,” he said. “I learned to read labels to make sure I’m purchasing foods that are low in salt or contain no salt. I know what foods are loaded with salt.” McKay likes to cook out in the summertime, but readily admits he has had to stay away from some of his favorites, like hot dogs and kielbasa.
McKay also knows when he is having a flare-up. One of his signals is being extremely tired but not being able to fall asleep. He also knows something is wrong if he is having trouble breathing and is coughing a lot.
The constant monitoring and six-month check-ups can be bothersome, McKay admitted, but there’s no alternative to getting help and following doctors orders. Even though he lives in New Hampshire, McKay makes the drive to Boston Medical Center to receive care. And he takes all of his medications, despite some unpleasant side affects.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late,” he said. “I almost did.” |
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George McKay has learned to live with heart failure. He credits his success to Dr. George Philippides, president of the board of directors of American Heart Association Metro Boston Division.
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