Several hours spent in the ER at Medina. I was hooked up to a machine (an EKG I suspect) and people were coming into the space and leaving, taking my blood pressure multiple times and telling me nothing. At least, I don't remember them telling me anything until it was "time to go".
"GO?" Well yes, new EMT's, new gurney (I was able to slide off the bed onto the gurney in the ER and then out into the side parking lot of the hospital, slam, bang and thank you Ma'm and I am in the ambulance quicker than you can count to ten. Go where???? The Cleveland Clinic? Seriously?
Sigh.....Two EMT's stayed with me in the ambulance "innards" and one EMT drove. Sirens until we got onto I-71 and punched it into cruise mode. Sarah followed the ambulance in her car. One of the EMT's, Amanda and the other young man, whose name I don't remember were sure to give me their home addresses and contact info to have me send them pierogies....that's another story.
Arrival at the clinic around midnight, give or take and I was again whisked away to what I later found out was Cardiac ICU. Big white room, lots of bells and whistles, machines, dials and levers, whooshing and wheezing, and that was me...Hospital gown and my two nurses introduced themselves. I don't remember their names, however one was a "trainee". Dr. came in and gave me an Echo Cardiogram. I don't know what that was or the meaning but he seemed very intense and thorough.
By this time, Nathan and Traci had arrived and joined Sarah in the audience. I had not eaten since Wednesday at dinnertime so I was fairly hungry. The nurse finally brought me a Yoplait yogurt, peach flavored "light", and a small turkey sandwich. She said "I don't know about the turkey, maybe you want to pass on that one". "If they take you to the Cath Lab, tell them you haven't had anything to eat!"
It seemed I was destined to have a CT Scan and then a heart catherization test. I had no idea what was going on, blood taken, more than once and multiple vials, also a shot of something that's name started with an "L" directly into my abdoman. Hooked up to IV Nitro and Heparin. That was fun. Needles to the left...needles to the right and still no cath test. That test occured about six o'clock on Friday night after the cath team had said there was a whole lot of gridlock in the cath labs (21 of them to be exact) and they did not work on the weekends. I may have to wait until Monday. "Fine by me" said I. That meant in layman's terms, "she's not so bad off and we can afford to wait"...NOT! So in conversation with the Dr.s on Friday afternoon I learned that I had a choice of "location for the cath". Groin or wrist. No kidding? Which would you do Dr. head of the cath team Dr.? "Wrist" said he. Well he was the oldest member of the team, and wore a bowtie, he must be a tenured Dr. so I went with his suggestion.
Finally, (no food since Wed, remember) I had lulled myself into thinking that I was on the "Monday" list and would spend the weekend lounging about in the Clinic.....Not on your life missy!
More tomorrow!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
True Confessions
At 2:00 this morning, I celebrated the two week annversary of my heart attack.
That's right, the anniversary. Two weeks ago at 2:00 a.m. Thursday morning I woke up from a sound sleep feeling chest pressure and heart burn. I sat up in bed for a few minutes, assessing the situation and decided to get up, go to the bathroom (always an option with me anymore) and then back to bed by way of the hall closet where the over the counter meds are kept. I took two Rolaids and went back to bed. No, sleep did not return. Instead, the chest pressure remained, no worse but certainly no better and then I noticed the heartburn was still there along with some discomfort between my shoulder blades. Sigh, what next, take a Zantac? Sure, that will do the trick.....it did not, two more Rolaids, chomp, chomp...lie down and turn on the TV. Crap, shift my position to get some relief, no dice.
This went on until it was time to get up at 7:00. Coffee, two or three cups, work on the computer, take the dog out, get the papers, get dressed, putter around, get organized. Maybe if I lie down on the sofa (by now it was lunch time) and turn the family room TV on, okay that done, still discomfort. 2:00 talked to Sarah, "call the Dr Mom", okay!
Dr.'s office passed me off to the nurse who advised I go to the ER. Okay then, but first, make out a bank deposit, write some checks out and put in the mail at the post office, stop at the office and then I finally made it to the Urgicare in Brunswick.
