Ten Lives

We were up at four and out the door at 4:40 this morning for my procedure at Scripps. We actually were a half hour early getting to Genesee but I would rather be early than late.

I checked in and went downstairs for labwork.

The cardiologist had told me that I had a severe blockage in the lower area of my heart that would require one of three things, stents, bypass or open heart work.

Not like I am new to this having had open heart surgery way back in 2006 for a murmur and a mitral valve but not necessarily something I wanted to repeat.

I was feeling rather apprehensive about this one, was this the moment in time when the dice crapped out?

My cardiologist is on maternal leave and the man treating me was an old hand, the best in the business. He worked on my friend Joel last week and he said he felt better immediately. There was another man from Fallbrook in the waiting room so North County was really representing.

I got shaved and monitored, all the preparations made for a 9:00 surgery. The staff was excellent.

Met the three doctors that would be working on my angiogram.

I remember nothing about the surgery, under a potent dose of versed but was told when I woke up that the blockage in the suspect artery was about 30%, not near enough for the 70% required for a stent.

Cool.

I can't lift over three lbs. for three or four days, supposed to take it easy.

The artery site on my wrist where they started the angiogram can not be overflexed or hyperextended, baby could blow at any time and supposedly it ain't pretty.

Leslie and I celebrated the good news in my customary fashion, noodles and broth at Shan Xi Magic Kitchen.

Just what the doctor ordered! Topped it off with a belated birthday eclair for good measure.

Thanks for the good wishes, another unrelated procedure scheduled for Friday. The hits just keep on coming!