A mild one, but seriously?! Can we catch a break!!!???

For those who don't recall: DH and I have been married almost 2 years, together almost 6. He has been unemployed almost 2 years (will be 2 in June). He was jogging a few months ago and fell, breaking 2 ribs and his hand. He is healed from that now. DH is 52 and I am almost 30

DH was jogging about a week ago. He usually runs 6-8 miles 5 times a week without too much trouble or difficulty. He has a 10 mile race coming up in May. After his run Monday, he was complaining that his left arm hurt and his breathing was harder, but he figured maybe he had a bit of a cold. I threw out heart issue, but he said he was able to run through it. He figured maybe he slept wrong on his arm and it got bothered from the movement of running.

He took a few days off and ran again Wednesday. This time he said he only got about a half mile and his heart rate was around 180 (normally much lower in the warm up stages) and he was completely out of breath so he came home. He was worried it was his heart or he wasn't getting enough oxygen, so he called the doctor to try and get an appointment with a primary care physician.

Thursday he was so wiped he couldn't get out of bed. I took the dogs out, made breakfast, and took out all the trash before going to work (he usually does this). When I got home he looked TERRIBLE. He said he was getting out of breath now even going up the stairs. I FINALLY convinced him it's time to go to the hospital.

When we got in, his EKG was fine, but his blood enzymes were slightly elevated (.01 is normal, 10 is a heart attack. He was at .26) so they brought him in and admitted him. They did a chest X-ray and there was nothing. They checked his blood a few hours later and it was slightly higher, so they decided they were going to do a cath in the morning (where they put dye into the artery and see how blood is moving along).

They told me the procedure would last 45 minutes, maybe 60. I'm in the surgery waiting room and 2 and a half hours go by, and I'm freaking out!!! They finally called me down. It turned out DH's main artery was 100% blocked. The doctor was shocked. He and his arteries were so healthy that they did their own bypass (like they do in surgery) and sent the blood to the heart through the smaller vessels. The vessels were too small to handle the increased blood flow when he exercised, and that's why he was having pain.

The doctor worked to get the blockage removed for over an hour, when put in a stent. The cardiologists and all the nurses were shocked; he said DH is the healthiest patient he has ever had. We cook often and eat fairly well, DH does exercise nearly every day (runs 30+ miles a week and also rows on the ergo). His cholesterol was slightly elevated, but nothing that should have caused this. He also takes NO medication (never had any health issues). They were all very surprised.

Now, he has the biggest stent they make because his arteries were so large and healthy (minus the blockage, lol). He is taking effiant, which keeps the stent open and stops the body from rejecting it (At $120 per month :jawdrop: ) as well as Lipitor for cholesterol and an aspirin. He feels MUCH better and we took it east saturday afternoon on after he was discharged. We meet with the cardiologist Wednesday for a follow up and to find out when he can exercise again. I made a bunch of healthy meals and put them in tupperware so we don't have to worry about it the next few days.

The one sliver of good news is on the job front. DH had an interview Monday (third round) with a huge consulting firm. Less than 24 hours later they called and asked him to come in the 17th for a "confirming interview", which I think means if this goes well he gets the job!!! It is a great job and would be for great pay and in Philly. He would have to travel throughout the northeast, but I'll take it! The cardiologist said he should be well enough to go to the interview in New York (he will take the train). Fingers crossed!