Okay, to update everyone in one swell foop
I've been at the hospital with Mary all day. Here's the saga in order:
* Ten years ago Mary got a hernia from a botched hysterectomy
* two years ago Mary started exercising and agravated her hernia and went in to have it repaired
* they found several "conditions of concern" in her body. I'd link the relevant posts, but I'm too freaking tired now.
----> The main problem they found that concerned EVERYONE is that she had a 100% blockage in one artery on her heart, which grew its own bypass, and a 70% blockage in another area. Stent inserted, all is well.
* Mary has been seeing a cardiologist off and on for the last two years (and yes the hernia got taken care of)
* Her last Cardiac Stress test was not good. She failed it (last week)
* Scheduled her for another cardiac catheter to check.
* Passed the cath with flying colors, but because of the bypass her body did, she will ALWAYS fail stress tests.
* They found a major arterial blockage in the split coming from the heart to the legs, the junction where it splits to the two legs is really blocked. (which explains her cold feet)
* Cath doctor will talk to Cardiologist and find out about when they can do a stent for that one.
> We got up at 4:30 AM this morning to go to the doctor since they told us to be there at 6, and the transport picked us up at 5AM. I had gone to sleep at 3 AM.
> Got there, waited till the outpatient place opened at 6.
> Took Mary in and did various things to her while I sat in the waiting room.
7:30 I went back to see Mary and spend time with her.
> Technician came and did paperwork and we talked Lasagna, Spaghetti, meatballs, New York, Brooklyn, Bronx, Made Men, the Mafia, Basement wine and prohibition and the procedure for 1/2 hour.
> Informed that the doctors wouldn't even be there till at least 10:30 and there were two people in front of Mary, more critical you see.
> 10 AM took a hydrocodone to help with my feet and hips, and to give the contact high/painkill to her while we waited.
> At 2 PM they came and did the cath
> At 3:30 they were done, we have a DVD of the films they took, and Mary was admitted to the hospital.
----> The reason for the admission is easy, they didn't want her doing a lot of exercise OR taking any stairs until the entry had healed enough to take the stress. Since the bathroom is upstairs, they decided to keep her overnight.
> Got Mary settled in her room, admissions paperwork and so on done by 5 PM, I went for dinner and was disappointed since the caffeterial didn't open till 6.
> Entertained Mary as best as I could and let her have my MP3 player to distract her.
> At 5:30 Mary could finally sit up from laying down flat. Only 30 deg angle though.
> 6 limped down to the caffeteria again to get dinner for me AND Mary. Had catfish, she had an awesome salad.
> At 7 went back down to buy water for Mary so she could have something to drink over night.
> 7:30 Mary got to get up and walk to the bathroom to take a whiz. (Hey, this was important, she had been holding it since the proceedure.)
> 8 packed up to come home.
> 8:20 missed the bus. (I was sitting on the inbound track of the bus route, I saw it on the outward journey. Realized that as late as it was, the bus would NOT be coming back by me on the inward bound track. It took a whole 'nother route in.)
> 9:10, I'm freezing my ass off. Shorts and t-shirt are not good for 50 deg weather.
> 9:12, my phone dies from power issues.
> 9:25 the bus shows.
> 10 PM we pull into the depot.
> 10:20 we pull out of the depot on my way home.
> 10:40 I get off the bus and start walking to my apartment.
> 10:45 I walk through the door
> 10:45:10 my mother calls to see when I'll be home
> 11 start writing this post.
> 11:04 writing this now.
