It’s been another relatively quiet week except for Wednesday.
Ann took me to the hospital, arriving about 0745, I went in and made my way to the Intervention Unit in the Radiology Department and once there I realized that this was where I was taken to have the Pacemaker fitted. I was led to a bedspace to gown-up, then waited, got prepped (usual blood pressure and line put in my arm), then briefed on the procedure, then waited for my turn as by the time I was ready, they took the first one of five of us in for the same procedure and I was to be number two. It’s supposedly a 30-40 minute process and I was taken in at about 0910. They sprayed some local anesthetic in my throat to ease any discomfort, then gave me a 2nd dose and asked me to gargle it a little to get it further back in my throat. I then had to lie on my left side and an oversized mouth-guard that had a big circular disc with a hole in the centre was put in my mouth. There were multiple screens behind me, I had to lean my head forward, then was told to stop trying to swallow because that system was no longer functioning properly …..and that’s all I have to say about that! It’s not that I don’t want to tell how I gagged and spluttered, nearly threw up and how awful it was to have a shifty-scope rammed down my throat ….or how they just slipped it in with no hassle or drama and it all went amazingly well and I was such a hero ….but truth is I don’t remember a thing!!! Just being wheeled back out to my cubicle. In the briefing, my registered nurse, Alistair, advised how the local anesthetic they use has this affect, but I didn’t think much of it until I was telling Ann about what happened, then realized I didn’t know. So all I recall was being rolled back to the cubicle, waiting for half an hour to an hour for the numbness to ease, then being given a sip of water to test my swallowing reflex and that nothing was going to the lungs, then shortly after I was brought a jug of water and another half hour of so after that, I was brought a sandwich, crackers and an apple, which was welcome as I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink after midnight. Then after waiting some more, getting changed and waiting some more, I was finally released and got back to the car about 1245. Oh yes! My doctor, Sasse but they called her Vin (???) did tell me that the hole was relevant and they would get me back in about a month to seal it up …at least I think that’s what she said ….or implied ….or whatever. Anyways, I get back to the car, we chat about it for a bit, then decide to head to a café ….and the car wouldn’t start!! I did a couple of quick checks then asked Ann to call AA, the man turned up within 15mins, confirmed the battery was knackered, I asked where the best place to go would be and he advised he had batteries in his van, turned out he had one that was the same, he replaced it, we paid him and we were good to go. Bloody marvelous service! Turned out the battery was 9 yrs old (in a 2011 car) so had done alright. We went for our coffee, then made our way back to the hospital just before 1500 for my next 1530 appointment in the cardio clinic to check the pacemaker. That was over within 30 mins, I asked about exercise and weights, was advised I needed to take it easy for another two weeks, then we were away and pulling into the traffic for the crawl home ….and that was that!
1 Comment
Bill
30/8/2020 08:38:40
Hang in there, the weathers been piss poor for riding anyway.
Reply
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
about
This blog is pretty much just about motorcycling ...but every now and then I might rant or dribble on about other things. Categories
All
Archives
August 2021
|
Proudly powered by Weebly