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Got to bring Irish home from the hospital on Tuesday. That was just two days ago - wow, it's been a long week. This whole thing was over and done in just a week; it feels a lot longer. I'm so glad to have him home and so are the kitties. (They're not kitties, they're full-grown cats - but we always call them the kitties. I'm sure they find it appalling!)
Anyway, he did have a mild heart attack. The doctor who did the angiogram said there was a blockage but it was small, not large enough to balloon or stent, and reversible with time, medication, and no smoking. (Also, diet and moderate exercise.) Then when the admitting doctor came in to finalize his records so he could go home, he told Irish that he was surprised they didn't want to do surgery because there was a lot of blockage and a lot of disease. Who to believe?? The angiogram guy was actually looking at Irish's heart in real time and showed the pictures to Irish, including the blockage. Irish told me, after we got home, that the admitting doctor was a surgeon and thinks he was hoping for a chance to perform surgery. Who knows? In any case, he also told Irish to quit smoking, moderate his diet, add moderate exercise, and take his medication religiously.
About the medication - last time Irish was in the hospital (end of August), the pharmacy across the parking lot from the hospital took his VA card and charged his meds to the VA. This time they wouldn't, so he still hasn't had his prescriptions filled. Fortunately, he had two of the most important medications at home already, since he already has prescriptions for them. Today he went to the VA clinic and goes back Monday, at which time he should be able to get the rest of them. I wish they would've given him samples at the hospital to carry over till then but they didn't.
As far as smoking - unfortunately, due to his meds, Irish can't use the patch or gum or any other nicotine-replacement things. He'd been cutting back and was down to half a pack a day by the time he went to the hospital last Wednesday. Since then, he's an no tobacco whatsoever. None. Yay! I'm very proud of him, because I understand nicotine is one of the most difficult addictions to quit. There's no tobacco in the apartment at all and he hasn't made any talk about getting more, either.
I'm so looking forward to the weekend! I want to sleep in Saturday, maybe slip off to a movie or Barnes & Noble, catch up on all those things that were left undone over the past week (dishes, laundry, vacuuming... ugh, not looking forward to that bit!). And tomorrow's payday. Yay! And my sweetie's at home.
Anyway, he did have a mild heart attack. The doctor who did the angiogram said there was a blockage but it was small, not large enough to balloon or stent, and reversible with time, medication, and no smoking. (Also, diet and moderate exercise.) Then when the admitting doctor came in to finalize his records so he could go home, he told Irish that he was surprised they didn't want to do surgery because there was a lot of blockage and a lot of disease. Who to believe?? The angiogram guy was actually looking at Irish's heart in real time and showed the pictures to Irish, including the blockage. Irish told me, after we got home, that the admitting doctor was a surgeon and thinks he was hoping for a chance to perform surgery. Who knows? In any case, he also told Irish to quit smoking, moderate his diet, add moderate exercise, and take his medication religiously.
About the medication - last time Irish was in the hospital (end of August), the pharmacy across the parking lot from the hospital took his VA card and charged his meds to the VA. This time they wouldn't, so he still hasn't had his prescriptions filled. Fortunately, he had two of the most important medications at home already, since he already has prescriptions for them. Today he went to the VA clinic and goes back Monday, at which time he should be able to get the rest of them. I wish they would've given him samples at the hospital to carry over till then but they didn't.
As far as smoking - unfortunately, due to his meds, Irish can't use the patch or gum or any other nicotine-replacement things. He'd been cutting back and was down to half a pack a day by the time he went to the hospital last Wednesday. Since then, he's an no tobacco whatsoever. None. Yay! I'm very proud of him, because I understand nicotine is one of the most difficult addictions to quit. There's no tobacco in the apartment at all and he hasn't made any talk about getting more, either.
I'm so looking forward to the weekend! I want to sleep in Saturday, maybe slip off to a movie or Barnes & Noble, catch up on all those things that were left undone over the past week (dishes, laundry, vacuuming... ugh, not looking forward to that bit!). And tomorrow's payday. Yay! And my sweetie's at home.