Re: UNAVAILABILITY

[mgoldman@ucdavis.edu (Dr. Marvin Goldman)]

>DEAR HEALTH PHYSICS AND MEDICAL PHYSICS COLLEAGUE:
>
>        For a few weeks I will not be available.  As you read this, I'll be
>undergoing bypass surgery at my hospital, Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa.
>Those of you who know me well will share my surprise at this because I've
>always exercised and paid attention to my health.
>
>        It all started Saturday morning.  After a short work out at
>Jeanie's and my health club, I began to experience mild pain in my mid
>chest.  It soon developed into pronounced cool sweats.  I rushed to my
>hospital which was only a mile away.  Within 20 minutes, I was on
>Streptokinase.  It was very scary.
>
>        I stabilized quickly and expected to be out of the hospital the
>next day.  WRONG!!  My cardiac cath. on Tuesday showed that although my
>heart attack caused minimal damage, there were other vessels that were in
>pretty bad shape.  The best medical recommendations were for bypass
>surgery.  I had a difficult time, but I am accepting this alternative.  I'm
>terrified of the procedure, but now feel comfortable with my decision.
>
>        The problem I have is some times referred to as silent ischemia.
>Although I exercise faithfully and live an active life, there was probably
>an oxygen deficiency to my heart often.  Unfortunately, I experienced no
>pain with this so I didn't have any idea until the heart attack on
>Saturday.
>
>        The good news is that I expect to be even better after surgery.  I
>look forward to being back to my friends, colleagues, challenges, and
>responsibilities.  Please keep me in your thoughts.  I'll have Jane post a
>message early next week to say how things went.
>
>
>David S. Gooden, Ph.D., J.D.
>Director, Biomedical Physics
>Saint Francis Hospital
>6161 S. Yale Ave.
>Tulsa, OK  74136
>Phone:  918-494-1444
>FAX:  918-494-1452
>email:  gooden@vms.ocom.okstate.edu
>
>
>P.S.  If you haven't had a recent treadmill test, get one.  This is the one
>thing I might have done better.  Also check with a physician about taking
>an aspirin a day.  Some think this is important for men over fifty.
David:
Our best wishes for a speedy and uneventful recovery.
Marvin Goldman