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My heart is broken

Health / by

I wrote this article yesterday, Sunday morning, and intended to publish it on the Thursday. However because of some events that happened, I’m going to post this early. I know today is Paul’s day here on LiP, but I’m sure you’ll understand why I’m posting this

I am laying in a hospital bed right now in the ICU unit at Davao Doctors Hospital. At the time I wrote this article, I had suffered two heart attacks last week. I thought everything was over, but yesterday I had another one. That cause me to be admitted into the hospital. I’m still learning more all the time, I don’t know everything that’s going on yet, but today I should learn a lot. I will be visiting with my cardiologists the first time, and I’m sure he will have a lot to tell me.

So what you read below is what I had written before I came into thehospital, I’ll be updating this more as we go along..

To Paul Thompson, I’m sorry to be stepping on your toes today.

Well, it has been an interesting week or two.  I have found myself to be broken hearted.

Since moving to the Philippines early in 2000, I have made serious efforts at improving my health.  I have changed my diet, I have exercised fairly regularly over the years, I have done whatever I could to live a healthier life.

A little over two years ago, I was hospitalized because of a spider bite (or some kind of insect, most likely a spider) that became severely infected.  This year, I have been fighting diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes related disease of the eyes.

I have had diabetes for around 25 years or so, hard to know exactly when I got it, I only know that I was diagnosed about 25 years ago.  In the past two years I have been trying hard to control my diabetes, and I have been pretty successful, especially in the past 6 months or so.

I have been feeling good, and feeling healthier than I have in years.

But, I got a big surprise

Last week, on Tuesday night June 21, I woke up in the middle of the night with chest pain.  In all of my 54 years, I have never experienced chest pain.  But, I had fairly significant pain, and could not sleep for the rest of the night.  For several reasons, I did not think that it was that significant.  On Wednesday, and Thursday, I had occasional pain in my chest, but only slight pain.  Then, Thursday night, I had a repeat of Tuesday night, but this time the pain was much greater, and I was sweating uncontrollably, even though the air conditioning was running on high, and the room was actually very cold.

Broken Heart
Broken Heart

On Friday morning, I decided that I was pretty sure I had suffered a heart attack and should have called 911.  But, I didn’t do that at the time of the event, so I told Feyma that I needed to go to my doctor.  I was feeling pretty OK on Friday morning, so I told Feyma that we would just walk up to the highway, which is what we normally do, and we would catch a taxi or jeepney to the doctor’s office.  As we started walking, after only about 1 minute of walking, I had to stop, because I was very tired and could not breath.  Luckily, a taxi came by right at that time, and we stopped him to ride.

At the doctor

When we got to the doctor’s office, I explained everything that had been happening, and the doctor ordered a full panel of blood tests, a urinalysis, and an echocardiogram.  That was Friday morning.  On Saturday morning, I went in for my various tests.  First we went for the blood test, then we went over to the heart center for the echocardiogram.  When we were in the heart center, somebody came from the laboratory, and told Feyma that she needed to return to the lab, because they had something important for her.  She went back and they gave her one of the tests and told her to bring it to the doctor immediately.  After the echocardiogram was finished, we went to the doctor’s office.  He saw us immediately, no waiting for our turn.

The doctor informed me that I had already had a heart attack.  There was an enzyme in my blood (Troponin I), that enzyme would only be present if I had suffered a heart attack.  In fact, my level of that enzyme was very high.  As I had explained how things had happened on both Tuesday and Thursday, the doctor is sure that I had suffered two heart attacks.  I am certain of it too, since both events were very similar, although the Thursday event was much stronger.

Doctor’s Analysis

As I write this, it is Sunday, June 26.  Tomorrow, I will be going in to the doctor for him to look at the rest of my blood tests, and the echocardiogram.  I have a number of doctor friends, and they have looked at the blood tests, and everything is normal.  In fact, many of the results are in the “excellent” range.

