After several tests, X-Ray, EKG (before and after the heart rate change), it was decided that John should be kept for observation and referral to a cardiac specialist to make sure there was nothing going on with his heart. So, with all systems now purring like a kitten, we waited. Being in the ER is always exciting. Someone across the way was diagnosed with Tuberculosis and they had to immediately whisk them off to isolation. As I said, never a dull moment.
I got a text from our young friend, Leslie, asking about the procedure. She was concerned when I told her what was going on and immediately came to the hospital. Leslie is a physical therapist and has been a big help during all of this, offering suggestions and using her, "phone a friend" practice to get any information we might need to make things better for John.
On her way over, she stopped and picked up pimento cheese sandwiches for us from the Bread Lady and chili and a Frosty from Wendy's. John's tank was running a little low as he hadn't had anything since dinner the night before. We gobbled the food right up and again, waited for a room. It wasn't long before John was taken to the North Tower to his room....and as requested, room with a view. And what a view it was. We looked directly over the East Care helicopter landing site, and with 3 helicopters, there was always activity.
By now, all of John's vitals were good, but we got word that it would probably be Monday before the procedure could be done. John was devastated. He had things at work he needed to do and sitting around in a hospital, tethered to a heart monitor was not in the plan. We were supposed to be home by now, another rock in the road.
During all of this, I was texting and on the phone with our girls. The ER has terrible AT&T reception, but will allow a text to go through, so that became our means of communication until he was in his room. No problem there....must be that big window we had!
Soon, Dr. White came by. She is a dear friend of Leslie's and happened to be on call that weekend for John's oncologist. After looking over the results from the tests, she called to see if John could be scheduled for Saturday morning. After several telephone tags, she told us they would not do his procedure unless it was an emergency, or unless someone else had an emergency and they brought in staff. If the staff came in, then John could have his done too. So, he went into NPO after midnight Friday, sorry that someone might have to have the emergency procedure, but hoping if they did, he could be served.
I got to the hospital early that morning. Dr. White didn't come till around 9 or so and checked again on status. We talked about options and decided if there was no emergency by 12 lunchtime, John would eat and we would just plan on getting it done on Monday. The morning ticked by slowly and soon it was 11:45. Our window of opportunity was closing quickly and I had already started making plans for going out to get John something to eat if his hospital tray wasn't what he wanted.
While talking, in comes his nurse. They had just called from downstairs, there was an emergency and they would be able to get John in before they left. It was going to happen today! The nurse was already getting his file together and since all the consent forms were signed Friday, all we had to do was get downstairs. In a few minutes, the transport crew was knocking on the door and away we go!
Thankfully, this time, all went well and he was back in the room within an hour, feeling sore, but much better after removing the nearly 2 liters accumulated fluid and inserting the "spigot". Now John was really hungry, but he had to wait about an hour before eating to make sure everything was okay. The hospital tray had come and it was a beef on a bun. Sort of tasted like ribs and was actually pretty good. He ate part of it and then realized, maybe he should just hold off on eating too much and was soon asleep. It was good to see him resting peacefully, even though I knew he would be sore from the insert. At least, we were on the road to getting the fluid situation under control. The doctor told us, that after the spigot is put in, for some reason, the fluid will usually stop accumulating in about 70% of patients. Hopefully, we will be in that group, but if not, we will handle that too.
The NC State Wolfpack was playing football Saturday afternoon against Georgia Tech in Atlanta. And they WON!!! That only added to the good day we were already having.
Around 5:30, the dinner trays were brought and they offered an extra tray to me. Of course, I could eat with my baby and that is exactly what we did. He sat in the chair and we opened the bedside table to accommodate both trays and we had a lovely dinner of salad, BBQ chicken breast, rice, corn, and a brownie for dessert. It was actually pretty good, but was especially good to sit across from my sweetheart and know he was getting better in our room with a view!
Sunday morning when Dr. White came by to check on John, we asked if he could go home. Everything looked good, so she checked us out and off we went......just like the little piggy in the Geico commercial, crying "WEE WEE WEE....all the way home!
