My Weekend...almost not...

I just returned home from the hospital. (Sat 2:00 pm).

Last week, I took a Thallium Stress test at the drs office. We went to follow up on it and he told me, you will take an angio-gram on Friday.

Firday, at 11:00am we went to the new Cardiac Cath Lab at ST. Francis hospital.

I think it was designed by a rocket scientist. Very up to date and futuristic. With multiple LCD monitors.

Yes, that angiogram led to an angio-plasty and another Abbot stint put into my Main Right Artery.

Seems it was 90% blocked. Immediately afterward the dr had his assistant show me the video/photo of the blocked artery before and after ballooning.

The artery looked like a super highway. It’s a big wide one and suddenly the right side closed up to the left side just leaving a little space for the blood to flow thru. 90% blocked

It opened my eyes wide.

My previous damage was to the left lower/mid ventricle area. Several arteries in that area were ballooned and stinted.

Dr. Gaiha's assistant Angie was in the lab and commented that of all the years of doing the procedure, she never had anyone wear a baseball cap. Its not a baseball cap, its my Siesta Key Hat.

I felt good or I should say great before the stress test--thru the angio-plasty and into the little room before and after.

I was talking to Karolyn when suddenly 4--5 nurses ran into the room and all had a scared look on their faces.

Where does it hurt, do you have pain in your chest,,your jaw,...your arms.

No I feel great.

As we talked they unwrapped all kinds of stuff and put the Paddle pads on my chest. Oh Shit...something is going on.

Hey I feel great.

Mr. Elliott you have a block. Your main right artery, It has electrical lobes leading to your heart for the heart beat.

It might have been caused by the angioplasty damaging it or the meds or your heart is really bad.

I looked at the monitor and it said my heart rate was 36..no 76..no 39 no 47...no 59....no 35.

The monitor just kept flipping between all those numbers for heart beats.

BUT I FEEL GREAT...

Karolyn said Maybe she should go...I looked in her eyes, thought about my situation and said GOOD BYE....she said GOOD BYE back. WE both knew what we were saying, there would be no c'ya this time.

After 20 minutes they all eased up and returned to their stations.

I wasn't nervous for myself. I felt bad about leaving her with our weak financial condition. Its funny what we think of.

Well, they shipped me to the Cardiac Intensive Care at 7pm.

Today the dr told me with the bad weak heart and damaged from the previous heart attack, that if that artery blocked up, "you would be in heaven now"

So "aren't you glad I made you take the angiogram"

Hell yes.

Dr Gaiha is from India, and he for the first time ever in all our conversations said: if that artery would have blocked up, with your damage on the other side of the heart and it being WEAK, you would have been in heaven.

I joked and said, Dr. Gaiha, again I have to thank you. What do you mean weak heart? I exercise, ride my bike for miles and walk and stretch.

He said it’s not getting stronger and it’s been weak since your heart attack.

He said he didn't know what to do. OKAY, do I stay or go home.
Oh, that’s why I'm here--to sign you out. GO HOME!

I came home to our annual block party and 40 folks are expected between my house and my daughters.

My son Jack and Thomas bbq 100 brat wursts and smoked pulled pork
It was wonderful. 1/2 brat and 1/2 pork and a slice of "Cubs" ice cream bday cake for Colin from Dairy Queen.

Then I started my new diet. Only a little milk in the coffee.

Sorry no photos but one.