Oh, you all are just the best!! Thank you so, so much ... don't know how I could get this without you! The update today is: Patrick
did have a heart attack ... the enzyme levels just kept going up and the heart cath today confirmed it. I did not know the risks involved with this procedure! One in 1000 who have a heart cath ... die! Two in 1000 have strokes ... that's one in 500!! I didn't know that they run the "wire" through the femoral artery and that there is a nerve that runs along the side of that artery! They first stuck that nerve ... the poor doctor just kept apologizing for that ... there was risk of him bleeding to death. Pressure had to be applied for 20 minutes ... he had to be "stuck" twice. All is forgiven ... this cardiologist is just wonderful. There are a couple of blockages but they are so tiny they do not need to be addressed. I am on "information overload" so I may not get everything accurate. He does have _______ heart disease .... can't remember the word. There is plaque in some arteries. The doctors believes that everything can be controlled with medication. His "always perfect" cholostral levels are all out of kilter .... his potassium level is way too low, even though he eats bananas like a monkey! Very long story short .... prognosis is very good ... if the doctor is confident, then we have to trust his best judgement and his plan for treatment. He even obtained the heart cath results from Chattanooga and studied them. In 2000 everything looked good so he feels this has been discovered early on!
OK ... the good news! He has his new "diet" to thank at least in part for this not being worse that it could have been. We have been eating "healthy" since January and has lost 32 lbs.!!
We are adding a walking regimen to our schedule ... doctor's orders and will help a lot. We are discussing a lot of ways to reduce his stress ... this will be most difficult of all! And last, but certainly not least was his tiny visitor tonight!! Yep, St. Mary's is "pet friendly" and believes that the pets are
good for patients!!! I forgot my camera but you all should have seen those two happy faces .... Patrick was thrilled to see Toto, but Toto was estatic!!! She ran from the foot of his bed up to his chest and absolutely bathed his face with kisses .... checked him all over and then laid down between his legs and gave the biggest sigh I have ever heard her make. She only moved to great everyone as they came in the room and spent a few minutes politicing with the cardiologist to let Papa come home tomorrow and he just melted. Cuddled and played with her and totally agreed that she was good medicine for Pat and a great stress reducer!! Sorry this is so long but I am overwhelmed with all the good news today ... life is good!! Now I will sleep good .... thanks again and hugs & puppy kisses to you all!!!
