My day Wednesday

Just wanted to take a few minutes to let you know that I am home and everything went fine today. After five caths, I can say this was the worst one. I went in at 8:30 and did a little bit of paperwork. I had already done most but you know they always can find some more! The place was really crowded and even though we got there a little early, we had a wait. Finally around 10:30 someone came to take us upstairs to the fourth floor. They put Dennis in a waiting room, and took me back to the area that would also become my recovery room. Everyone was so nice. I had the shakes really bad and some involuntary jerking motions. I was scared, and cold. The area back there was cold enough to store ice cream! I was told to take everything off except my socks, and put the gown on to open down the back. Then I waited. Finally a nurse came in and took my blood pressure, temp, weight, and did an E.K.G. Then another nurse came in to start my I.V. I told her about the neuropathy in my hands, but she had already decided to use my hand. I asked her to examine my arms for a good vein, but she didn’t do that. She put the needle in my hand, and I have to confess I cried. She kept telling me it wasn’t that bad. Then she started telling me she was finished and it didn’t hurt now. Well, my hand did hurt. It takes a while for the nerve endings to stop reacting to the needle. Then she started with the tape. She must have put a TON of tape on that I.V. When it came time to take it off, again I was crying like a baby. It hurt so bad. The nurse helping me was so compassionate with me. She went to get some kind of wipe that melts the sticky stuff on the tape. That really helped. I wanted to grab that nurse and hug her!! She’s my new best friend. Upstairs in the cath lab it was colder than my recovery room. I’m sure my blood froze solid in there. I told everyone that I was scared, and I wanted to A. be given adavan for my nerves, and B. be put out. I was given the adavan and I knew when that kicked in! I finally stopped jerking. Warm blankets helped the shaking from the cold. But no one was giving me anything to be put out. I felt everything, and it all hurt. I’m not too thrilled to not be put out! Back in my recovery room I was covered up with more warm blankets. And I promptly fell asleep. (oh fine! Now I go to sleep!) Finally someone went and got Dennis to be with me. He was there for about 10 minutes before the procedure, and I wanted him with me. He was a wonderful helper this time, and I enjoyed having him with me. Since Denise couldn’t be there, and Dana had to work, I was really counting on Dennis. He came through for me. One of the nurses brought me a chicken salad sandwich, and Dennis helped feed it to me. About 3:00 a nurse came in to say she was going to help me get up. She took out the foly, and then started on the stuff that was in/on my groin area (on my right side). Immediately my groin area filled with blood as I began to bleed. I really bled! She applied direct pressure (and it hurt) and finally it stopped bleeding. Then the nurse and Dennis both helped me get up from the bed and walked me to the bathroom. Then back to my room to get dressed for going home. Checking out of the outpatient facility is easier/faster than it was checking out of the main hospital. I got home about 5:30. I have hurt and not felt well since coming home. Dennis has really helped with the girls. DJ gave the girls showers, and helped me put them to bed. Ally was thrilled to have me home!

I got home about 5:00, and at 7:00 we were having an F-1 tornado passing within a mile of our house! I was asleep and Dennis came into the bedroom to tell me to get up we were having a tornado. I couldn't wake up enough to get up. But when I heard the tornado sirens, I got up to check on the three girls. They were in the bathtub loving every minute of it! I went out on the front porch just in time to see the wind pick up and blow hard enough to blow down buildings....which it did one mile from our house. But thankfully no one was hurt.