As the noon hour approached both Lois & I were feeling stressed. Although an angioplasty & stent procedure carries with it some inherent risk, I'm not sure that I was worried about the procedure itself. Both of us just wanted to get this over with. I had a premonition that the procedure was going to be delayed again. I was right.
My kidney function has barely improved, so the decision was for me to stay overnight while more IV fluids were pushed. The procedure would be delayed until 12:30p the next day.
There is a general consensus that a hospital is not a restful venue. In my case this turned out to be true. Besides the IV fluids, I was also drinking water. The result? [WARNING! PERSONAL NEWS AHEAD!] I was up to use the bathroom pretty much every 45 minutes to an hour, all night long.
THU 3/22. I had more blood drawn very early on THU morning. Once again Lois & I were in a "hurry-up-&-wait" mindset as the morning hours ticked by. There was more anxiety, as we contemplated whether the procedure would be delayed again, especially after we learned that my creatinine numbers had barely moved.
Around noon I learned from a nurse that mh procedure had been re-schedule again, this time to 2:00p. I had visit from the cardiologist & nurse practitioner just a few minutes later, & the doctor confirmed that even though my numbers hadn't improved significantly, he would do the procedure. One other patient was ahead of me.
They came to get me at 2:00, & things moved quickly after that. I was wheeled to the O.R. I found out that instead of working through an artery in my wrist, the doctor would use my femoral artery, which he felt would result in less stress to my kidneys. I was laid flat on my back. I couldn't even raise my head. The doctor & nurses explained the procedure to me again. After receiving a sedative, the procedure was underway.
I dozed for a little while. I was disappointed that I couldn't quite see the "big screen TV," since I wanted to watch the procedure. Soon it was obvious that the procedure was taking longer than the 1.5 to 2 hours that I had been forewarned.
It turned out that there was more calcification in my arteries than expected. This required the doctor to insert balloons multiple times in order to "drill" the way to my blockage, or should I say, blockageS. The procedure would ultimately take a little over 3 hours & involve not one but 3 stents.
[WARNING! MORE PERSONAL NEWS AHEAD!] As the procedure dragged on, I became increasingly uncomfortable. Keep in mind that I'd had been receiving IV fluids all day on WED, all night into THU, & all THU up to the procedure. My bladder began to protest in increasingly harsh terms, & there was to be no relief until the procedure was ended. As nurses asked me how I was doing, my replies escalated from OK to not good to "This is getting very painful.
Finally, the procedure was over. The doctor explained why things had gotten more complicated, but he was also happy with the results. Not that I wasn't happy, but I would be happier once my bladder was "relieved."
Basically, I was wheeled to the O.R. at a little after 2:00 & didn't make it back to ICU . until 6:00p. I was instructed that I had to lay flat on my back for 2 hours until the sheath in my femoral artery was removed. I couldn't even raise my head. The sheath was removed around 9:00p. I was further instructed that I had to remain flat on my back, including my head, for another 6 hours.
When the sheath was removed, a nurse had to apply pressure to the site on my femoral artery [upper thigh or, technically, my groin]. I mean, EXTREME pressure. This is necessary to keep the artery from serious bleeding. I felt sorry for the two nurses who took turns. They basically had to place both palms on the site & push down hard. One of them told me later that by the time they were finished, her hands were numb.
I got to raise my head & back into a more upright position around 3:30a FRI morning after the nurse was convinced that my artery was not bleeding. I was able to sleep, minus the interruptions when my vitals had to be measured & the sheath site checked out. By 5:30a, I was awake for good.
O joy! O rapture! I was finally able to eat breakfast & have coffee yesterday morning. [I had been fasting since 7:00p on TUE evening.] We were told by a nurse around 9:30a that I would be discharged that day. Another waiting game ensued. The doctor didn't make his rounds until late morning. I was still to have consultations with someone from the cardiac rehab unit, the doctor & nurse practitioner, a pharmacist, & the nurse practioner again, who went over my post-op orders.
The young man from cardiac rehab took me for a short walk around the ICU unit & set me up for my first rehab appt this TUE 3/27. I will have about an hour of rehab 3X/week for 6 weeks. After the 2nd consultation w/the nurse practitioner I learned that one of my 2 cholesterol meds would be discontined, along w/2 other meds that would be replaced by 2 new meds to address my heart health.
Finally, close to 3:00p, I was discharged.
SUMMARY:
- I was in the hospital for 2 nights instead of 1; & for almost 3 full days.
- My heart procedure took twice as long as was originally anticipated.
- My coronary heart disease was more serious than anticipated.
- I can't drive until MON.
- I can't lift more than 5-10 lbs for 10 days.
- I'm supposed to walk 4X/day.
- I can't take Sammy for a walk, because his tugging on the leash could have adverse affects on my sheath site.
- Lifestyle changes re: diet & exercise have already begun.
God's hand was definitely at work. Without the trip to Mayo Clinic in January, I wouldn't have known about the blockage(s). Without the surgical procedure on THU, I wouldn't have learned that my issues were more extensive. Although it may sound overly dramatic, I was a "heart attack waiting to happen." This whole affair was a wake-up call for me to get serious about living a healthier lifestyle.
There . . . I'm finished for now. This post was way too long & tedious for most readers, I'm guessing, but I feel better having shared all the ups & downs of the past several days.
Thanks for sharing. I think your sharing will also help others, in addition to yourself. I would say to 'take it easy' but those might not be the right words as there is work to do but hopefully work that will lead to a healthier life-style and I know how easy it is to go the other way. You continue to be in our prayers. Also, so thankful you have an excellent in-home nurse.....when she isn't at her normal job. Be good Paul.......
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