Device Day Minus 5...

Tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. I'll go in for the ICD implantation. Dr. Bibbler has been here, Dr. Kutte has been here, the anaesthetist has been for a visit, too. The procedure should take an hour or two depending on how long it takes to find my veins for the wires and how much fun they decide to have shocking the daylights out of me.

I have had other attention too. Jason and I took a walk to the Heliport pad, and saw some other sights in the hospital.I developed a chest pain and Dr. Kutte was on the floor when I got back. I was given a nitroglycerin tablet which helped. So I was glad to have this kind of experience in the safe environment-if I am going to have this kind of experience at all. I have to admit, I am profoundly grateful it happened  with Jason there. He is very helpful,has experience with Lori's similar issues and I need him here right now. So I got an EKG, and am now receiving an infusion to make my shocking work better as a converter to restore my heartbeat.

Progressing

Patty, my nurse for the day, hooked me up to the telemetry reading machine. My Vitals went to a central spot instead of my room monitor. Thus set free, I embarked on several excursions trailing my oxygen tank behind me. Dr. Bibbler was my first contact: He is on tap for a Sunday morning insertion of my device. With this cast in stone, other things started to progress. The Charter flight, the checkout procedure, the meds...Everybody on Team Stephen was smiley today except when they were not. I had an ebb: low BP, and perhaps sugar. But that was transient. Jason was busier than I was by far but even he was forced into relax mode this evening. 

I am getting excited about the flight. On-flight catering called. Unfortunately they called Jason and he ordered things I can eat. I regret having to fly under these circumstances but that will not stop the enjoyment of this once in a lifetime experience.

While trekking on ICU, hoping to see my nurses, my respiratory therapist shooed us off the floor. I didn't recognize a thing on that floor.

There was a "CODE" on my hall. It was just like the movies: crash carts and personnel, at a dead run. I do not know how it turned out.  About the time you climb on the pity pot, you hear a story that makes you feel small. After whining to Val, my Cardiologist RN-PAC,  about the shifting  operation dates to insert my device, she wished me luck because she is setting off for the holdidays to see her terminally ill daughter. Kind of puts a perspective on things.

Dr "A" talked to me about my medications  and how much to cheat on my Lasix to ensure less fluid gain. He is my Hospitalist on the floor. He has worked hard to get my meds effective and reduced in number. I am getting decent numbers all around. 

I am really missing my  dogs. I know they are getting A-1 care but I need to pet them and play with them. The lady at the Best Western has given the dogs, Jason and the dog's handler, a ridiculously rate-low. I really am looking forward to the flight to Ft. Lauderdale and sitting on the deck watching the boats go by and doggies play.

My Chevy van is sitting in Jason's and Lori's Florida driveway. The driver is on his way to Phoenix tonight via USAir and he will enjoy there for awhile before heading back to Omaha.

Hanging Out in Kearney

As much as I love hanging out with Jason, I am starting to feel badly for him. Dr. Kutte overestimated his ability to get Medicare to budge on their 40 day rule. We are here until Sunday at least and he has work issues, Christmas issues, Lori to think about, and a full plate here in Kearney. Kutte offered to prescribe a temporary "life belt defibrillator" but we mostly wish he had been more realistic at the get-go.

Life at Good Samaritan Hospital continues to be good for me. We are getting more good blood pressure numbers than bad. The Cardio-rehab lady assured me that after my procedure I would likely find a portion of life away from the tether of an oxygen tank. That was nice to hear even if it turns out to be blarney from Kearney.

Posies in the Winter

Camera phones are all we have at the hospital. A beautiful bouquet came from " the neighbors up the road," Guy and Janet. I love the deep reds. As we will be here a day or two more I should be able to extract the aroma and beauty before we have to cram everything into a Learjet. Jason has some real organizational skills. He also has a wicked sense of humor luring me the lobby art show when I was taking my oxygen tank for a walk.

There are beautiful red berries in the bouquet.

Tonight I got a lesson in how to inject myself with blood thinners in the stomach. I did well. I'll leave the hospital on that medicine and go back on Coumadin in Florida. This stuff is shorter acting so I have to shoot myself  twice a day, two shots each time. I am getting some decent blood pressure readings, good O2 readings, and blood sugar readings. BUT I AM STARVING.

Bob and Doris brought the Van Driver to Kearney. The driver left this morning and was heading due south to avoid storms-smart guy Lincoln is paralyzed by ice.We got another little visit. Enjoyed the warmth.  We will have to wait on taking a meal together.

Pampered Pups

Joys of the midwest: Jason tipped generously because the dogs got 4 hours of grooming and getting good and dry before he picked them up. The bill was not very much compared to Florida. He later took the man who has been walking the dogs to dinner. Interesting story there. Somebody done somebody wrong, wrong, and wrong some more. We are talking Dr. Phil territory here.

My big news was the catheter went away. Kate, my day nurse today, deflated the balloon holding it in place internally, told me to take a deep breath and launched herself toward the wall with one hand on the catheter. The "deep breath" doesn't do much for the pain but you can't scream and take a deep breath at the same time. It is less upsetting on the staff. There was some suspense for a couple of hours but we are now going with the flow.

Dr. Bibbler, the surgeon was in to see me. My "procedure" is the one I need and the device I need is the second stage device-but I can't have it until Friday. So we are stuck here a little longer than we thought. The new van will head to Florida tomorrow in the hands of a flight attendant or a car thief -to be determined.

Dr. Kutty dropped by to discuss the situation with me while I was in the very nice bathroom attempting to have my first post heart-failure poop. I was nicely equipped with oxygen, a current newspaper and lots of time. I have never had a physician make a potty call before. Before long I felt I could tell him anything.

Busy but not Productive

They are keeping me busy with pokings, proddings, pills, and processes. I love the lung therapy- a bubbling face mask opens things up and refreshes. I am about to get cut off water and everything in aid of the defibrillation device being implanted tomorrow afternoon. I may be delayed until Wednesday morning if my numbers aren't right in the morning.

Bob and Doris left this afternoon. It was so nice of them to come for support and help. Bob may bring the van driver  over. A Craig's List job by a retired flight attendant: The guy drives cars for a fee and uses his lifetime pass to fly standby home. The doggies are going to have a spa day tomorrow. If they are going fly private, they are going to look the part. Jason is in charge and I am just enjoying watching him operate.

I have lost 30 pounds of fluids. My ankles look like they did long ago-in shape. They weren't purple then. The level of health care continues on a high level. Nichole, my  night nurse (from Singapore) is a dandy professional. I'll have more to tell..

Nectar of the Gods!

And whoever thought that it would be ice chips to set me raving.  I have graduated from the ICU to the Progressive Care Unit of Kearney Good Samaritan Hospital. My fluids are restricted. I had a bout of Congestive Heart Failure with a capital F. The last thing I remembered was Connie, the motel owner and two beefy cops entering my room and Honey going ballistic.  I had called but I was in such respiratory distress I was grunting.

The dogs are fine: my neighbor on the other side volunteered to take care of them. The troops arrived from Gretna, Nebraska and Florida. Dr Kutty has overseen the loss of  8.5 Liters of fluid. The Lung guy let them take out the tubes this morning. Dr. Kutty, the Cardio guy, says a defibrillator is a must, given the Echocardiogram shows even more loss of function which increases the odds of  "the big one." He seems a sound man and I am inclined to go for it at this point. These events are losing their entertainment value rapidly.

In the freezing cold Bob, Doris and Jason completed the de-commissioning of the Green Van today. I suspect Jason, the dogs and I will fly private to Florida. The new van will get there some other way.

Meanwhile my fluids are restricted and every ice chip is treasured.