Every now and then....I have to go to see my Doc in Rochester. On this day my heart rate was WAY up....and the Doc said "we're gonna' keep you here a day or two" (Monday, 31st of January). I didn't get to come home until AFTER the Super Bowl was over!
My heart was the problem! In December 2007 I went to get my physical. Probably after four or five minutes....listening to my doctor saying, mmmmmm, mmmmmm, mmmmmm, and finally asked me "did you run a marathon on the way over to the office?" I said, of course, no! He said "your heart rate is 155....can you feel it?" I couldn't feel it....at least, I didn't think so. So after I spent a week in the hospital (Sparrow, Lansing, MI)....and met a new friend (cardiologist)....I was set up to have an ablation on my heart around the first week of May 2008.
I went down to Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit, located on 7 Mile Rd., not 8 Mile...but 7 Mile....closer to center of the city. The hospital is known for a lot....and it's number one in trauma....based on everything including guns....a rough place in Detroit! They also have an incredible staff there that is out of site!
I went to a specialist....and he said that I had atrial flutter....and that's what I was scheduled for! My 'Lansing' cardiologist said he thought I had atrial fibrillation....but he deferred to the Sinai doc. Once I got 'under' the knife....my heart went into atrial fibrillation. At that point that's all the Sinai doctor could do. He said it would take an additional six or seven hours to do it (fibrillation). My heart was fixed as well as they could do it. After that....they said they would watch my heart closely....and they did!
I had an appointment in Detroit on the 22nd of December in 2010....a month and change after my massive stroke in La Crosse Wisconsin....oops!
The Mayo doctors and the staff got my heart under control....and set me up to get the ablation in May/June....I honestly can't wait!
On a side note: Super Bowl XLV....my in-laws are from Pittsburgh....and I HATE Green Bay....but consider the Steelers have won six SB....and none for Detroit....I obviously pulled for the Packers!
Friday, December 26, 2014
Friday, December 19, 2014
It's 'Oh So Close'
December 29, 2010....I'm going home! Can't believe it...they're discharging me!
They asked me did I have any questions??? One or two I guess....that was it....two for sure, "can I have coffee?" I really like strong coffee....the color of night. They said that was OK....decaf....12 ounces per day. I have to limit how much sodium I have per day....and I have to avoid any 'greens' in my diet. Also I should limit how much I drink per day. No more than 24/32 ounces of water per day. If I want orange/grape/grapefruit juice....8 ounces per day. And many others regarding limits....so, so sad....but get on with it, and enjoy life!
Even before we went to our home....we had to get a wheel chair. We stopped downtown across the Mayo Clinic in LaCrosse. They set me up big time!
First things first when I got home. My wife had the frame under our bed removed. It's a king size bed....probably three feet off the ground....and she didn't want me to fall to far getting in the bed....or out! Every time I had to use the bathroom....day or night....my wife wanted me to wake her up....or 'ring' the bell she put beside our bed (typically BS....before stroke....I was in bed before my wife would go to bed). She would put the wheel chair beside the bed....'help' me get out off the bed....into the wheel chair....and go to the bathroom. About eight feet away....and it would at least take five/eight minutes to go through all that....just to get to the bathroom....wow!
They asked me did I have any questions??? One or two I guess....that was it....two for sure, "can I have coffee?" I really like strong coffee....the color of night. They said that was OK....decaf....12 ounces per day. I have to limit how much sodium I have per day....and I have to avoid any 'greens' in my diet. Also I should limit how much I drink per day. No more than 24/32 ounces of water per day. If I want orange/grape/grapefruit juice....8 ounces per day. And many others regarding limits....so, so sad....but get on with it, and enjoy life!
Even before we went to our home....we had to get a wheel chair. We stopped downtown across the Mayo Clinic in LaCrosse. They set me up big time!
First things first when I got home. My wife had the frame under our bed removed. It's a king size bed....probably three feet off the ground....and she didn't want me to fall to far getting in the bed....or out! Every time I had to use the bathroom....day or night....my wife wanted me to wake her up....or 'ring' the bell she put beside our bed (typically BS....before stroke....I was in bed before my wife would go to bed). She would put the wheel chair beside the bed....'help' me get out off the bed....into the wheel chair....and go to the bathroom. About eight feet away....and it would at least take five/eight minutes to go through all that....just to get to the bathroom....wow!
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Christmas 2010
Christmas 2010....my family came to Rochester to celebrate Christmas....on the 25th of December....how about that? My daughter....my son in law....their four (at that time) beautiful children, all boys, my son and daughter in law....and my wife! They arranged to pick me up....and my wheelchair....and rescued me from the hospital on Christmas day!
Before we went back to their hotel room we stopped and met up with great friends and their family. My friend (Roger) has been a close friend over the last 25+ years....and at that time....he was my boss! More to come about Roger!
Within the next week I would be released from the hospital! I get to go home? Who will take care of me (do I really need anybody to care for me)? Will I ever return to Rochester? We'll see!
Before we went back to their hotel room we stopped and met up with great friends and their family. My friend (Roger) has been a close friend over the last 25+ years....and at that time....he was my boss! More to come about Roger!
Within the next week I would be released from the hospital! I get to go home? Who will take care of me (do I really need anybody to care for me)? Will I ever return to Rochester? We'll see!
Sunday, December 7, 2014
I fooled 'em
Kind of a different day! My wife was at home....around six....in West Salem. A nurse from St. Mary's called Tammy on her cell phone...."Tammy are you here in Rochester?"....no she replied....why? The nurse said they couldn't find me! Well....where did I go?