"I think I need an EKG" said I. The receptionist said "We don't do that here"...just as a nurse walked around the corner ( later I found I was a little pale) and she said "come with me"!
So, I obediently walked "this way" to an exam room where I had an EKG hooked to my body and an IV in my left hand. The IV was not connected to anything, it was there "just in case". Thirty minutes of waiting for "just in case" proved to herald the arrival of Three very serious EMT's. Off to the hospital in the ambulance, sirens wailing and speeding down the road. Nitro pill under my tongue along with baby aspirin and in between blasts of the siren I answered a staccato of questions passed by me with military stiffness. The EMT's were nice but all business.
The arrival at the hospital seemed swift and fortunately Sarah walked into the ER shortly after I arrived. "What the heck Mom, trying to get out of work?" she joked.
Continued tomorrow......
That's right, the anniversary. Two weeks ago at 2:00 a.m. Thursday morning I woke up from a sound sleep feeling chest pressure and heart burn. I sat up in bed for a few minutes, assessing the situation and decided to get up, go to the bathroom (always an option with me anymore) and then back to bed by way of the hall closet where the over the counter meds are kept. I took two Rolaids and went back to bed. No, sleep did not return. Instead, the chest pressure remained, no worse but certainly no better and then I noticed the heartburn was still there along with some discomfort between my shoulder blades. Sigh, what next, take a Zantac? Sure, that will do the trick.....it did not, two more Rolaids, chomp, chomp...lie down and turn on the TV. Crap, shift my position to get some relief, no dice.
This went on until it was time to get up at 7:00. Coffee, two or three cups, work on the computer, take the dog out, get the papers, get dressed, putter around, get organized. Maybe if I lie down on the sofa (by now it was lunch time) and turn the family room TV on, okay that done, still discomfort. 2:00 talked to Sarah, "call the Dr Mom", okay!
Dr.'s office passed me off to the nurse who advised I go to the ER. Okay then, but first, make out a bank deposit, write some checks out and put in the mail at the post office, stop at the office and then I finally made it to the Urgicare in Brunswick.
"I think I need an EKG" said I. The receptionist said "We don't do that here"...just as a nurse walked around the corner ( later I found I was a little pale) and she said "come with me"!
So, I obediently walked "this way" to an exam room where I had an EKG hooked to my body and an IV in my left hand. The IV was not connected to anything, it was there "just in case". Thirty minutes of waiting for "just in case" proved to herald the arrival of Three very serious EMT's. Off to the hospital in the ambulance, sirens wailing and speeding down the road. Nitro pill under my tongue along with baby aspirin and in between blasts of the siren I answered a staccato of questions passed by me with military stiffness. The EMT's were nice but all business.
The arrival at the hospital seemed swift and fortunately Sarah walked into the ER shortly after I arrived. "What the heck Mom, trying to get out of work?" she joked.
Continued tomorrow......
Thursday, March 22, 2012
A big dose of reality..
Sarah Vas
Ugh. What a long night. explaining life and death to a seven year old who is learning that the dog he has grown up with has cancer and is going to die. Lots of sadness and confusion. lots of hard questions. Lots of honest answers. Thank you to my parents who allowed me at a young age to take part in the cycle of life so I could be prepared for this part of parenting. Thank you for never "sending fluffy off to live on a farm in the country". I know the truth and want Daniel to know too. Please keep Dozer and Daniel in your thoughts as a little boy loses his first pup.
.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Spring is too early this year at least that is what my body is telling me!
It can't possibly be this warm on the 19th day of March. 79 degrees is just not right!
Yesterday I spent the day working with Sarah at the barn. She has horses to go to a show in Ky. in 15 days. Three horses that have never been to a show, and are "green" as spring grass.
My body is telling me that I am another year older and probably two decades behind the times. I mostly groom, get horses bitted, watch the horses work in the arena, give my opinions, then help untack them and hose them off, put them away and get the next one ready. The aisleways are cement and the arena is deep sand. My legs are now used to the walking back and forth in the sand and the cement. But my arms and shoulder (the right one) ache all the time.
