Monday, March 09, 2009

Sis Update

I went to the hospital to Sis yesterday afternoon and she was in a fairly nice mood but scared. She is really not the best patient and I usually have to tell the nurses and doctors sorry for having to take care of her. To have had two open heart surgeries, two c-sections, a hysterectomy, and tonsilectomy you would think she could be a little more understanding but most of the time she is not. Today she had her heart-cath test and was really, really scared. I didn't know what time it was to be but assumed it would be afternoon so I hit the office to get some work out of the way. I took off to be there about 2 pm and arrived to find her hubby in the surgery waiting room about 2:30, he had been there since 7:30 this morning. He said they took her down hours ago but that her blood was too thin and were waiting for it to thicken a bit. Thirty minutes later they called and she was done. We find out after the doctor came in to talk to us that she did indeed raise cain and this time she was right. They had her laying there waiting for hours and she asked why they were waiting, and they told her. She asked when they took her blood because they had not done so all day long. They told her 2:45 AM. Well, she went ballistic and told them that was 12 hours ago and insisted they take it again. They did and immediately did the procedure. Imagine.

The test revealed that she did not have a heart attack but she does have blockage. It has nothing to do with the previous valve replacement and hole(s) repair and replacement something else (can't remember), but with her previous smoking habit and diet. She was upset and told the doctor that she had quit smoking three years ago (yes that is 7 years after the first open heart surgery) and is working out and eating oatmeal (still uses salt like a fiend) and so forth. The doctor told her that it was the diet before and the smoking that has left the plaque build-up and caused her problems. The very strange and sort of funny thing is that I am overweight, don't smoke (never have), eat well (and have for years), exercise (you can't tell but I do), and have great cholestrol, triglycerides, etc. It's crazy that both my siblings smoked and still smoke (brother). They both have been thin all of their lives but they have lung issues (imagine) and back issues and now her heart issue. I'm healthy, except for the MRSA thing but I'm beating that.

My Daddy is very scared but he still hasn't visited the hospital. His excuse is that his hip won't let him walk but I know he worked in his garden all day yesterday. My guess is that he just can't handle it. Besides all that...today would be my Momma's 73rd birthday. Thank you everyone for the care and good thoughts. It absolutely means the world to me.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

glad to hear she got in there when she did. You're a great sister/daughter/mother. Love you.

Happy Birthday, Granny

Char said...

you are so strong

Kay said...

I'm so sorry about your sister and your poor dad, Jill. My elderly neighbor had a similar problem in just not being able to handle grief and worry. It's a hard, sad thing. Everybody copes differently. Stay strong. We're all with you.

anya said...

Hi Carla.....thanks for stopping by my blog the other day. Isn't the black box cool?

Red from Ktown said...

We're here for you.

Debbie said...

I hope your sis can see that her change in lifestyle has helped - it just can't undo so many years.