I am looking forward to hearing what my doctor has to say about all of the tests.  I am left wondering right now… “why did I have a heart attack?”  My heart has always been good in the past, never had any problems, and suddenly, BOOM!  I am very interested to see what happens.

Health Care

I know that a number of people will be telling me that I need to go back to the States, etc.  There is excellent care here in Davao.  Just in the past 5 years or so, they did a major upgrade to the Heart Center at Davao Doctor’s Hospital.  It is now considered among the best in the Philippines.  Some people say it IS the best.  I have good doctors, and full confidence.  I don’t need to travel to get good care.  If the test results show something that is way out there, that cannot be treated here… well, then I will have to do something, go somewhere or whatever.  But, I don’t expect that.  And, I won’t be traveling like that, unless it is necessary.

I’m feeling great

It is funny… I had a heart attack last week, probably two in fact, and right now, I am feeling really great.  I probably feel the best I have felt in a long time.  Lots of energy.  My biggest problem is that I am having trouble sleeping at night, not sure why.  No pain or anything, I just can’t sleep!  Other than that, I feel great.

I am not in the hospital, and have not been hospitalized at all.  I am comfortable at home, and I am living my normal routine.  I do take at least one nap during the day, and sometimes two naps.  I want to get as much rest as I can, and since I am not sleeping well at night, naps are good for me.

I guess one thing that is outside my normal routine is that I am not exercising.  My doctor has instructed me to just rest, and not to exercise for now, and probably it will be 6 months before he puts me back on an exercise routine.

I will be writing a second article about this tomorrow, with an update.  By the time you are reading this, I will know a lot more, based on the results of my echocardiogram.  So, I will update you with what I find out tomorrow!

In the meantime… all thoughts and prayers are fully accepted and appreciated.  But, don’t be too worried about me… I really am feeling very good.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • hello bob,
      I have been reading your articles for awhile. hope your health gets better. have you tried going to a vegetarian diet? I mean start slow like take any 2 days of the week and eat no meat of any kind. that way it forces the body metabolism to change. and the weight loss will occur with any exercise. basically it like giving your metabolism an new way to breakdown your food.

  3. Oh buddy, I am glad you are feeling good and that nothing happened to you. Interesting to hear everything you went through as it can help other people if they experience this.

    Man, you really amaze me, even 2-3 heart attacks later and you are helping people with your recent experience. There is no one quite like you buddy!

    If ya need anything at all – always here for you mate!

  5. Hi Bob,

    Goodmorning. How are you, I hope you’re doing good. I admire your perseverance there. Just follow what your doctors advise. All the best.
    Godbless you.

    Kim

  7. Hey Bob,it’s Greg, i will be praying for your full recovery and getting back to routine life. Good luck and relax

  8. Great article. If you hadn’t been taking care of yourself with diet and exercise for the past several years your outcome during this event would have been, different.

  9. Bob – I was really shocked to read your post…I hope you’ll recover quickly. I think it speaks well if your health that after two heart attacks, you’re attitude is so great and you’re doing so well. My thoughts and prayers are with you…you are an inspiration to all of us!
    Steve B.

  12. I hope they get to the bottom of this and find out what is ailing you. Take care and get well.

  13. Bob, I am very sad knowing your problem and situation. I am not very religious and don’t pray a lot, but I will do a prayer for you my friend.
    I had health issues the last few months I was in Davao that the doctor at Davao Docs, I personally choose to come back. I had auto accidents during that period and disorientation.
    I am doing well now. My daughter lives my house in Davao and attends UM.
    I want to come back to Davao sometime and resume my life and friends there, including you my first friend in Davao.

  14. Mt Elizabeth hospital in Singapore is amazing. Get well soon if they can’t figure it out I would highly recommend going to Singapore that hospital saved my wife’s life after 3 hospitals in India couldn’t cure her.