I feel like the first day after the first day of spring. You know the day you walk around outside, the sun is shining and you start bending over and picking up sticks in the yard. Then you pull leaves out of a flower bed, trek across the lawn bending and picking up, bending and picking up. That next day you can't move. Muscles and tendons, ligaments and joints are protesting in a loud and violent way. My hands are swollen, fingers don't close, they look like gourmet (you thought they would look like plain old sausage?) sausages and my muscles burn.
Well, welcome to the world of the "assistant groom". When I go to horse shows and look at all the farms participating, I think the average age of a groom is about 20. I am going on 70! I know it will get better with time as my muscles acclimate to the physical stress but gheez louise, every morning my body complains!
But boy oh boy, am I aching now. Even though I have been doing this for several weeks now, I still have arguments with my torso and limbs.
My friend Jo Ann has been excersing every day for 30 mintues for the last eight to ten weeks and is losing weight and getting really trim and fit. I haven't heard her complain!
Me? Still flab and sloppy! My legs don't hurt however, so I guess that is a good sign.
Wait now, is this what they mean by "getting to the burn"?
Yesterday I spent the day working with Sarah at the barn. She has horses to go to a show in Ky. in 15 days. Three horses that have never been to a show, and are "green" as spring grass.
My body is telling me that I am another year older and probably two decades behind the times. I mostly groom, get horses bitted, watch the horses work in the arena, give my opinions, then help untack them and hose them off, put them away and get the next one ready. The aisleways are cement and the arena is deep sand. My legs are now used to the walking back and forth in the sand and the cement. But my arms and shoulder (the right one) ache all the time.
I feel like the first day after the first day of spring. You know the day you walk around outside, the sun is shining and you start bending over and picking up sticks in the yard. Then you pull leaves out of a flower bed, trek across the lawn bending and picking up, bending and picking up. That next day you can't move. Muscles and tendons, ligaments and joints are protesting in a loud and violent way. My hands are swollen, fingers don't close, they look like gourmet (you thought they would look like plain old sausage?) sausages and my muscles burn.
Well, welcome to the world of the "assistant groom". When I go to horse shows and look at all the farms participating, I think the average age of a groom is about 20. I am going on 70! I know it will get better with time as my muscles acclimate to the physical stress but gheez louise, every morning my body complains!
But boy oh boy, am I aching now. Even though I have been doing this for several weeks now, I still have arguments with my torso and limbs.
My friend Jo Ann has been excersing every day for 30 mintues for the last eight to ten weeks and is losing weight and getting really trim and fit. I haven't heard her complain!
Me? Still flab and sloppy! My legs don't hurt however, so I guess that is a good sign.
Photo at right: The real Athlete...Sarah Vas!
Wait now, is this what they mean by "getting to the burn"?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Today I met someone
Today I met Christine. Let me back up a bit. Sarah had to haul an Arabian Gelding to Brecksville to his new owner, Stacey Giere, co- owner of Maple Crest Farm. All was uneventful, perfect trip, no problems. Even though the gelding was not an experienced traveler, he has matured living as a boarder at Sarah and Kevin's Farm and trusts Sarah even he may be cautious.
He arrived unscathed, walked out of the trailer, around the barn, moved into his new stall, with just a tiny bit of anxiety and then started munching his hay.
We are longtime friends with the owners of the farm, Meredith and Stacey (mother and daughter dynamic duo) and so we took the opportunity to visit with them for a bit before they had to get back to work and Sarah and I had to get back to the farm.
One of the owners said "I want to introduce you to someone, she's new here and she is our inspiration".
I turned to look and was shocked. I tried not to show my shock, but I was sincerely shocked. We said hello to one another and Sarah asked how long she had been a participant at the farm. "I came here in January I think." She had been riding on the trail with one of the owners that day and was tidying up, waiting for her ride to show up.
She had been involved in a house fire. She had no hands, two prosthetic legs and burn scars all over her neck, face, head and the arms that were showing out of her tee shirt. Bad, bad scars.