PCQ
I got a text from our young friend, Leslie, asking about the procedure. She was concerned when I told her what was going on and immediately came to the hospital. Leslie is a physical therapist and has been a big help during all of this, offering suggestions and using her, "phone a friend" practice to get any information we might need to make things better for John.
On her way over, she stopped and picked up pimento cheese sandwiches for us from the Bread Lady and chili and a Frosty from Wendy's. John's tank was running a little low as he hadn't had anything since dinner the night before. We gobbled the food right up and again, waited for a room. It wasn't long before John was taken to the North Tower to his room....and as requested, room with a view. And what a view it was. We looked directly over the East Care helicopter landing site, and with 3 helicopters, there was always activity.
By now, all of John's vitals were good, but we got word that it would probably be Monday before the procedure could be done. John was devastated. He had things at work he needed to do and sitting around in a hospital, tethered to a heart monitor was not in the plan. We were supposed to be home by now, another rock in the road.
During all of this, I was texting and on the phone with our girls. The ER has terrible AT&T reception, but will allow a text to go through, so that became our means of communication until he was in his room. No problem there....must be that big window we had!
Soon, Dr. White came by. She is a dear friend of Leslie's and happened to be on call that weekend for John's oncologist. After looking over the results from the tests, she called to see if John could be scheduled for Saturday morning. After several telephone tags, she told us they would not do his procedure unless it was an emergency, or unless someone else had an emergency and they brought in staff. If the staff came in, then John could have his done too. So, he went into NPO after midnight Friday, sorry that someone might have to have the emergency procedure, but hoping if they did, he could be served.
I got to the hospital early that morning. Dr. White didn't come till around 9 or so and checked again on status. We talked about options and decided if there was no emergency by 12 lunchtime, John would eat and we would just plan on getting it done on Monday. The morning ticked by slowly and soon it was 11:45. Our window of opportunity was closing quickly and I had already started making plans for going out to get John something to eat if his hospital tray wasn't what he wanted.
While talking, in comes his nurse. They had just called from downstairs, there was an emergency and they would be able to get John in before they left. It was going to happen today! The nurse was already getting his file together and since all the consent forms were signed Friday, all we had to do was get downstairs. In a few minutes, the transport crew was knocking on the door and away we go!
Thankfully, this time, all went well and he was back in the room within an hour, feeling sore, but much better after removing the nearly 2 liters accumulated fluid and inserting the "spigot". Now John was really hungry, but he had to wait about an hour before eating to make sure everything was okay. The hospital tray had come and it was a beef on a bun. Sort of tasted like ribs and was actually pretty good. He ate part of it and then realized, maybe he should just hold off on eating too much and was soon asleep. It was good to see him resting peacefully, even though I knew he would be sore from the insert. At least, we were on the road to getting the fluid situation under control. The doctor told us, that after the spigot is put in, for some reason, the fluid will usually stop accumulating in about 70% of patients. Hopefully, we will be in that group, but if not, we will handle that too.
The NC State Wolfpack was playing football Saturday afternoon against Georgia Tech in Atlanta. And they WON!!! That only added to the good day we were already having.
Around 5:30, the dinner trays were brought and they offered an extra tray to me. Of course, I could eat with my baby and that is exactly what we did. He sat in the chair and we opened the bedside table to accommodate both trays and we had a lovely dinner of salad, BBQ chicken breast, rice, corn, and a brownie for dessert. It was actually pretty good, but was especially good to sit across from my sweetheart and know he was getting better in our room with a view!
Sunday morning when Dr. White came by to check on John, we asked if he could go home. Everything looked good, so she checked us out and off we went......just like the little piggy in the Geico commercial, crying "WEE WEE WEE....all the way home!
PCQ
2 comments:
We appreciate these updates more than you realize Pat...hope all systems are still purring along! Only wish we were closer to bring a home-cooked meal or drop off our kids for you to babysit. Haha!! They're scared of that squealin' pig though. :) Much love, Steph
SOunds like you and John have had a busy week. Glad things are looking up!! Love you and give John my love too!!
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