This installment is very, extremely overdue and I appreciate your patience. February was an absolute blur and I cannot believe we are well into March. That means winter is over in Florida and about half way done in Boston (kiss). As you may recall in my last entry I was undergoing the cardiac ablation. The good news…is that I am still here to write this blog.
I woke up in the recovery room and Don was there with a big smile. I was so relieved. Someone told me it went well and that is was about 4 hours as the ablation was extensive. I don’t remember much more until I got to my room. I have always been very sensitive to anesthesia so I am not surprised I don’t remember much right after. We learned of this anesthesia issue when I had my wisdom teeth removed. Apparently it took longer to wake me than any patient they had ever had. I recall waking up…seeing my mom and then I apparently dozed for another 20 minutes. Crazy. I always tell the anesthesiologist that whatever they think I need based on my size…plan on less. I don’t need anyone making crazy videos of me passed out or talking nonsense.
I remember being in a room set up for two patients. I was in the interior closer to the window. I decided it was the better spot and was ok sharing. As my head began to clear I was aware of the soreness in my groin but otherwise felt comfortable. And I could take a long deep breath. I knew I wasn’t in AFIB anymore…and I was ecstatic. Shortly after this realization a couple of people walked into the room on the other side of the curtain. They were talking about someone, a relative…maybe a brother. He had been had a procedure about a week ago…I don;t remember what it was but I believe it had something to do with a blockage. They were really concerned as he was in a lot of pain. I turned on the TV and tried to mind my own business. Taking deep breaths and loving them.
I told Don to go home right after I got to my room. I wasn’t uncomfortable and felt pretty certain I could do anything I needed on my own. The nurses seemed nice too. Dinner came around…it wasn’t memorable (sorry Memorial) and shortly thereafter a man was wheeled into the room on the other side of the curtain. I heard the people talking to him and asking him questions. Apparently he needed another procedure stat and I would be happening that night. A nurse came and reviewed the consent with him. There was some discussion that he was Portuguese but he assured her he could read and write English. He consented to the procedure and about an hour later was whisked away. I watched a little TV and fell asleep. When I awoke about 5am I didn’t have a roommate. He never came back. I was sick to my stomach thinking he may not have survived and I would never know. I felt very lucky.
By 8am a series of people were coming to check on me. A nurse, a nurse practitioner, a doctor, a PA (none of whom I had ever seen before mind you…well none that I recall). They all looked at my groin which is where the catheters were inserted for access to my heart…crazy I know. Anyway I kept thinking I was grateful I had the good sense to man scape before the procedure and that the room wasn’t too chilly. Ugh…the way men think. I had these bandages on both sides, blood and bruising and I am worried about my appearance…good grief. I am certain it was a very sad scene. OH! I also had drains in. Super sexy. I had the pleasure of having those removed 30 minutes before discharge. As I was wheeled down the hall a case manger handed me a document that described my “outpatient” procedure and I arrived in the discharge lounge. A few minutes later Shane was there to pick me up. I was sore (the groin) but not bad. I was so relieved. I did ask the nurse at discharge why I was considered outpatient. She told me it was because I was only there for observation and it was under 24 hours. I knew immediately this would prove to be an insurance issue and I suggested to her that I checked in the day before at 7:15am and was leaving after 10am and while not a math major was pretty certain we were talking over 24 hours. She smiled the smile of someone that has heard this before and was not going to engage in a conversation about an issue over her paygrade. I smiled and said but we worry about that later.
I was told to take it easy, no driving for 48 hours and no strenuous activity for at least a week and no lifting over 5lbs for a month. That all seemed like overkill because I felt great. My follow-up was schedule for 30 days as my EKG confirmed my heart was in normal rhythm. I went home and napped most of the day and into the evening looking forward to getting back to normal. The next morning I woke up and felt like I had wires shoved up my groin and the inside of my heart burned! This was going to be more challenging than I first thought.
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