  15. My thoughts are with you Bob. Wishing you a speedy recovery, and a safe journey home if it comes to that.

  17. Yikes! I hope you recover soon Bob, and that you get treated so these heart attacks stop. Get well soon!

  18. Probably the only superior treatment you would get in the U.S. would be the enormous Doctor/hospital bill designed to give you another Heart Attack. Get well soon.

  19. Your sleeping habit won’t take place normally during night time maybe because of the medicine you took that your hormone is adjusting as well … try to have a home remedy herbs ask your wife to boil a guyabano leaves and have a drink on it.

  22. ROBERT MARTIN:
    Paul Thompson is more concerned about your health than my silly article. The one big question I have is why the hell at any age you didn’t get to the hospital when the first alarm bell went off? I was sitting with a friend a few years back and watched him have a stroke, and I knew exactly what it was, I got him two aspirin, (AS advised my medical experts) and tried to get his ass into my car to visit the hospital. He refused and had three more strokes in the next few day, went to the hospital and never returned home. It’s a wake up call friends, and smart people listen to their body (Yes Bob I’m talking to you!) When it happened to me in March, I was at the hospital within one hour, different symptoms but still my wake up call. Here I am now on the mend. Don’t play games with your health.
    To back up what Bob said, I know the three Doctors involved, saved my life from massive internal bleeding, I have all the faith in the world in those guys.

    • Hi Paul, it all comes down that I didn’t know what was happening. Now, I know what a heart attack feels like, and yesterday when it happened for the third time I knew exactly what was going on and was at the hospital and probably 10 minutes or so. Now I know what to look for.

  23. Hi Bob,
    So sorry to hear about your recent heart attacks! Put aside conversing with folks right now here and get some needed rest. Your health comes first over everything.
    My thoughts and prayers for a good recovery are with you.
    Take care now,
    Queenie

    • Thanks for your concern. Don’t worry I’m not really doing much just laying here in bed talking into my cell phone and that talk is being converted into text.

  24. For most expats of a certain age I would recommend following the progress of Bob’s post.I think some will have had a warning or two and ignored the signs.I hope Bob that you post treatment costs if its not a sensetive issue.Im sure many would appreciate knowing.Stay well.

  25. You’re the only person I know who’s had two (now 3?) heart attacks in quick succession and is writing online and feeling great! What a blessing. Praying for you, Bob.

  27. Hi Bob

    I am a Singaporean and I follow your blog quite regularly.
    I met Feyma with my Filipina fiancee when I was in Davao in October 2014.

    I spent a year in medical school in Singapore – so I have a number of very senior doctor friends.

    These are some things you may like to consider:
    – Lose as much weight as possible. Get into your ideal BMI range. You should look totally different in 6 months.
    -That also means losing your belly altogether.( fat in men tends to hang around the internal organs)
    -Consider “Gastric Banding” .
    -If diabetes is type 2, losing a lot of weight should, almost certainly, bring your blood sugar levels down.
    “Diabetes always complicates everything”

    You probably have very competent cardiac specialists at DDH. Very unlikely you need to go to US or elsewhere.
    If you require a second opinion, you should consider the government run ” National Heart Center ( Singapore General))”.A center of excellence and world class. No need to go to Mount Elizabeth.

    I have more than 15 years experience doing business in India. If I had to get a 2nd opinion, I would go somewhere like Narayana Hospital.
    http://www.narayanahealth.org/best-private-cardiac-hospital.

    The best in India are outstanding. Even Singapore will not be able to compete with India’s best and I say that with confidence having worked with smart Indians.

    Get yourself:
    – a fitness tracker that tracks your heart rate .Xiaomi’s latest Band 2 is a good cheap option:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMnHhhKdTnU

    I used to wear the Jawbone UP3 but am now wearing the older Xiaomi Mi Band 1s( with HR ).Reasonably accurate HR.

