Investigative Bible Study

[November 17, 2009] (See the late development down a bit)   It’s pretty common these days for most friends to greet me with “So, how are you feeling?”  Most of my friends are aware I had a heart attack one year ago this week. For the past 5 months or so, my answer has been pretty much the same.

“I’m feeling great, except when I’m not.”  Most weeks I’ve continued to experienced short episodes of angina- the body’s reaction to stress or over-exertion causing cholesterol to be released near the blockages I still have in two arteries.  When that happens I experience symptoms such as chest tightening, a sensation of loss of breath, and maybe some aching anywhere from my chin or shoulders to upper body. My cardiologist and family doctor have been trying to control that by changing up medications.

Recently I completed most of a cardiac rehab course at Portland Adventist. That wonderful program taught me about all related issues such as diet, exercise, drugs etc. I also started a series of workouts designed to help my heart rebuild and hopefully stimulated my two blocked arteries to start charting new “natural bypasses” around the blockage. My angiogram last year while in the hospital revealed one had already started to recreate its own new blood path.

So, the bottom line is I’m still struggling a bit. I appreciate your continued prayers.  I’ll try to update again after I see my cardiologist in a week or two. (See the late developments below)

[Last minute news-- November 18, 2009] I ended up getting in to see my cardiologist today when someone canceled at the last minute. The short story is he said I should expect to have ongoing angina issues from now on. There are several smaller arteries that branch off the larger ones with 80-90% blockage. He said those in themselves are not life threatening as they would have been if they were higher up in the larger sections of the arteries. The problem is my blockages are some distance from the locations they normally treat with angioplasty, stents of even bypasses, plus the sections are narrower than Most. While they haven’t ruled out “trying” (he clearly said “trying”) to use stents etc., he was certain I would still have ongoing angina because they definitely would not be able to treat 100% of my blockages. So I left with more instructions on what I could try with medications, but no certain hope of a surgical solution. So let’s continue to pray for God to intervene where the surgeons may not.

[March 19th] Somewhere around age 45 I noticed conversations with peer-aged friends usually included a 15 minute ice-breaking introduction comparing health issues, current ailments, medications, and hospital or doctors stories.

In our 20′s we usually compared scars and muscles which over the years degenerates to our present sad state.

As a young pastor of 20-something I recall wondering if ‘older’ folks knew how self-centered, and need I say “boring” these health conversations quickly became. And, if things got too bad or drug too far out, I’d run the other way when I sensed one of those prolonged stories approaching.

Truth be told, the majority of us really do not want the long story when it comes to asking a question like, “How’s your health been?” So how do you answer that and keep people liking to hang out with you?

Never-the-less, in recent days I’ve fielded a round of 10 or more friends asking this very question, so for all of you 45 and over, here it is… a current answer to “How’s My Health Doing?”

First off– in case you missed it- last November 15th I had a heart attack here in Portland– a “4 or 5 on a scale of 1 to 10″ I was told by cardiac nurses. There’s more about that if you care to scroll back through our older notes.

Since then its been up and down.

And… overall, I find myself answering the health question generally– its one that often comes upon various doctor’s forms– by now saying “fair” instead of “average” or “good”. Its a little disconcerting right now.

Each day I take 14 medications or supplements– 14 is a huge number to keep track of. Recall also, that I have not had bypasses or other surgery– doctors have chosen to treat with medicines like Plavix.

I’m getting tired- as in tired in my chest area where I start noticing heart related symptoms (that is generally called ‘angina’ whether its actual pain or not)- much easier than I like- sometimes just a trip up the stairs or in the house with a load of groceries.

Our trip to Hawaii last week demonstrated that travel and lack of sleep really take stamina out of me and increase my incidences of mild angina (at least I assume its mild). Because of that I’m canceling my involvement at an upcoming April Chi Alpha ELT meeting in New Orleans.

I’m starting a cardiac rehab program at Portland Adventist Medical Center for 20 weeks or visits on the 30th, so I’m hoping that time with nurses, exercise physiologists, nutritionists etc will help me.

So– I appreciate your continued prayers. They are all still very important to us.

For those of you familiar with our non-profit world of fund-raising for our ministry/program… (others of you should skip the next paragraph if it offends…)

You know we have to raise all funds for things like salary and health benefits– with the economic downturn, we’ve been on the verge of having to cancel our health insurance coverage to make ends meet. We still haven’t made much progress to get that $1400 per month covered (yes– that’s what insurance costs for a self-employed couple at our age/stage). Of course this is a considerable challenge and issue for us as well as a source of ongoing stress in our lives. So our hope is we can identify 50 people immediately that can contribute $25 per month toward our non-profit budget.

So there is the answer for any that are interested.

Love you all! Thanks for being part of our Community.

Vic & Kathy Varis

Author Profile:  Vic is Oregon and Pacific Northwest Area Director for Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, part of the Leadership team of FOCUS at Portland State University, a writer, blogger, usually an INFP (with "E" overtones), a long time resident of urban inner southeast Portland, the husband of one wife for more than 30 years, a Dad, grandfather, and mentor & friend to all kinds of young adults. Read more from this author