It was after supper....and I thought I would like to go to the chapel. The chapel is in the basement at St. Mary's....and I wanted to go there again....so I did! I didn't ask anyone if they wanted to go there with me....I just went. Well....the nurse called Tammy later....and they said they found me....rather....I found them....on the fourth floor....my floor! I returned after visiting the chapel. It wasn't the first time and it wasn't the last time either. They did add an alarm on my wheelchair and on my body....attached on my back. I couldn't reach the alarm....but once I got out of the 'service territory'....I could jump up and twirl around....and the alarm wouldn't go off!
Thanks dad....for introducing me to the chapel!
It was after supper....and I thought I would like to go to the chapel. The chapel is in the basement at St. Mary's....and I wanted to go there again....so I did! I didn't ask anyone if they wanted to go there with me....I just went. Well....the nurse called Tammy later....and they said they found me....rather....I found them....on the fourth floor....my floor! I returned after visiting the chapel. It wasn't the first time and it wasn't the last time either. They did add an alarm on my wheelchair and on my body....attached on my back. I couldn't reach the alarm....but once I got out of the 'service territory'....I could jump up and twirl around....and the alarm wouldn't go off!
Thanks dad....for introducing me to the chapel!
Thursday, December 4, 2014
My Family
My sister flew into Rochester at the end of November. This is kinda' fuzzy....don't remember anything....other then she (sister) stayed at our friends place in Rochester. As a matter of fact....I don't know how she got to the hospital....or how she got back to their home! My mind (brain) wasn't clicking then....it would take more time (months....gulp....years...gulp, gulp....forever)!
My dad drove over from the Lansing Michigan area. About 570 miles....through snow! 77 years old....a good man! I was fuzzy then too. What I do remember is that my dad took me downstairs in the hospital to a....chapel....a beautiful 'mini' cathedral! He stood up during the service....and told the priest to pray for me. And I cried! I cried a lot....overly sensitive....probably....still do!
I still can't believe that he drove home during a snowstorm! My dad passed away on October 6th, 2013. Miss him dearly....as I do my mom....love them both!
My dear wife said her parents came to Rochester days after I got there. Good people! Honestly....I don't remember anything regarding her parents! My father in law told me some stories about me....I don't know that any of them were true!
My dad drove over from the Lansing Michigan area. About 570 miles....through snow! 77 years old....a good man! I was fuzzy then too. What I do remember is that my dad took me downstairs in the hospital to a....chapel....a beautiful 'mini' cathedral! He stood up during the service....and told the priest to pray for me. And I cried! I cried a lot....overly sensitive....probably....still do!
I still can't believe that he drove home during a snowstorm! My dad passed away on October 6th, 2013. Miss him dearly....as I do my mom....love them both!
My dear wife said her parents came to Rochester days after I got there. Good people! Honestly....I don't remember anything regarding her parents! My father in law told me some stories about me....I don't know that any of them were true!
Monday, December 1, 2014
My typical day....and night at the hospital
Every morning, at 6am, they would check my heart rate and my blood pressure, took my temperature, give me my meds....and ask me if I had to use the bathroom! If I did (have to use the bathroom)....they would put me in a wheelchair and 'wheeled' me in there. I ALWAYS ask them to let me go by myself! At first, they said 'no', but after 3 or 4 days....they let me!
In between 7:30/8a I would have breakfast. After that, around 9:00a....I had 'shower time' with Julie....(the aforementioned occupational therapist). At 10:00am I went to physical therapy....11:00a speech therapy....and then lunch at noon! 1:30p I would go to the occupational therapy room....then onto physical therapy at 2:30p....and then back to occupational therapy at 3:30p....whew! After I finish up at 4:30p I go back to my room and try to remember what my passwords are! Not so easy as I thought! I would have dinner around 6:00p.
They would 'hook' me back up....heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, meds (and bathroom breaks)....and start all over again!
My wife drove back and forth from La Crosse to Rochester....every single day! Now....I'm not sayin' this....but I was pretty sure that I was going to die....soon! Why else would my wife come to Rochester....after leaving work from La Crosse....and then going back home (to West Salem)? One hundred plus miles every day! I think she 'likes' me!
That was my life for the next 2 months! And I honestly didn't know if I would ever get home. Didn't cry....or argue with anyone.....I just stared out my window. It was the end of November....and it snowed! A lot of snow....and it didn't appear it would stop!
In between 7:30/8a I would have breakfast. After that, around 9:00a....I had 'shower time' with Julie....(the aforementioned occupational therapist). At 10:00am I went to physical therapy....11:00a speech therapy....and then lunch at noon! 1:30p I would go to the occupational therapy room....then onto physical therapy at 2:30p....and then back to occupational therapy at 3:30p....whew! After I finish up at 4:30p I go back to my room and try to remember what my passwords are! Not so easy as I thought! I would have dinner around 6:00p.
They would 'hook' me back up....heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, meds (and bathroom breaks)....and start all over again!
My wife drove back and forth from La Crosse to Rochester....every single day! Now....I'm not sayin' this....but I was pretty sure that I was going to die....soon! Why else would my wife come to Rochester....after leaving work from La Crosse....and then going back home (to West Salem)? One hundred plus miles every day! I think she 'likes' me!
That was my life for the next 2 months! And I honestly didn't know if I would ever get home. Didn't cry....or argue with anyone.....I just stared out my window. It was the end of November....and it snowed! A lot of snow....and it didn't appear it would stop!
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