I've been slowly getting pains right after I eat. After a couple of Tums, I've felt better. But it 's been getting slowly worse, so I decided to do something about it. So sit down and relax, the ride gets a bit rough from here.
On August 11th we had company. Rob and Lenore came to visit and it was a fun time. Amanda was here because I had to work the next weekend and we switched with her mom for this weekend. Lenore wanted to see her anyway since she is her "Unofficial Godmother". But that's another story in itself.
On Sunday the 12th, we took Amanda home and Sue and I came home. We ate dinner and Sue got ready for bed. I stayed on here and watched some TV, Around 8 pm, I felt the pains again and decided enough wan enough. We went to the ER of Community Medical Center in Toms River. They kept me overnight and decided it was just bad indigestion. I was relieved, but they kept me overnight for observation. They also gave me a note for the week off. That part I liked. Hehehehe!
Fast forward to Thursday night. I had the pains again and this time they wouldn't go away. Has anyone ever had a Buick parked on you, or an elephant sit on your chest? Me either, but that's what it felt like. Sue called 911 and the paramedics came. They did all the vitals and I had a BP that was just a wee bit high, 295 over 120. But my temp was spot on at 98.8. Close enough. The Paramedics and I decided it was time to take a trip back to my old stomping grounds, Deborah Heart and Lung Center, about a 20 minute drive from my house.
We got to DHLC and I got to go to the new ER they had just finished a couple years ago. It was nice. The nurses were all cool and made me comfy. The docs ran some tests and it was decided that I had blocked arteries (Take that Community Med Center) and I'd have to undergo a Angioplasty the next day.
Angio is a fun procedure where they run a catheter up an artery in your leg right to your heart. Then the use a tiny balloon to clear out your clogs and fix you. While this is going on, you are awake and watching all this on tv in the Cath Lab.
So,Thursday I awoke in the Intensive care unit (ICU) where They put me the night before. I was scheduled for last, around 4 pm. Well, my heart decided it didn't want to wait. The Buick needed a place to park and I had the best spot. This was around 11:30. I got a golden ticket and jumped to the head of the line. Lucky me!
We went to the Cath Lab and long story short, the cleaned me out and put in a stent, a tiny wire mesh that keeps the artery open. I went back ti ICU and spent the day there recovering and trying to eat. Eating was not what my tummy wanted then and, well, Don't ever ask me "What's Up Chuck" or I might have to show you. Lunch and dinner were what was up, and not in a good way.
Since I wasn't critical anymore, I was transferred to a floor with a regular room. I spent the night there and came home on Saturday, the day I was supposed to work. I spent Saturday and Sunday resting.
I went to see my cardiologist, Dr. Jacobs, on Monday expecting to go back to work on Tuesday. I don't know how to spell EHHHHT, the wrong answer noise, but it was not to be. He gave me 3 more weeks of R and R, or as Elmer Fudd would say, West and Wewaxation and I have to go back on the 16th. I am hoping that he lets me go back to work. I like the time off and Katie is happy to go for a walk 3 times a day. I'm not sure which song is the right one, but I keep hearing the song "Not Dead Yet" by either the band STYX or from the play, "Spamalot". Both are appropriate.
So, that's my story. I was gonna make it funny like we are used to here, but they said I was on the verge of having a stroke and that's not so funny. I need to live to see Amanda walk down the aisle, play with my grand kids, and Stay with Sue for another 30 years or so. Only time will tell, but I'm gonna do my best to make this all happen.
One last thing. I want to thank everyone involved for all the great things they did for me over the last 3 weeks. From the Manchester First Aid, to the Deborah nurses and doctors to all my friends and family for all the love and support they gave me. Not on this list, Community Med Center. Hey guys, Deborah fixed my "Indigestion" Thanks for nothing.
We now return you to your regular lives, already in progress.
And in a returning segment, What's on the iPod,
We are listening to
"Beethoven's Last Night"
by the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
9 out of 10 stars.
