We’re Home!by Jim

Mon
20 Mar 2023
11:03 am
2

We just arrived home. Angie’s nurse practitioner, Rosalie, stopped by just before we left and talked to us for a few minutes. She said that everything looked good and that we should be getting a call from the team sometime later this week. She reaffirmed what the doctor said about the measurements they got from the procedure–that they were just barely different, but not enough to warrant any major change to Angie’s care. This news was better than we expected. Thank you all for your thoughts/prayers/concern for us. We love and appreciate all of you.

Going Home Soonby Jim

Mon
20 Mar 2023
10:03 am
3

The nurse just read us our discharge instructions, so that’s an excellent sign we will not be staying overnight. We were prepared to stay, just in case, but the anesthesiologist (who stopped by) said we should be discharged by about noon.

Since Angie had a venous catheterization, that means a faster recovery. Femoral catheterizations require that you lie flat for 4 hours without moving after the procedure, which can get real boring. Venous catheterizations only require 1 hour of no movement after you wake up.

We may or may not get a visit from Angie’s cardiologist before we head out. We think the nurse practitioner will stop by before we leave and I’ll post anything important she tells us.

So Far, So Goodby Jim

Mon
20 Mar 2023
9:03 am
0

I just finished speaking with the doctor that did the procedure. Angie did just fine and they were able to do a venous catheter (through the neck) instead of a femoral catheter, which means she’ll have a quicker, easier recovery. They didn’t have to do any fixes (they can fix or other problems while they’re in there), which was good news. Dr. Mcelhinney said her numbers looked a little worse than her last catheterization. His initial analysis is that this will not drastically change things. Dr. Lui (her cardiologist) has not yet see the results and will be consulting with us (possibly) later today. His interpretation of the results will be more conclusive. There’s a team of doctors that would be responsible for changing her current heart failure designation (currently at mild/moderate), so we may need to wait a bit for the official word.

Angie is still in recovery and I’m not allowed back to see her. I’ll post again when she’s awake. They just called me to go see her, so it should be soon.

In the Cath Labby Jim

Mon
20 Mar 2023
8:03 am
0

They’ve taken Angie back to the Cath lab for her procedure today. We’re at the children’s side of the hospital and they’re always so much more fun. The nurses were super nice and we joked and laughed together while they were getting her ready. Angie got her IV put in by a nurse that used an ultrasound and local anesthesia using a new device that is basically a hypo spray from Star Trek. It’s a little injection device that uses pressure to push the numbing medication through her skin without a needle. It sounded like opening a soda can when she fired it. We both thought it was pretty cool. Angie said the fancy IV placement was less focused pain, but it still wasn’t pleasant. For you D&D nerds out there, she said, “it felt like it changed from piercing damage to force damage.” That made me laugh. I love you, Angie.

I’ll keep you posted here as she progresses through the day.

Thank you!by Jim

Mon
2 Jan 2023
10:01 pm
0

Angie is now home and we’re back to our COVID isolation, but at least we’re at home and together. Thank you all for your prayers, well wishes, and happy thoughts for us over the last few days. We really appreciate it!

Coming home!by Jim

Mon
2 Jan 2023
5:01 pm
0

Discharge papers are being worked on as I type; Angie is coming home! I’m in just a few minutes to go pick her up from the hospital. Hooray!

Back on Room Airby Jim

Mon
2 Jan 2023
1:01 pm
0

Good news! Angie is back on room air, which means her blood oxygen levels are good enough she doesn’t need supplemental oxygen. This is a big step in the recovery process for her. She’s due to get her next dose of medicine this afternoon.