The day went very well -- at least as well as can be expected if you have to leave for the hospital before it is light out, spend the day absolutely prone and in one of those fetching flour sacking garments they give you, and have a camera poked up into your body. Such fun!
We did get there very early and were the first angiogram of the day. They actually started the procedure early. We aren't accustomed to NOT having to wait when we are having medical procedures of any kind. The doctor who performed the procedure was very young, very nice, very forthcoming with information. Alex was awake during the procedure and he kept him appraised of what they were seeing and doing. He also took the time to come sit down with me after the procedure, explain just what they found, and let me ask questions. The nurses were all pleasant. Everything went ALMOST as expected. After hearing for weeks that there was a 95% chance of major blockage in the right renal artery and probably little in the left (they check just in case), the right artery was fairly clear and they needed to place a stent in the left. Medical Science may not be so scientific after all!
He was back in the first recovery area by about 9:30 and in the main recovery room by 10:00 or so. Then there were hours of staying absolutely prone. This is the really hard part. No raising the head. No moving if it could possibly be avoided. The loyal wife mostly sat and read, wrote a couple of thank you notes and a "get well" note, and let the nurses know if he really needed anything. Now he has to take it very easy for two days and drink at least a quart of water before he goes to sleep tonight. Then he can shower on Friday and go about normal activities with some care for a few more days. The cats and I are planning to stay upwind of him tomorrow afternoon. After that I expect he will want to clean the gutters or something. Maybe not.
Product Plugs: (1) My Vera Bradley Morgan purse was great. Usually it is a fairly smart looking, moderate-sized handbag -- at least I think so. Today it looked like a blob, but it did hold everything I needed to keep me going: my own usual purse stuff, a book, my cards and notes, Alex's wallet and big glasses case, a small thermos, and a ton of paperwork. It was sort of like the clown car of purses. (2) My Pylones thermos. This baby keeps things hot! I filled it with herbal tea at 6:00 this morning. Snuck out to the waiting room for a cup three times during the day (visitors aren't allowed to eat or drink in the recovery area, although patients are fed) and I still had about half a cup left when we got home about 4:30 -- and it was still hot.
I have become almost a professional sit-by-the-bed lady and I pack for the day as if for a trip to some third world country. Next time I will also take crackers and cheese for Alex. He still has a bit of hospitalfoodophobia. He had been fasting since midnight last night, so he did have the forementioned crackers and cheese when he got home and he cleaned his plate at dinner.
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