medical bulletin: stop press

[realthog]

 
Okay, so the last thing I knew was I was going into hospital for my triple bypass this coming Tuesday (the 27th). Today Pam and I bopped down to the hospital for the pre-admission testing -- chest X-ray, EKG, bloodwork, please pee in this cup, all the usual. I earned admiration from my babe for not passing out during or after the taking of the blood specimen; I regard this dogged courage of mine as being, shall we say, an expression of my inner Conan.

We were not long home when the phone rang and the nice lady at Cardiac was explaining that the long-delayed results of the ultrasound on my carotid arteries had finally arrived and it looks as if they need to be cleaned out too. Accordingly, my Tuesday appointment in the operating theatre had been canceled and when could I come in for an MRI of my carotids to check the ultrasound result? "Well," I said lamely, "I'm free on Tuesday . . ."

The postponement is not entirely to be cursed. Obviously I want to get the whole thing over with as quickly as possible, because the anticipation is not entirely a joyride. But I'd been irritated that I wasn't going to have a couple of non-medical items sorted out by Tuesday, so having an extra few days on those is handy.

On the way home from the hospital we went to a yard sale and I picked up a near-new portable DVD player for $25. I'd been thinking one of these might be jolly to take to hospital for after the op should I not feel up to reading or writing, but had been blenching at the price of them. Twenty-five bucks I can afford, though, without too many conscience qualms.
 

Comments

[ogre-san.livejournal.com]

Well, rats. Otoh, if the carotid needs attention it's definitely best to find out now rather than later.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Yep. It'd have been better if the ultrasound results had come through a week or so ago, when they were supposed to, so I'd not have had this stop-start stuff!

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

*flail*

Triple bypass? Eeep.

Still, you do what you must. And, I suppose, get it all done at once if you can.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"get it all done at once if you can"

That's the idea . . . although there'll still be stenting of a renal artery and leg arteries to be done after the main event.

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you, for this update. I was going to e-mail and ask you just when the date for your procedures was scheduled.

I'm confused though. You were scheduled for the 27th, Tuesday. And now you're going in on Tuesday. How is this a postponement?

Are you doing this in a Manhattan hospital? Will you be in long enough that visitors might be welcome?

Love, C.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

On Tuesday I'm now going for an MRI scan rather than a triple bypass. The hospital's in Patterson, NJ -- but thanks for the thought!

xx

[frankwu.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh. Our continued prayers are with you.

And a portable DVD player? I love mine. I'd want to have one of those if I were stuck in a hospital recovering, too.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I've just discovered it'll play MP3 DVDs. I can put about a month's worth of music onto a single DVD -- yahey!

How long is spacekatgirl likely to be in?

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Just look at it as time off for good behaviour...

[realthog.livejournal.com]

But does that mean I have to do the good behaviour?

[charlesatan.livejournal.com]

Hopefully everything works out (and hope you get to get a lot of use out of that portable DVD player).

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Many thanks, Charles!

[ilovemyman70.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your impending surgery and that it got postponed. That's like the anti finding out two months in advance that you're going to disney land.

My man had a bypass (his second) this summer and though he's not a reader, he didn't spend much time in front of the t.v. either.

Hopefully your recovery is swift in the hospital that you won't have too much time to use your new dvd player (nice bargain though!)

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Ah, so you and your man are veterans at this kind of stuff, eh?

Recovery time in the hosp is reckoned to be a week, so I think there may very well be a few DVDs played. Also, I've discovered this afternoon it'll play MP3 DVDs -- yahey!

[louismaistros.livejournal.com]

Yes, get it all out of the way as quickly as possible so that you can focus on other things. I so despise these hospital trips, but they are necessary, and it's best to just get it all done.

My very best wishes to you, my friend.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Many thanks, Louis!

"I so despise these hospital trips"

Too right!

[nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com]

I'm rootin' for ya!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Nick!

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

My thoughts and prayers go with you, P! Before you know it you'll be back home, dodging Stinker!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Many thanks, Jody!

'Course, for the first week or two I may not be *able* to dodge Stinker!

[scottedelman.livejournal.com]

I'll be thinking of you. Good luck!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Scott! I just knew when to tell you to do the thinking -- the stop-start-stop is getting a bit wearing.

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

I'm so frustrated! I was online when you first posted, and i tried to leave a comment but the blasted internet wouldn't let me go to your page! Now there's a zillion messages, and of course i want to read them all.

Everything I wanted to say has surely already been said. But wanted to comment on this:
I regard this intrepid courage of mine as being, shall we say, an expression of my inner Conan.

That made me roar with laughter! I think that you will definitely be needing your inner Conan for awhile yet.

My thoughts and well wishes are ever with you...from now until after the main event, whenever it may be. REAL SOON NOW, we all hope, so you don't have so long to dread.

Edited: Oh yeah, wanted to tell you that I think the icon is GREAT!!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the good wishes, ma'am! And I'm glad this 'umble, self-effacing scribe can raise a wat'ry smile from time to time.

[lonesome-crow.livejournal.com]

Sending good thoughts. Good luck!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Many thanks!

[thisplacehere.livejournal.com]

All the best, Paul!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Thanks, young David!