    Get a portable ECG device. Omron has the Avicor. Omron is a trusted brand in heart monitoring systems. You should also get the Omron blood pressure monitor ( get the series 10 that has blue-tooth connectivity so your readings can be stored in an app/cloud. The series 10 also captures atrial fibrillation).

    http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Health-Personal-Care-Blood-Pressure-Monitors/zgbs/hpc/3777151

    Its not a good sign to have 3 heart attacks in one week so don’t take things lightly. A doctor who says otherwise is not a doctor I will trust.

    Finally, take it as a wake up call to be even closer to God:)

  30. Bob, you are the luckiest! Hug you in my prayers. I had my heart attack last March. Everything of my lab tests were normal. See? I am diabetic so it was the culprit! Ingat ingat na jud ta Bob. I still would like to meet you in person. But right now i am not allowed to fly!!!!

  31. The electrocardiogram will give you answers if you have any of the arteries blocked to your heart … Mean while rest is the best policy untill your checked out

  32. I know that not many people believe in numerology, but I do.
    To cut it short, this is not very good.
    The very first day was 21st of June 2016.
    21+6=9
    2+0+1+6=9
    That is number 99.
    You are 54.
    That is 5+4=9
    To sum it up, you have a 999 to deal with.
    That is an inverted 666. We all know what that means.
    Coincidence?
    I certainly hope so and I also hope you make it through.
    If I would be in your shoes I would take this extremely seriously!

  34. Hi Bob, like yourself I am 54. I can guarantee your lifestyle is a lot more healthier than mine (retired soldier) so thanks for posting. I am going to have a long hard think about what this Kiwi should do to improve his odds.
    Keep up the positive attitude and do what your Doctors tell you. Also do what Feyma tells you to, although you were probably doing that already.
    Kia Kaha (Be Strong)
    Muzz

  35. It is a pleasant surprise to me that you are home from the hospital already and even able to post this update here on ” LIP “. If that happened to you here in the USA I think they would have kept you in the hospital a lot longer ( more money from the insurance company that way LOL ) . I wonder if you have trouble sleeping may be due to the fear of waking up with chest pains again ? I know that would scare the you know what out of me too if I woke up with chest pains. I hope that any remaining health condition related to what you have been through can be taken care of or treated to avoid this from happening again.

    For any doubters out there concerning health care and hospitalization in The Philippines, from my own personal experience there is excellent health care facilities in The Philippines if you know where to go before you need such treatment and care. My suggestion to anyone contemplating a move or even a visit to check out health care and hospital facilities in the area you expect to be in before you go. A lot of this can be done online and then verified once you are there. Knowing in advance paid off for me in 2012 while on vacation in Iligan City I came down with pneumonia.

    Best wishes to you Bob for a continued good recovery and hopefully getting things back to normal or even better than normal. Thanks for the update here.

    • Hi Bob, at the time I wrote the article I was not in the hospital, but I am now in the ICU unit a tad of L Hospital. They’re taking good care of me though.

      • Bob, myou prayers I I are for you and your family, listen to thensure doctors and your gut….get well!

  37. Bob, may the Lord grant you healing & good health. God bless your heart & your family in this time of need…

  38. Hi Bob , hope you get better soon I have a great doctor and I keep all my appointment , as we all get older it’s vital to look after our health hoping the
    Best for your test results take care ,
    Derek in pasig .

  43. Hi Bob,

    Thoughts and prayers with you! I completely agree with Paul Thompson that you need to take it easy. I appreciated your recent input on my article, but when I saw you had had 3 heart attacks, my thoughts were is this guy nuts. Take care of yourself!

    Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

    Jay

      • Hi Bob,

        I am just saying that even though I am a work-a-holic. If I have 3 heart attacks or heck just 1, I am not doing anything that even remotely looks like work until a doctor tell me what is what. I know you are not digging ditches with a spoon or cutting grass with hedge trimmers, but I really think you should take it easy. I know you are a grown *ss man, but just take care of yourself.

