Heart Cath #10

Try as I might to get out of it, Dr.E insisted that we do a heart cath to check for coronary artery disease (CAD) and check the measurements of the valves, chambers, and look over the "connections" with all the plumbing from the transplant.  So, bright and early yesterday off the folks and I went to the "Pink Palace" where I seem to spend a great deal of my vacation time to "get 'er done"!

I have very small veins and arteries so putting in an IV is a great adventure.  Luckily enough, they only had to stick me twice to find one that would work....much better than the black and blue forearms that usually appear on both arms.  They hydrated me with an IV then took me down to the cath lab.  Saw a couple of familiar faces (you can't help it when you've visited so often) and caught up with them.  Luckily, Dr. E found no major issues and used a "plug" on the femoral artery so that I didn't have to lay flat for 4-6 hours to make sure it sealed off.  I arrived at 6:30 am and left at 12:30 am.  I spent most of the day sleeping and today am pretty sore and stiff.  I've just showered and removed the covering patch over the incision area and will be homebound for another 24 hours (no driving for 48 hours and no lifting over 10 lbs for a week) so it looks like it will be NASCAR and basketball for the day...with a few naps thrown in!

With the exception of the high triglycerides, all is going well.  Doc asked to cut down on my stress (yeah, right...school counseling sure lets that happen...especially at this time of the year!) and to try to work out a bit more.  But, after looking around the clinic room and hearing the nurse tell me that I am taking very good care of my heart, I can't help but think that I'm doing pretty well.  The average heart transplant patient lives @ 10-12 years and I'm halfway through that already.  Here's to hoping that I can make it to 20!