I am not an "easy stick" but the phlebotomists gamely bleed me in as kindly a fashion as they can muster. I am really kind of annoyed-the specialists seem to know what is up but they seem unwilling to share with me. I got a fat pack of material in Casper of which three small paragraphs and a checklist pertain to me: mostly stuff I am supposed to do. Nothing is really named. From the prescription for the Cardio Program in Lander, the risk stratification is checked at the very worst level. Whether that is legal, motivational, or medical is anybody's guess. It is hard not to take it as medical. Coupled with an array of new meds and sensations, pains, and feelings, it is hard to remain optimistic let alone calm every time a gas bubble pauses on its way up or down.
Of more help is a website called "The Manual" written by CHF people. I was gasping and my limbs were numb and it advised to pay attention to those electrolytes. Thirty minutes later I am energized enough to moan and complain. I would still be "on hold" to one of the geniuses I am paying to oversee my case. Other useful information: Lie down on the right side only: can't breathe in any other position. I was finding that out in a pretty stressful fashion. Drink no more than two liters of liquid daily. That piece of information would have been useful weeks ago. The cigarette situation has gone backwards a bit. I am doing about ten per day-mouthing them, play smoking, and otherwise playing with them before lighting up and guiltily stubbing them out at the halfway mark.
I stopped by the Oxygen place yesterday and got an oximeter. Pretty marginal levels but better this afternoon with electrolytes on board.
