Article printed in Heart Center Online for Patients

Male Stupidity by Rob Brunn

On Nov 18, 2003 I awoke right after midnight with mild discomfort. Oh, it wasn't like other symptoms I had in the past like angina or acid reflux. This was something different. My right ear had some mild pain and it radiated down the carotid artery (jawbone) and into my chest. And of course my left arm felt heavy and tingling. I got up knowing what it was but wasn't sure what I would do about it. "Male Stupidity" took over. I can beat this!!

So, I just tried fighting the pain and laid down to sleep, tossing and turning. After about an hour, I finally called to my wife ... "Joy, I don't feel so good." She got up and said, "We're going to the emergency room!!" After I threw up last night's dinner, I had experienced hot and cold sweats. As my wife got ready (dressed, took the car out of the garage, locked up the dogs), I lay back down in bed and found a "comfort zone". I told Joy that the pain has gone away and I didn't want to move. After a certain degree of argument from me, she went back to bed.

But the pain didn't go away, "Male Stupidity". I tossed and turned some more and finally fell asleep (or passed out) after 4AM. God knows how many heart attacks I had. This couldn't be happening to me. I'm 58 years old, 6' and 170 pounds with hypertension. Don't use table salt, eat greasy fried foods, smoke a pipe, enjoy my rum and cokes, brag about how healthy I am, enjoy my weekly golf, and have a stressful job. "Male Stupidity".

Anyway, I awoke (thank God) to the alarm at 5AM and proclaimed, "I'm glad that evening is over. I'm going to work. But all of a sudden, the pain came back again. I finally agreed to go to the emergency room, but not before I had my coffee, showered, shaved and got dressed. I remember I was selective in what kind of shirt I'd wear. Had to be button down versus pullover so they can just add their monitors to my chest without me getting undressed, "Male Stupidity".

We arrived at Lancaster Community Hospital Emergency Room and Joy checked me in. I thought to myself how stupid for me to be here. They called me in asked a few questions and escorted me to a gurney. They told me to disrobe and put on a gown. "Hmm, this isn't part of MY plan", I thought.

Anyway, I complied, feeling totally ridiculous, “they ain’t gonna find anything wrong”. As the nurse was inserting a tube in the top part of my right hand I asked him to take it from my arm, as I am a semi-monthly blood donor. He refused. He also put me on oxygen. Joy and he were discussing the flavored oxygen you can get at the casinos in Vegas, THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER!!

Apparently, I was in the right place at the right time when I had gone into full cardiac arrest. A different nurse (thanks Michelle) gave me CPR till the crash cart arrived. Next thing I know, I was sitting up with a death grip on the gurney railing apologizing to the dozen or so onlookers. "I'm sorry, I don't belong here.... this is my first hospital experience.... I want to go home now" and most of all, I couldn't breathe. Hmmm, I wonder why?? The hospital staff just wanted me to lie down and relax.

After the intervention when they placed a stent in a 99 percent blocked artery, I guess I'll never be the same. But I'm alive, my wife is kicking herself for not calling 9-1-1, and I am now the poster boy for "Male Stupidity". Lots more to tell, but I bored you enough. I believe God has a purpose for me in life and I think I have it figured out: To tell my story and help convert the "Stupid Males" to informed people. Listen to me!!! "Male Stupidity" can be overcome. Listen to your body and it will take care of you.