I'm sure you have heard the expression and/or experienced a situation that is like having a toothache for several days and it is only when you finally go to the Dentist that the toothache goes away. Well, that is what happened to Lee today.
Yesterday we waited all day for the cardiac doctor to see Lee. We were told today that it was a "communications break-down" and the cardiac doctor was not informed. Med-speak for "someone forgot to call them". We were promised that they would indeed come by to see Lee today. I was there all morning and forgot my phone so came back to the condo to retrieve it and rest for a couple of hours. When I returned @ 3:45 p.m. Lee had a NORMAL sinus rhythm and his heart rate was a regular 84. Of course the cardiac doctor appeared about 4:30 and was surprised after the urgency of the call that Lee's irregular hear rate seeemed to have corrected itself on its own. WOW!.....................Now he says, we will wait and see. Give it a couple of days to see if all is well again.
So................the good news is that all is well tonight and Lee already looked better and stronger. Time will tell of course. We have had so many ups and downs these past few weeks that we just have to roll with the punches as they say. We have to always remember that it could be a lot worse. When the pulmonary doctor was in earlier today he reminded Lee that if he had not had the surgery when he did he probably would not even be here right now. They were very concerned that he would die before they got his lung. His lungs were very sick and I believe we are now seeing the results of the strain it was making on his heart. We had been told in February that if he did not have a lung transplant his heart would probably wear out first because of the tremendous strain on his heart at that time.
We have to remember that whenever one is as dependent on oxygen as Lee was it causes a back pressure against the right atrium and eventually can cause a problem there. The right atrium is not meant to carry pressure, it just conveys blood from one part to another. Right now his problem is in the right atrium. The doctors at Duke have not said that, but I do remember the doctors @ Baptist and Forsythe (Select) telling us about the complications to the right atrium of the heart.
I am hoping that when I return to the hospital in the morning Lee will still be in a normal sinus rhythm. Remember him in your prayers tonight.
More Later................................................Brenda
And... like when you call a repairman and whatever was broken works like a charm when he shows up... Regardless of what it takes... so glad his heart rate is normal!
ReplyDeleteIn thinking about how brave Granddaddy is and how much courage that he shows every day, I found a few quotes for you:
ReplyDelete“You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you.” -- Mary Tyler Moore
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. ~Ambrose Redmoon
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. ~Mary Anne Radmacher
Sometimes even to live is an act of courage. ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. ~C.S. Lewis
Courage is the power to let go of the familiar. ~Raymond Lindquist
Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul. ~Michel de Montaigne
Tell him that he is the bravest, most couragest person that I know -- and that we are all so proud of him. -- love you both
ReplyDeleteHi Lee and Brenda
ReplyDeleteBetty and I have just got back from Alaska. We went with Jerry and Gayle Park. First we rented a car and spent one week driving around the main land. Then Kevin and Andy join us and we all flew to Kodiak. From Kodiak we took a float plane to a remote fishing lodge for 4 days. Tell Lee we caught salmon and halibut until our arms hurt. We also had bears as visitors while fishing. I was real proud of Betty and Gayle. They both stuck with us the whole time and got very good at fly fishing. We were able to check your blog a few time while in Alaska and was sorry to here Lee was having more trouble. I know this is a long trying time for both of you. We think of and pray for both of you often. Glad Lee had a good day today and hope he continues to get better. Wayne and Betty