News from the Hospital

Hello to all you readers of this blogg. We have been in the VA hospital since last Wednesday. We started out with an appointment in the cath lab to have pictures taken via flouroscope,dye and instruments used to obtain pictures of the heart condition. And the next day we had an echocardogram, similar to a sonogram. Both tests show that my 15 year old double bypass is in need of repair.

One of the grafts is closed, the other is closing, and we now have a new vessel that is also closing. Hence it’s called a triple bypass. This will require the long incision and the breaking of the ribs in front. Since we have not talked with the surgeon, we would only be guessing as to what will be done. We are set for this Thursday. Our planned stay after surgery is a week in CCU and the heart wing of the hospital. Since this is round two for me, I expect that my in-home recovery time to be 12 weeks. Of this is 10 weeks of no driving. There is talk of rehab after. When and where is too be discussed. If we can and so go somewhere, it will be south Texas. AZ is out of the question. So, I’ll say to the classmates of 2005, have fun and we’ll see ya down the road, somewhere.

In the mean time, its rest, relax and wait till my time has come. And I do want to add that I have had excellent care here in the hospital. The nursing staff and doctors are very kind and attentive to the patients. My initial feelings of discomfort in the system are going away. The staff here in this VA hospital work at other area hospitals and are on their staff. The chief of Cardiology at the VA hospital has the same title and position at another hospital in Dallas. My surgeon practices at another hospital in Dallas. I guess I could go to another hospital and have the same operation done by the same surgeon and pay the $100k plus verses the VA Hospital and I earned this privilege by my service in the service of the country and being in the US Army.

Right now its lazy time, watch the Dallas Cowboys on tv and then watch movies or golf and sleep. Being a retired bum is very hard work. Being a sick bum is even more difficult, no pain!. There may be more later but only time will tell. It’s all based on what happens and when I will have the laptop. Shirley will be able to keep the blogg updated and the Escapees forum also. We keep out family in the know with email and phone calls when we can. Since we are not able to use the cell phone, our out bound calls are only local.

Should something go very wrong, let it be known that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and I will meet him should this be His choosing.

So, Later!