What is playing on the iPod? Not Meant to Be by Theory of a Deadman
Friday, January 8, 2010 brought a whole new dynamic to my house. My husband had a cardiac catheterization at Duke. He has an extensive family history of premature cardiac disease and his general practitioner felt that a work up was necessary. This led to a treadmill stress test (aka Cardiolite stress test) which showed a possible abnormality. Thus, the catheterization.
Thankfully, the results were pretty good. There was a 20% blockage in one artery but truthfully, with his family history, I expected worse.
I took a writer's vantage point of the day and observed a lot. I people watched. There are many aspects of worrying, which you get to see in the cardiac ward. Some people hug and cuddle. Others smile reassuringly at their loved ones. Some sulk. Others sit and do not even try to hide the worry.
Then there are the smart asses, myself included.
Deciding that the hubby needed humor because he had paled to a light cotton ball shade, I turned into a Comedy Central act.
The IV had been set up and speaking purely from experience, I said "Hey, the hard part is over. Now they can put the happy juice in there and it's a cakewalk."
The nurse came in to shave him. To put it nicely, the access area for a cardiac cath is typically femoral, near the personal areas in other words. The hubby, despite thoughts to the contrary, turned a lighter shade of pale. I said "her hand looks a little shaky, do you want me to do this?" The nurse did not laugh but the hubby did. I accomplished my goal.
The guys come in to roll the hubby to the cath lab. We were walking and they told me I needed to tell him bye. I leaned over and said "after this is over with, I can tell the kids that we were all wrong. You do have a heart." He laughed again. Thank God he gets me because some people would not get my humor. After all, sarcasm is my preferred medium and being a champion smart ass is my mission in life.
The wait was okay and that is all part of being somewhere that you feel comfortable. Duke is one of the top hospitals in the country and it felt like we made the right decision choosing the Heart Center there. Had we been at the first place that was recommended to us, I would have been on pins and needles. Trust me, I have been on both sides of that fence and the wait for the family member is worse than being on the table. If you are on the table, at least you are knocked out, not able to think about all the things that could happen.
The hubby was back in his room in record time. He has the small, afore-mentioned blockage. His cardiologist came in and was explaining everything to us, including the need to stop smoking, to start exercise and to eat right. He eventually asked if we had any questions. Of course I did.
"Yeah, can you please explain to my husband that pork fat is not a separate food group?"
I even chuckled at that one.
The clock ticks on and it has been a very long day. Get your check ups, go for your annual physicals and take care of yourself. Quit smoking. Exercise and eat right.
Until next time.
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