The Good, the Bad and the REALITY

There is a story in progress here....hold on folks....

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Well I am going to hold on to the good and go from here but this was today.

Check in at 9:30 (efficient). Almost as soon as I get finished on the 9000 page history and questionnaire I am off into the Cath lab. Storms are churning up the city and I am just thinking "peachy". Shelli is my nurse and she has the same level of insanity that I have thus we get along just fine.

Chest shaved - ekg hooked up. Wrist shaved - IV plugged in. All is well and moving along and they let mum come on back. Then we wait for Dr Malik. ....and wait....and wait.....

"Just peachy" I think.

Finally found out that he is running an hour late. Complications begin to arise within the Cath lab and well they have to move me. To the pre-actual Cath lab area. I was just in the Cath lab prep and recovery room.

Now Dr. Malik is downstairs eating. Which is fine by Shelli and I because we would prefer a happy doctor. I think about the fact that he is eating before me and my tummy rumbles even louder. "Just peachy"

There is the man of the hours. Cool. Sprays my throat with the numbing juice. Swallow. Repeat. He warns me that is the second to the worst part of this procedure.

"Finestkind" I think.

Now they put the plug in my mouth and strap around the head. Then Shelli hits me with the cocktail. I am asked if I am feeling sleepy yet. Nope. Hit him again. Feeling anything yet. Nope.

OK lets start. Tube inserted into mouth and I am asked to swallow. That was the worst part. I think it was when it hit the bend around the back of the throat. Good news is I can breathe fine and that was honestly my biggest concern about this.

I watch as they perform the procedure. Watching the electrocardiogram screen and coughing when asked...they are shooting the micro bubbles of air into the IV.

Am I supposed to be asleep. I know I am not fully lucid for even now the thoughts about this I realize are disjointed. I came and went. When it was finished I heard Dr. Mailk say something to Shelli and she said my mother was there (she was not allowed back here).

Next think I know is that Dr. Malik is telling me that they did not find a hole. I know I asked questions and he answered. I know he said about an different type of procedure. My mother later fills in the fact that he was saying that there is still a possibility that there is a hole there and it is either really small of the flap is on the right side and just opens under the most perfect of conditions. Conditions that include those that allowed the clots to come over and give me a stroke.

He told me (once again not totally lucid) that it is a chance that with the medicine there may not ever be a problem again. But there is also another procedure where they do the electrocardiogram from within the heart. They go in with a tiny probe through the vein or artery and that gives them an inside picture.

Once again I remember bits and pieces of this. I have to call his office tomorrow to set up an appointment. "just peachy and finestkind"!

So surgery for the 19th is off the table. Not going to happen.

Shelli could not figure out why I just lay there tapping my oxygen sensor finger on the hospital bed rail. What is up?

"Well I am relieved that there is no surgery next week." "But what?" "Well this was the reason why I had the strokes and this was the procedure that reduces the inevitability of them happening again." "Oh." "Yeah, now I have to keep looking as to is this the possibility or is there something else."

She left me alone for an hour and I think I came and went out of lucidity. But I realize that this is one step forward and one issue that has been addressed and for now that is all I can ask.

I have a direction and that is forward. I am making and have been making the necessary changes in my life. I cannot change what has happened but I can undo the damages done and live again.

I need to talk to the Dr. tomorrow and get more information. I need to hear this when I am lucid.

I need to thank everyone for the good wishes, prayers and positive energy. No surgery next Friday and that is a serious load off of my shoulders and some off yours. Now we just keep on working together to get well, get fit, get leaner and have fun every single day.

See ya.