Feeling OK

Sunday night I felt as though I could return to work. Monday I felt a little less like that.  I put supper together to throw in the slow-cooker and I had to take a break cutting up the chicken because I ran out of energy.

Yesterday I was dragging all day, no energy at all and the center of my chest under the sternum, where the mass was located, was sore when I coughed.  I slept well, though I woke up early, 5:17, but I did manage to fall back asleep.

I usually sleep on my left side, but sometimes on my right and often I like to put my arm on the bed with my forearm sticking straight up and I cup my shoulder in my palm. Currently, I can only sleep on my left side. I can’t roll over on my right because that’s where the incisions were made and if I cup my shoulder it put pressure on my shoulder and stretches the area where the cuts were made. This morning though did lean into my compression pillow. The heart shaped pillow I was given at the hospital to “hug” when I need to cough or sneeze. Leaning into the pillow on my right side did allow me to fall asleep in a different position which was nice.

Today I still feel weak, but already I feel better than yesterday.

Tomorrow we will have a house full of people. Alison, Chad and Sara and Even will be here and are spending most of the weekend. I can’t wait to see the kids; or Rug-Rat1 (Sara) and Rug-Rat2 (Evan) as I call them. My sister, Carolyn, her son, Cory and his wife April and Brecken, their infant son, will be here, along with my brother Terry and his wife Lisa and the daughter and son-in-law April and Brannon. A house full of family and good food. It will be a blast.

P.S. Until last week I hadn't spent the night in the hospital as an adult. I couldn't believe how wonderful I was treated in the ICU. Yesterday I ordered two edible arrangements to be delivered today to the Charge Nurses; one to Carmen on the day shift and one to Janet on the night shift. I hope they have time to enjoy them.

Home

So I’m home. Sore, which I think is going to get worse over the next few days. I’m under some restrictions about what I can do and lift, but not too much all in all considering what I went though.

It seems everyone you meet has a hospital horror story and I have to say the pleasant part of this adventure was the staff at St. Joseph’s. From Patricia, the check-in nurse to Talya the nurse that got me out the door the staff was pleasant, caring and treated me very well. The staffs in the ICU, on both shifts, were absolutely fantastic.  From the time I entered the door until I was placed in the car I don’t think I could have been under any better care anywhere in the world or by better, nicer people. The staff made an experience I was leery of as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

One of the ICU nurses was a little shocked when I asked her if I could smoke. I was kidding because I don’t smoke, I gave it up years ago and can hardly stand to be near a smoker, she caught on quickly, but her initial reaction was priceless.

The mass, from what I understand at this point, wasn’t what the doctor expected. I’ll find out more later when I visit him for the post op. I do know it was full of some sort of pus and test are going to be run to see if what it is can be determined what it actually is. I had to speak to an Infectious Disease doctor and he said it could be bacteria, a fungus, of some form of TB. He asked me a number of questions about where I lived in the past, where I was stationed, what type of pets I owned. Question after question. It may be six weeks before any results or in and they may not be conclusive. The  Infectious Disease doc had to clear me leaving the hospital. It’s the never ending drama.

On a very sad note: today is the 10 year anniversary of my Brother Jerry’s sudden death. There are so many good things he has missed. I wish he would have known Sara and Evan because he would have been a great Uncle.

It’s a Go

The cardiologist called me this morning and my heart is clear. I’m wide open, no blockages. So, tomorrow I go under the knife or under the robot in this case. I’m still not looking forward to the process, but I feel much better about the situation knowing my heart is in good shape.

The Buzz Cut

I had the nuke stress test today and I think I passed. Everyone involved today seems to think everything looked good, but the cardiologist needs to look at the pictures and give final approval. I'm very disappointed I didn't hear from him today.

There wasn’t much to the test. An IV with a radioactive drug, then pictures with a machine that was like half of a CAT scan machine that only looked at my chest; an EKG, then on the treadmill and more of the radioactive drug and then more pictures. At least I’ll know what kind of shape my heart is in and whether or not I have any blockages.

I’ve had more test in the last few weeks that I ever have had, quite a few EKGs and I don’t know how many times my blood pressure has been taken.

I also found out I can’t shower for a few days after surgery, so I got a buzz cut, the first in a long, long time. I used to keep my hair very short and I shaved my head for awhile, but it’s been years since I’ve had it this short. It does grow back though. I don’t mind the sponge bath so much, but, wouldn’t have been able to deal with 3-4 days of a dirty head. So, buzz cut it was.

One More Test

Well, I made it through the pre-op without any problems. I had an EKG, a BP check, a lung capacity test, a chest x-ray and the nurse filed six vials of blood, maybe a cup in total, much less than the pint I’m used to giving up for the bloodletting when I see the doc for PV.

I have my instructions for next week. I found out I can’t leave the floor I’m assigned too. I thought I might be able to go to the lobby for a decent cup of coffee, but I won’t be able to. I can wear PJ bottoms, but I have to wear the gown for a top. The room does have wireless though, so I can waste time on the Internet.

I was also given a device to use to exercise my lungs with. It’s a plastic thing with two side-by-side tubes. The one on the left is about the diameter of a quarter and the right tube is about the size of an Oreo. I have to exhale and then inhale and bring two pistons, one in each tube, to a certain height (the tubes are marked in ml) to breathe deeply. There isn’t any magic involved and there aren’t any drugs or fluids or anything special. Just the two tubes, two pistons, and a hose to breathe through and the thing is RX only. Why? I’d bet it set the insurance company back $500. It is silly that it’s RX only.

I also have a wrist band that I have to leave on until next week. I already want to rip this thing to threads. It’s very annoying and when I wash my hands water gets beneath it and my wrist stays wet. It will be a major relief to slice this thing off.

One more test Tuesday, the nuclear stress test and if I pass that on Thursday I get either four cuts or a split sternum if things go south. The doc thinks it will be the four cuts for the da Vinci robot.  If nothing else I’ll know the status of my heart and whether or not I have any plumbing problems after the nuke test.

I plan to hit the library this weekend and stock up on reading material.

Off for Pre-Op

Today I go in for the pre-op; blood tests, an EKG, and I meet with the anesthesiologist. I still don’t quite how to take all of this. I haven’t been through anything like this before and I feel overwhelmed because I need the surgery to begin with and because I’m going to be sliced open. Even though its four small cuts to insert the robotic surgical tools it’s still a two hospital stay post-op and two weeks home. I just want to get this over with and move on. It isn’t as much as time consuming thoughts filling my head as it all consuming.

I talked to the surgeon the night before last and found out I can’t fly for a month. That takes me out of the company Christmas party in New York. Two people are selected from the Atlanta area each year to attend the party and this year I was chosen, but I won’t make it. I was looking forward to going and I think my boss was happy about it also. I haven’t been to the home office and it would have been great to meet the people I deal with, via phone and email, face-to-face. But that has to wait. Maybe next year.