        Peace

        Jay

  47. Hi bob,

    I hope and pray everything gets better! Hang on there! Prayers for you! Take care

  48. Dear Bob Martin;
    We have never met but I read your website as often as I can. I am stunned that you are having health probelems & of course will pray for your speedy recovery. I, like so many others posting to you are of the mind I know how to cure you. But I am not a MD so I am only posting what I would do in your situation. I am a great believer in “CHELATION.” If you don’t know what that is; it is drip into your vein of a chemical that cleans the walls of your veins & arteries. This increases the blood flow & reduces pressure on the heart. There is a place in Manila that does it. It can be done by anyone but most Filipino MD’s don’t know about it. NO ONE has ever died from it. People die from by-pass operations daily Stateside. For diabetes I suggest “turmeric” & “mangosteen.” Both readily available in the Philippines. My friend on Palawan was up to 400 blood sugar & passing out. He started using it & the first day his blood sugar dropped to 100! A orphanage in Puerto Princesa grows & incapsulates the stuff to sell to support the orphanage: everybody wins! Now there: you have more unsolicited advice from another “shade tree” MD. But moreso, you have my hopes & prayers for your full recovery. Though we never met, I would wager you are a nice guy & I am missing out for not knowing you personally. Bill Miller, (Palawan Bill?)

  49. You have a heart of gold my friend…that and the will to live is a powerful force. Take care and God’s Speed to recovery…. you are loved by so many and I’m one of them

  51. take care of yourself bob no time to be a macho man – looking forward to hearing from you

  52. Bob,
    All we can do is pray for a full recovery. Having a positive attitude will take you a long way. I have much admiration for my Gastro doctors in the Philippines as they did an excellent job with my gallbladder surgery with little pain and a tiny incision.

  53. I hope everything works out for the best. Hopefully, everything will get back to normal soon,

    Best Wishes,

    Scott AKA Trollatc

  55. Hi Bob,
    very saddened to hear of your latest troubles,you’ve had more than your fair share recently. I sincerely hope that you make a full and speedy recovery from your heart attacks and i’m sure that you will.
    You are in good hands,and with the support of your family when you leave hospital,you’ll soon be back to your old self,no doubt.
    I will offer a prayer to the man upstairs. To make sure he watches over you.
    All the best Bob.
    Take good care.
    Dave,Joradin and boys.

  56. Hello Bob!
    It is very good that you are not panicking. This early warning could be a blessing in disguise, in effect telling you to make some more lifestyle changes. The doctors may also advise you to have one or more stents shoved up your tight cardiac arteries. I had that done 5 years ago and , honestly, I felt 20 years younger and started walking and swimming/exercising accordingly.

    Good luck!

    Joop

  58. Sir Robert.
    Just back from 10 days in the Kruger National park no communication with the world
    only wild life and nature its self.
    Opened up the net only now to find of your current health problems.
    Hang on sir we are with in thought and prayers.
    From the Fealey family in South Africa.

  59. Bob, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Have some time relax for your speedy recovery. Ingat lang lagi.

    Louie

  60. Hi Bob,

    I just read your article here about having multiple heart attacks, and I want you to know that I have prayed for you and your family.
    Your website has been a source of inspiration and information for me for several years now. I have always enjoyed reading your articles and comments, as you are so friendly and helpful to all who post and ask questions. I am always impressed with your wisdom and knowledge of all things about Mindanao.

    I a currently living in Manila with my filipina wife, who is from Lantapan, Bukidnon. We are wanting to make a trip there soon to visit her brothers and parents.

    Get well soon, and I hope you can continue to post articles and comments for many years to come, because you really do make a positive impact with your websites.

    Best Regards,
    D.A.

  61. hi bob
    long time no chat. been out of net contact for a long time so only just seen your news. I trust all is stable and you are improving. rest exercise eat well no stress and I’m sure youll be back as before.
    keep well