I was sitting with my husband when his electrocardiogram suddenly went straight up and straight down. I told the nurse something bad was happening and she called the code. They gave my husband two jolts with the electrodes and converted his EKG to some type of normal and took him off to the Cath Lab with no promises. It was found he could not swallow 3 days following surgery. The doctor later stated they thought he might have had a small stroke.It became necessary for them to surgically insert a tube into his stomach to feed him and then began the rehab to teach him how to swallow again. It took about 3 months for him to fully regain his ability to swallow and have the tube removed. They taught him how to avoid water or food going down his windpipe. He never had an embolism, but they had him on a full aspirin for some time and then on baby aspirin after that. They also started him on Warfrin, but this was just too much for him to monitor and office visits regularly. His life was pretty normal. Watchful but otherwise very normal. He was at home, he had his grandkids visits and pretty much enjoyed life.
Gina5009