Modern medicine truly is a marvel - of course - a willing body.....allows the magic to happen.
Ron spent very little time in the ICU - overnight basically. The bypass surgery/ICU was Thursday, Friday he was moved to a 'step-down' room, Saturday all of his IVs were removed, and he came home Sunday. Today he's at home piddling around - made his own breakfast - pain meds = tylenol. It's amazing.
After his liver transplant in 2011 - the bypass surgery - has been a piece of cake. I think he's bummed about not being able to drive for 1 month. Thank goodness we have help - our daughter, Libby, is home on maternity leave until January - so she'll take him to the hospital for appointments and blood work.
During this ordeal - his liver has been perfect - no complications!
We are looking forward to Thanksgiving - all our children and their spouses - and our 6 grandchildren will be here to celebrate. Much to be thankful for!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The Heart of the matter!
It's been an eventful month - Ron has been unsteady - falling - with a bit of 'dementia' in the evenings. The liver team has been following him closely......but we now know - after a 'wake-up' call from his old heart - we were barking up the wrong tree.
Tuesday, November 13th
10:00am - a call from Ron - he was having chest pains - I told him to call 911 - and I 'raced' home. I called and alerted the kids - Brittany loaded the kids and headed to our house.
Paramedics were in place when I arrived home - Ron was having chest pain with pain and tingling down his left arm.
He was transported to 'our' hospital, Piedmont (Atlanta) - the same hospital where he received his liver transplant in February 2011.
After a couple of nitroglycerin tabs - the chest pain disappeared - he was evaluated by the cardiologist (Dr. Taylor).........it was decided he would be observed overnight - stress test ordered for Wednesday (with a back-up plan for a heart catherization, if needed on Thursday).
Tuesday evening he had another cardiac episode at 10:00pm. The plan changed - nix the stress test and straight to cath lab Wednesday morning.
Wednesday, November 14th
The heart cath presented with 3 blockages - in the front top left main artery (90%), bottom front left main artery (70%) and a smaller one on the right side.
Because Ron's kidneys are a bit sluggish - it was decided he would be hydrated overnight to flush out the dye given during the heart catherization - bypass surgery scheduled for first thing Thursday morning.
With a nitroglycerin IV drip - he had an uneventful Wednesday night.
Thursday, November 15th - Heart Surgery Day!
7:30am - Taken to operating room
9:45am - Vein harvesting (yuck)
10:12am - Chest incision
10:45am - Placed on heart/lung bypass machine
12:00pm - Surgery over - triple bypass - heart is good - watching the kidneys
2:00pm - Visited Ron in ICU - he looks good - looks better than after liver transplant - he opened his eyes a couple of times - nodded yes to a question from the nurse - breathing tube in place - Ron is calm. If all goes well - the breathing tube should be removed in 4-6 hours.
I have to thank everyone (family and friends) for all their support - we've got a long road ahead - but with all the support - we're going to make it.
More updates soon.
Tuesday, November 13th
10:00am - a call from Ron - he was having chest pains - I told him to call 911 - and I 'raced' home. I called and alerted the kids - Brittany loaded the kids and headed to our house.
Paramedics were in place when I arrived home - Ron was having chest pain with pain and tingling down his left arm.
He was transported to 'our' hospital, Piedmont (Atlanta) - the same hospital where he received his liver transplant in February 2011.
After a couple of nitroglycerin tabs - the chest pain disappeared - he was evaluated by the cardiologist (Dr. Taylor).........it was decided he would be observed overnight - stress test ordered for Wednesday (with a back-up plan for a heart catherization, if needed on Thursday).
Tuesday evening he had another cardiac episode at 10:00pm. The plan changed - nix the stress test and straight to cath lab Wednesday morning.
Wednesday, November 14th
The heart cath presented with 3 blockages - in the front top left main artery (90%), bottom front left main artery (70%) and a smaller one on the right side.
Because Ron's kidneys are a bit sluggish - it was decided he would be hydrated overnight to flush out the dye given during the heart catherization - bypass surgery scheduled for first thing Thursday morning.
With a nitroglycerin IV drip - he had an uneventful Wednesday night.
Thursday, November 15th - Heart Surgery Day!
7:30am - Taken to operating room
9:45am - Vein harvesting (yuck)
10:12am - Chest incision
10:45am - Placed on heart/lung bypass machine
12:00pm - Surgery over - triple bypass - heart is good - watching the kidneys
2:00pm - Visited Ron in ICU - he looks good - looks better than after liver transplant - he opened his eyes a couple of times - nodded yes to a question from the nurse - breathing tube in place - Ron is calm. If all goes well - the breathing tube should be removed in 4-6 hours.
I have to thank everyone (family and friends) for all their support - we've got a long road ahead - but with all the support - we're going to make it.
More updates soon.
Falling Down
THIS IS A POST I NEGLECTED TO PUBLISH
September 9, 2012:
Last week someone asked how Ron was doing, and I made the mistake of saying everything was going great..........
Mid week Ron began having problems with his balance, he became weak and began vomiting; at first I thought he had a bug. Thursday evening he was following me into the kitchen, he became dizzy, leaned over the kitchen island for just a few seconds, and fell to the floor - hitting his head on the cabinet on his way down.
I turned and saw Ron lying on the floor and all I could think of - was to get him flat on the floor (CPR) and over and over in my mind - questioning where was the phone. I feel like I'm good in a crisis (I've had some practice over the years). (He was okay).
October 2012
When Ron stands up, he feels so dizzy that he has to immediately sit down. One evening while we were working side by side in the kitchen - I looked over and he was laying on the floor......we were afraid he had broken his arm. (He was okay).
November 2012
In the early morning hours I heard a horrible clunk and thud; Ron had fallen in the bathroom, hitting his head on the toliet seat (busting the top of his nose - with a full nose bleed as well)....he hit his ribs on the way down.
I suggested physical therapy thinking, perhaps, the issue had to do with 'strenghtening his core' - that he had become weak after surgery and was unable to gather his strength.
He was evaluated by physical therapy - was told they can't help him (he passed all their tests) - so they suggest neurological testing.
September 9, 2012:
Last week someone asked how Ron was doing, and I made the mistake of saying everything was going great..........
Mid week Ron began having problems with his balance, he became weak and began vomiting; at first I thought he had a bug. Thursday evening he was following me into the kitchen, he became dizzy, leaned over the kitchen island for just a few seconds, and fell to the floor - hitting his head on the cabinet on his way down.
I turned and saw Ron lying on the floor and all I could think of - was to get him flat on the floor (CPR) and over and over in my mind - questioning where was the phone. I feel like I'm good in a crisis (I've had some practice over the years). (He was okay).
October 2012
When Ron stands up, he feels so dizzy that he has to immediately sit down. One evening while we were working side by side in the kitchen - I looked over and he was laying on the floor......we were afraid he had broken his arm. (He was okay).
November 2012
In the early morning hours I heard a horrible clunk and thud; Ron had fallen in the bathroom, hitting his head on the toliet seat (busting the top of his nose - with a full nose bleed as well)....he hit his ribs on the way down.
I suggested physical therapy thinking, perhaps, the issue had to do with 'strenghtening his core' - that he had become weak after surgery and was unable to gather his strength.
He was evaluated by physical therapy - was told they can't help him (he passed all their tests) - so they suggest neurological testing.
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