Where do meds live?

The angioplasty and stent placement was successful and I’ve spent the last couple of days resting and healing.  Not that much healing is needed, but I’ve been taking it easy with my wrist and hand, letting that heal up and just listening to the doctors.  I’ve been researching some new diet plans and I’ve had a few people reach out to me with personal stories from themselves or family members who have had similar to my situation.  Lot of encouragement and I am thankful to all those that reached out, just I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my Obi Wan and send the biggest thanks to J Ernst for his messages.  

For all of this, I gotta say, it was the waiting that was the hard part.  I had the procedure at 1600h (4pm), even though it was scheduled for 1500h (3pm).  However, my check in was at 0900h (9am) so they could do some timed blood tests (09:30, 11:30, and 13:30) before procedure.  Also, to ensure I was fasting.  So, it was a hungry day as well.  At least I got some cool jammies and slippers out of the deal.  HAHAH

Nothing to share about the procedure.  I laid on a table in the nuclear OR and let them do their thing.  I was alert the whole time and chatting as needed, alerting the docs to any pain or otherwise.  Mostly, I was an odd sensation of things coming in and out of my wrist and feeling things snake up my arm at the elbow.  Really no way to describe it unless you’ve had it.  There was a minute or two of some chest pain and tightness, but the docs were already in and on it, so it wasn’t a worry and more just letting them do their thing.  

Getting back to the room I was in and staying in for the night, I was greeted by J and Kiddo.  That was a welcome sight.  Just being able to kiss and love them.  Kiddo was super sweet, although for the first minute or two I could see the pinched worry on her face.  Seeing me walk, talk, and do normal Dada stuff, including rolling my eyes as the nurses overly babied me (helping me sit on the bed, even moving my pillow and not allowing me to do that myself) really gave her ease.  She then processed to talk my ear off about her day, eating pancakes, going to the book store and getting 3 new books and a new friend (more to come on Icicle in a future blog) and all the other cool 9 year old stuff that happened while I was sitting and waiting and doing nothing in a hospital room for the day.

Post procedure

Just before going home

The biggest things that melted me were: J bringing me a pasta dish to eat.  It was nothing special, your basic penne and veggies type dish, but that she thought of my and hospital food and brought it for me just melted me.  Seeing her and having her smile at me was another.  Kiddo being kiddo.  However, the biggest was from Kiddo.  At about 20:45 (8:45PM) I got a text message from Kiddo.  It was “I miss you and love you Dada and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”  However, she also sent a voice note.  It was a whispered message.  “I wish you were here to kiss me good night.  I’ll see you tomorrow after school.  I love you Dada.”  Just the fact that she messaged and reached out and all that.  So sweet of her.  That I was on her mind.  That she’s technologically proficient enough to send those types of messages to me.  I just melted.

Yesterday, I got to walk her to and from school and finally get out.  I have a 1km limit for another day or two, so I’m using that on her and school.  It’s nice to just walk with her and hear about her day and all that.  However, yesterday, when we got home, she noticed that I had gotten and set up my pill caddy.  Seeing as I’m now on two blood thinners, two cholesterol meds, a BP med, a daily vitamin, plus my ADHD meds and coming next week Thursday is a med to help with smoking cessation, but I’m 2 days good, so here’s hoping, so I need something to keep up with it all, as some are morning and others are evening.  Kiddo saw it and - 

“Oh!  Cool Dada.  You got your pill apartment and set it up.”

Pill compartment.

“What?  No, I like apartment more.  They all live there together.  It’s pill apartment.”

I didn’t argue and told J when she got home.  We both agreed that pill apartment it would be.  Trust the 9 year old to market and name the s**t outta things!

Other than that, we are coming up on the end of the year.  About 2.5 weeks to go.  Then, J has her two weeks of closing things out and needing to be there.  Then, we are off for 4 weeks of adventures in three Thai cities and Malaysia.  It’s going to be quiet the summer adventure.  I also had a conversation with BSchmittah yesterday and he is targeting end of Sept and he and I will have a BKK adventure and then get to Saigon for a few days as well.  It’ll be B’s first SEA adventure and his first real international adventure and talk about jumping into the deep end of things.  I think I’m most excited for his reaction to the traffic in both places.  Then, the foods and markets in BKK and the pho and street food scene in Saigon.  The next three months are going to be AWESOME!  So glad that I’ll be heart healthy and alive for it all.

Let’s go, Kiddo…. My procedure was a success and now it’s time to do the walking and work to get healthy and better.  On top of that, we’re going to start eating more healthy and better.  I’ll need you to help me with all of it, including being my little chef and helping with dinners and prep.  Other than that, keep bing you.  Keep being the sweetest little thing in my life.  And keep being my biggest joy.

Let’s go, J…. My procedure was a success.  Now, it’s time to be better and healthier; for you and her, but also for me.  Time to do more walks together.  Time to cut out some of the crap from the diet.  Time to be better.  There’s still so much I want and need to see with you.  Thanks for being my partner and best friend.   Keep being my other half and my sweetest thing.  You are my biggest joy.