Waiting for surgery

My last blog tells of my atrial fibrillation which
sent me, on Monday the 11th to the cardiologist.
While talking with him I became very short of
breath...very, very short of breath.  I said, in
a gasp, to Dr. Weksler, "I think I'm having a
heart attack."  He replied, "Maybe, in any case
you are on your way to the ER and then the
ICU.

Oxygen is a wonderful thing!

I came home yesterday evening and the
oxygen man arrived shortly thereafter and
set up a concentrator which makes oxygen.
Also left me with a dozen 1-liter bottles
and a back pack as well as two bottles
on wheels, in case the concentrator doesn't
work for some reason.

I had multiple tests while in the ICU and
the findings were that I had fluid in he
sack around the lungs (that was drained
off yesterday), a partially clogged artery
and my mitral valve has collapsed
completely. 

I see the Thoracic Surgeon next
Wednesday and have a tentative date
on Monday, the 25th to have the surgery.

Good things and not so good things

Lorena couldn't come to clean last Friday so
she came on Tuesday.  I asked her to clean
the Van, which she did.  She did a great job
it looks like new, almost.

The carpet in the back is impossible to keep
clean.  I decided we'd have it removed and
replaced with vinyl.  The rest of the Van is
Vinyl and I find that very easy to keep clean.

Robert and John removed the couch (our bed)
and discovered all sorts of problems with the
structure of the couch.  I had complained for
years that there was something really wrong
with the bed...hopefully, all the problems
will disappear after the structure is re-done.
Vernon is working on fixing the frame.

Carlos came and measured and will try to
find some vinyl to go there.  Later I suggested
to him that I'd scout around and when I found
what I wanted I'd tell him and he could come
and lay the floor.  He was happy with that.
This coming week I had planned to dothat, but
the best of plans..we'll see.

On Wednesday Keating called and we had a long
conversation on the phone.  I must get skype
hooked up again so that we can skype.

Thursday Meara, Connie and I had lunch at the
Tea House.  That was fun.  Meara was really
excited about the art school she has found and
been accepted to, in Laguna Beach, CA.  She
and Connie are there now checking it out.
I enjoyed our visit, but was glad we didn't
do our usual and park at the library and
walk to the tea house.  I was exhaused by
the time we got home.

I didn't sleep well Thursday night and knew
there was something really wrong by Friday
morning.

I went to see my new doctor.  His assistant
took my vitals and asked many questions and
then said she needed to do an EKG, which she
did.  The doctor came in and is not one to
mince words.  He said you have Atrial
Fibrillation.  I want you to see a cardiologist
next week.  Then he spent almost an hour
describing what Atrial Fibrillation is and
what the primary dangers are (excluding the
fact that you feel lousy) and some of the
methods used to treat it.  He gave me a
prescription for Warfarin and a prescription
of Lovenox which is a solution to prevent
blod clots. It comes in syringes which you
have to inject twice a day.  That's really
fun.  I've never done it before and am
learning fast how to do it.

So for now, that's where we are.  I'm
hoping the Atrial Fibrillation can be
controlled by medication.