She had been riding. She also is learning how to drive a horse hitched to a carriage. She said "I prefer to ride in the back (navigator's seat)!
She had no hands. She had two artificial legs.
She made me so humble. She had the most beautiful eyes and smile. "Nice to meet you, I have to go now".
And I am complaining about what again?
He arrived unscathed, walked out of the trailer, around the barn, moved into his new stall, with just a tiny bit of anxiety and then started munching his hay.
We are longtime friends with the owners of the farm, Meredith and Stacey (mother and daughter dynamic duo) and so we took the opportunity to visit with them for a bit before they had to get back to work and Sarah and I had to get back to the farm.
One of the owners said "I want to introduce you to someone, she's new here and she is our inspiration".
I turned to look and was shocked. I tried not to show my shock, but I was sincerely shocked. We said hello to one another and Sarah asked how long she had been a participant at the farm. "I came here in January I think." She had been riding on the trail with one of the owners that day and was tidying up, waiting for her ride to show up.
She had been involved in a house fire. She had no hands, two prosthetic legs and burn scars all over her neck, face, head and the arms that were showing out of her tee shirt. Bad, bad scars.
She had been riding. She also is learning how to drive a horse hitched to a carriage. She said "I prefer to ride in the back (navigator's seat)!
She had no hands. She had two artificial legs.
She made me so humble. She had the most beautiful eyes and smile. "Nice to meet you, I have to go now".
And I am complaining about what again?
Thursday, March 8, 2012
How many children?
My friend commented something to the effect of "how many generations of children do we have to educate".
My response, "as many as educated me and you".
Though some are childless, they too received an education.
Though some are on fixed income, they too received an education.
It goes on and on and on. One foot in front of the other till the job is done. And then, the jobs that those educated children take, will pay the taxes and social security of those that have gone on to educate them.
At least that's my take on it. Someone did it for me and I will do it for someone else. Even though my children are now supporting families of their own I will still support education.
If there is no good system there will be no good rewards.
I guess I just don't agree and that's okay.
Right?
My response, "as many as educated me and you".
Though some are childless, they too received an education.
Though some are on fixed income, they too received an education.
It goes on and on and on. One foot in front of the other till the job is done. And then, the jobs that those educated children take, will pay the taxes and social security of those that have gone on to educate them.
At least that's my take on it. Someone did it for me and I will do it for someone else. Even though my children are now supporting families of their own I will still support education.
If there is no good system there will be no good rewards.
I guess I just don't agree and that's okay.
Right?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
What's Wrong with this Picture?
Yesterday's election results were an interesting read in the newspaper today.
The most interesting two issues affecting Liverpool Township were a surprising comparison.
On the ballot were the following:
Vote for the Jilbert Winery to have Sunday Wine Sales Yay or Nay- results proved to be Yay
Vote for the Buckeye Schools levy Yay or Nay - results proved to be Nay.
Although I know Mr. Jilbert and have been to his winery many times, it just seems frivilous to pass this ballot item and defeat the school levy. The levy was not an increase in taxes.
I wish the residents of this community would realize...the quality of the schools will dictate part of the value of the property. No one wants to purchase a home for the prices that this community is expecting if the schools are not great.
Spend a little, save a lot!
Don't even go to the place where "how much is your education worth"!
The most interesting two issues affecting Liverpool Township were a surprising comparison.
On the ballot were the following:
Vote for the Jilbert Winery to have Sunday Wine Sales Yay or Nay- results proved to be Yay
Vote for the Buckeye Schools levy Yay or Nay - results proved to be Nay.
Although I know Mr. Jilbert and have been to his winery many times, it just seems frivilous to pass this ballot item and defeat the school levy. The levy was not an increase in taxes.
I wish the residents of this community would realize...the quality of the schools will dictate part of the value of the property. No one wants to purchase a home for the prices that this community is expecting if the schools are not great.
Spend a little, save a lot!
Don't even go to the place where "how much is your education worth"!
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