Phil S gene51s@netscape.net Ohio, USA age 50 married 31 years to Anita One son, Phil Jr. 2 Chihuahuas named Co-Co and Petey

Before CHF

I am a former Marine. I joined in 1967 to beat the draft and ended up in Vietnam. I was there 3 months, then hurt my knees so I got to go home after spending 9 months in traction at Great Lakes Naval Hospital. I was honorably discharged with a service-connected injury in April of 1969.
     I got married at the old age of 19 in October of 1968 to Anita, who was the old age of 17! We sure thought we were all grown up. We had a son in December of 1969 and boy, did life change. Real life finally hit us, but we aren't sorry. He has been a lot of help to us, especially since I have been sick. He is a stonecutter by trade. He has given us 2 wonderful granddaughters. Sammie is the serious, sensitive one who is 10 going on 21, and Katie is wild and crazy at age 5. My wife is now a homemaker. We have a 5 month old female Chihuahua who now runs the house. We hope to be able to breed her in another year. She is a joy to have around but she doesn't like outsiders much.
     I was offered a job working in an office at the VA when I was discharged but being the redneck that I am, I wasn't about to wear a white shirt every day and sit at a desk. Boy, if I just had that decision to make over again! I have worked in the coal mines in eastern Ohio, been a maintenance man in an apartment complex, a guard at a prison in Mansfield, Ohio, and I have been a security guard. The doctors won't let me return to any of these jobs so I am now on a Veteran's Pension. I liked working in the coal mines the most. It was like being in a large family with everyone helping each other. I really miss working.

My CHF

In April of 1994, I had a heart attack that lasted all night. When they finally got it stopped, the damage was irreversible. I had the balloon surgery but as soon as I got back to my room, I had another heart attack. I was rushed into surgery for a single bypass. I was awake for that surgery until the surgeon touched my heart. The anesthesiologist said that if she had given me any more anesthesia, I would have died so she knew that I was awake.
     I also have other medical problems but the latest one was a pulmonary embolism that hit on December 4, 1999. The Dayton VA had taken me off Coumadin because they didn't think I had any risk factors for blood clots. I guess they were wrong! It seems like I will be around for awhile, but I am still trying to figure out my purpose in life.

My Meds

Update Update Update Update

June 30, 2000 - I found out that I have mild emphysema and restrictive lung disease. I am supposed to have a Vo2max test done in a few months. I also got another dog; this time a miniature Pinscher named Bear. He is 3 months old and weighs 6 pounds. Our chihuahua doesn't like him much yet but the vet said that someday they will be best friends. I still feel like I've been run over by a truck most of the time but on good days I play with the dogs and on bad days my wife takes care of them and I sleep. Anita checks the posts on the forum every day and tells me what they say. If my eyes are good that day, I read them myself. Good luck to all of you. Bye, Gene.

Update Update Update Update

March 15, 2001 - I've been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and am now being treated for post-traumatic stress at the Cincinnati VA. Since I also have severe arthritis, I don't get out much except to go to my appointments and to see the family in Columbus. We got an apartment in Cincinnati to be close to the VA since I have so many appointments every week.
     I don't read the forum every day due to my macular degeneration but my wife still does and she keeps me informed about what's going on. My thoughts are with all of you even if I don't post. I had to give my dog Bear to my brother because he had too much energy for me to keep up with. Now he has a big yard to run in and Co-Co is really happy about the fact that he's gone! I want the new CHFers on the forum to know that you can last a long time with this disease. I'm still around since my diagnosis in 1994 and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon if I can help it!

Update Update Update Update

April 13, 2004 - I have developed diabetes, which I am trying to control with medication, but it seems to be getting worse. I am doing my best to watch my diet. The diabetes does seem to be causing me a lot of kidney problems lately. I got an ICD/pacemaker in April of 2003 because I kept passing out. It has helped some.
     I did get a CHF specialist since I am now on Social Security after fighting for it for so long. I got a Social Security lawyer but I had to get all of my own medical information, so my wife and I really did all the work. Still, without the lawyer we wouldn't have won.
     I am living back in Columbus to be close to family, so whenever I can't get the Columbus VA to take care of a problem, I get a private doctor. I am too tired to make the trip to the Cincinnati VA. It has been 10 years since I had the heart attack that started all these CHF problems.
     I want all new CHFers to remember that you can never give up hope and don't just accept what the doctor tells you. Read everything that Jon has on this site. You will not find any better information anywhere else than on this site. My wife still reads the forum every day and keeps me informed on how everyone is doing. Take care and I will be thinking of all of you.

Phil -- January 9, 2000

All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. No one here is a doctor. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. This web site and all its pages copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Jon C.