Guess I better update. My operation for Wednesday noon was delayed. They came and got me about 2:00 pm. I was ready. I'd been NPO since midnight and was hungry. I asked the nurse to have something ready in recovery. As before, everyone was fully suited, masked/visored. You couldn't tell who was who. They were very professional. The decision wa made that I'd stay in the same room, and in fact they moved a few more patients onto the floor. Still pretty quiet. I awoke in recovery. Lots of activity I was pretty sore. They took me to my room about 7:00 pm. They had been working on me for over 3 hours trying to connect a 3rd lead to my heart. It wasn't happening. They finally quit and glued my chest closed. Really. I felt like I'd come in second in a bar brawl. I put on my oxygen and went to sleep (mostly). A nurse came in. We talked dogs for a while and I got drugs and went back to sleep.
When I awoke Thursday (yesteday) morning, DW was to check out of her hotel by noon. I was to wait for the doc to check me out and give me my marching orders.. I hurt, but a little Tylenol dulls that. I packed, the doc came in. They removed the IVs I had in each arm. they told me the pressure bandage on my new incision could come off in the evening, and the old incision was covered with 'Steri-Seal' and would wear off in time (DON'T PULL OFF)! They escorted me out and we drove the 4 hours home in high winds and on and off rain.
I am now on prety much self-imposed quarantine for 2 weeks, due to being pretty close to medical staff for several days. They were always masked, but we were close and right now, we just don't know.
My 'regular' Cardiologist had me come in today to lookover the handiwork of the 'Big Guns from the East', and express that the local guy wants another crack at attaching the missing lead. There is a giant hemotoma where they removed my pacemaker from my chest that will take up to a couple of months to reabsorb. I'm bruised and beat and can't lift either arm above my shoulder, and frankly I'm not anxious to go under the knife anytime soon. We'll revisit this in a few months.
So, bottom line. I'm home. Resting comfortably. On light duty for a month- they don't want me lifting anything heavier than a milk carton. I'm indoor. DW is doing the shopping. and much of the cooking- She's baking bread as I type. Few things better than fresh out-of-the-oven bread.
We had a neighbor kid who is to turn 18 next week kill himself in a cliff-diving/swimming accident. The family is understandably distraught. They are 'outdoorsy' and this young man was his Mom's 'Ray of Sunshine'. Thoughts of separation are futile. There is hugging and gathering. I will run a loaf of bread over there with a hand-painted condolence card from DW and we'll beg off any remembrance gathering.
It's been a pretty full week. Sorry to hijack the thread. It wasn't intentional. I think we can put it away now.
Jim
