Bob Himes OldGoat378@aol.com Panama City, Florida age 61 married to Carole 3 children: Michelle, Robert II and Philip one Cocker Spaniel, Nicky

I'm retired from the military (23 1/2 years) and have been married 39 years to my best friend and bingo buddy, Carole. We have one daughter - Michele, age 37 and two boys - Robert II, age 34 and Philip, age 30. We live in Panama City, Florida with our baby, Nickie, a 7 year old Party Cocker Spaniel (black & white).

My Work

I was born & raised near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania until age 17 when I joined the US Air Force. I started smoking at age 14 and stopped smoking 6 years ago (never too late!) I averaged 2 packs per day. I was a Special Agent and Criminal Investigator in the USAF and retired in July of 1977. I then worked as a Welfare Fraud Investigator in Pennsylvania until a car crash in 1985 screwed up my spine and then retired on Disability. We moved to Panama City, Florida in November of 1988.

My CHF

I had the usual childhood diseases. In 1960, while in the USAF, I had pericarditus, which landed me in the hospital. In 1970 I was having all kinds of problems with stomach and chest pain. My problems were diagnosed as hiatel hernia. While stationed in Virginia, I was in and out of the base ER on numerous occasions. The diagnosis was always stomach problems. EKGs were always taken and later review revealed all my EKG's showed abnormalities and recommended cardiac testing.
     In 1979, at work, I started feeling funny: lightheaded and dizzy with blurred vision and irregular heart beat. I was sent to the doctor, who suspected Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). I was taken to the hospital for immediate cardiac cath but told the doctor I would return in the morning and he said, "Ok, if you're still alive." I didn't sleep much that night! Cath revealed 100%, 90%, 70% and 50% blockages. I had triple bypass, during which I coded twice. One year to the day later I had an MI in my doctor's office. I was admitted to the hospital and had a cath done. My grafts had collapsed. I was placed on many medications and sent home.
     In November of 1984, I had a cervical laminectomy caused by calcium buildup compressing nerves. I returned to work in December of 1984. In February of 1985, a car crash caused more damage to my spine. Arthritis started showing its ugly head (not sure when) and I retired on Disability. We moved to our present address in November of 1988. In April of 1992, while visiting in Pennsylvania, I became paralyzed from the waist down and was in excruciating pain; was admitted to a hospital by the best neurosurgeon in the Philadelphia area and he thought it was caused by my back. MRIs, Cat Scans, mylograms and blood tests showed nothing. They gave me Dilauded for pain for an entire week in the hospital, so my wife took doped up me home to Florida.
     I went to back to my favorite doctor and he said it was a textbook case, diagnosing Calcification of the Abdominal Aorta, so I had an Aorta bypass done. From April of 1992 to March of 1994, I had two more MIs, an MRI, numerous balloon angioplasties and a persantine stress test, which was abnormal. In March of 1994, I was admitted for another triple bypass; however, only one bypass was done. While in the hospital, I developed a staph infection, blood clot in my left leg, pneumonia and ARDS. A tracheotomy was done and I spent around 6 weeks in ICU on a ventilator (I don't even remember going into the hospital for a bypass). I was released from the hospital in May of 1994 and continued on medication. My doctor said nothing more can be done. In September of 1994, a persantine stress test revealed the left side of my heart is oxygen deprived. From 1979 to the present time, my entire body has been susceptable to bloating even with diuretics.
     My final diagnosis was CAD (Coronary Artery Disease), Atherosclerotic Peripheral Vascular disease, CHF (Congestive Heart Failure), COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), angina at rest, disabling hip claudication and osteoarthritis

Coping

I can't do much of anything but stay in the air conditioned house. I like to talk on the computer, love reading, play a little Bingo when my wife takes me and my oxygen out for a while. It really hurts knowing my wife has to do everything I should be doing. I try to do some things but I get hollered at real fast. I have trouble breathing, walking, sleeping or really, doing most anything.

My Meds

  Bob H -- June 16, 1998

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 Jon C.