Not very productive week!!
On Monday, 21, Had Stress Test for ticker. That evening I went to ER with some chest pain and trouble breathing. Got a nice ambulance ride to Peoria to Methodist Hospital 3.30 am arrival, little traffic. Had treatment planned for partial opening of blockages of 100, 99 and 90%. They later found another around 90%. Said 100% had been so long ago that the body created a bypass on its own, likely 25 to 30 years ago. On Wed tried to enter through wrist and ran into a maze of arteries, I guess quite common in older people (usually much older than me I am sure). The good thing was they got cleared view of pictures of blockages. Said the bad news was that they could not get there that way, it was treatable. The doctor is part of a group that specializes in odd-ball circumstances, not patients. After discussing bypass surgery and other options they came back to opening with stents.
On Thursday 24, They went in through groin for easier access with larger diameter artillery. During prep I realized that they had just received a new toy (a new type impeller to insert into ventricle to help heart move blood during operation). Luckily a company rep was there to supervise opening the package received the night before and helping assembling of the apparatus. As the procedure progressed there was various back and forth between individuals, including myself. At one point a statement by the doctor brought to mind Bill Cosby's old bit about a doctor saying "OOPS". This lightened the mood although I did not need it to bad after a couple of phentanol (sp) doses, which they assured me had not been ordered online from China.
Everything went just fine and 2 of the 3 blockages were cleared, one with a stent and one with just ballooning. All the goodies were removed from the leg and the most painful part of the process commenced. There was considerable pressure brought to bear on the groin region to stop leakage and get the entry hole plugged. From the area which is dark blue today, I am glad I had the drugs in me.
Friday I was released and told not to drive until Monday and not to lift too much. I am glad I had just put helper springs on my trailer tail gate. It is just a 2-finger operation to lift it now. Plan to go check walnut twig borer traps on Wed if weather cooperates. It has been lousy for the past week. Tornados, straight winds 5.5 inches of rain and other bad things.
Hope this brightens your day. Bob