Even the worst laid plans....
The plan was, wake-up call at 4:30 a.m., followed by a shower and a few moments to meditate before calling a taxi to take me to the VA for my angiogram and other tests. I woke up without alarm or other prompting at around 3:45 and couldn't go back to sleep. Good thing too, since while my iPhone alarm worked and my watch alarm worked, the wake-up call from the lazy people at the front desk didn't come until after 5:00. I was already showered and dressed by then.
When I reviewed the ground rules for today with the woman at the VA on the phone, it was confirmed that I wasn't supposed to drive myself, but taking a taxi was perfectly fine. Then when I got there this morning, the nurse manager on the unit said "oh no, we've changed the rules. Because you're having sedation, you have to have a responsible adult to take you home." The plan didn't involve sedation, it involved local anasthetic and a tranquilizer. But apparently the tranquilizer involved was considered sedation, so I needed a responsible adult. It was 6:45 in the morning, who could I call. I called around and found two possible solutions. Ultimately I chose to avoid using the sedation, since I wasn't really nervous about the procedure, only the results.
They had to shave the areas where they might insert the catheter, since a firm decision wasn't made about the wrist, or the femoral artery (which was ultimately chosen). They also shaved everywhere that one of those sticky things would be attached, so they wouldn't slip off or give "fuzzy" readings. Eventually I was on the table in the procedure room, numbed up and they went ahead.
It's weird. I knew that a catheter was being threaded up the veins, to the heart, but I didn't feel much of anything except a little pressure. Eventually I was back where we'd started, with instructions to lay flat on my back for four hours to allow the incision to fully close and clot.
It wasn't fun, but since it was the best possible result; well worth it.
When I reviewed the ground rules for today with the woman at the VA on the phone, it was confirmed that I wasn't supposed to drive myself, but taking a taxi was perfectly fine. Then when I got there this morning, the nurse manager on the unit said "oh no, we've changed the rules. Because you're having sedation, you have to have a responsible adult to take you home." The plan didn't involve sedation, it involved local anasthetic and a tranquilizer. But apparently the tranquilizer involved was considered sedation, so I needed a responsible adult. It was 6:45 in the morning, who could I call. I called around and found two possible solutions. Ultimately I chose to avoid using the sedation, since I wasn't really nervous about the procedure, only the results.
They had to shave the areas where they might insert the catheter, since a firm decision wasn't made about the wrist, or the femoral artery (which was ultimately chosen). They also shaved everywhere that one of those sticky things would be attached, so they wouldn't slip off or give "fuzzy" readings. Eventually I was on the table in the procedure room, numbed up and they went ahead.
It's weird. I knew that a catheter was being threaded up the veins, to the heart, but I didn't feel much of anything except a little pressure. Eventually I was back where we'd started, with instructions to lay flat on my back for four hours to allow the incision to fully close and clot.
It wasn't fun, but since it was the best possible result; well worth it.
posted by me at 4:40 PM
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