I was awakened by a phone call from Delfts this morning at 6am. They had started an IV in anticipation of a catheterization and he was letting me know.
Even at that early hour, he sounded in much better spirits than he had the last several days. His breathing was easier and more relaxed, and he sounded rested. It was quite an improvement over Saturday when we arrived.
I'm still waiting for news on the procedure and what they found. I know they are looking for blockages in his bypass grafts and for a stenosis of his renal arteries. Each of these conditions can contribute to the increased blood pressure and ultimately the fluid build-up that is CHF. They've checked for the stenosis before to no avail, but want to look again to make sure there have been no changes over the last three years.
Hopefully Susan, his nurse on the CHF unit, will call shortly to let me know how the cath went. As soon as I have any news, I will append this post.
Update: I just got off the phone with Susan, the nurse with the sexy voice. (I'm sure that's driving Delfts mad.) She had good news and not so good news.
To start with, he got through the cath just fine. Regardless of how commonplace these things are, a catheterization is always a risky thing. Generally they don't like to do them unless there is no other way to get the information they need. He may think having 7 caths under his belt is no big deal. I beg to differ on that one.
What they found was not good, but neither was it as bad as it could have been. He does have some partial blocks in his bypass grafts. None of them is completely blocked. They want to treat them medically, not surgically, to open the grafts. Now, for 99% of patients, this is a good thing. For Delfts, however, this only means that ultimately they won't be treated.
Delfts has some real issues with Compliance. He is a Taurus, after all, and he knows everything better than anyone else does, especially if it affects him and his creature comforts in any way.
Medications? Only if he feels bad and the pills are within either arm's reach or I'm willing to go look for them for him.
Diet Change? And give up his favorite foods, foods like hard aged cheese, spicy amalgams of meat, pickled or cream style herring, and various wursts and smoked delicacies? I don't think so.
Exercise? Why, that would kill him, not to mention make him sweat and potentially miss a special on the Mating Rituals of Rhinos on Discovery Channel..
Oh, and what about Cigarettes? Do I really need to address that question?
*sighs and shakes my head*
Anyway... He's better. He seems to be improving each day. The tests revealed what I have believed for a long time. Now it is up to him. He can comply and be assimilated, or he can fight and end up in a hole. Basically, those are his choices. He'd best start taking them seriously.
Mamamontezz
Posted by Mamamontezz at March 7, 2006 04:44 PM | TrackBackDear Mamamontezz,
My thoughts are with Delftsman and you and your family. Please give him my best wishes. I would try to be a stern Grandma and order him to take his medicine, watch his diet and exercise, but it wouldn't work. I can't even get him to agree that a 30% embedded tax is just as deceptive (even more so) than tax withholding--so obviously I have no influence. I hope you and your family are holding up and taking care of yourselves as well.
Grandma Jo
Posted by: Grandma_Jo at March 7, 2006 07:18 PMAs someone who firmly believes moderation is for sissies, I must say this:
YOU BETTER LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE!!
D-man, take your medication, dammit.
You can still eat your favorite stuff, just in smaller portions farther apart.
If you don't have one, get yourself a treadmill, stick it in front of the tee vee, and reward yourself with a nice hard cheese after treadmilling while watching the Mating Rituals Of Rhinos (who the hell wants to see John McCain nekkid anyhoo?) on Discovery.
I won't touch the smoking thing, I'm a Tupac a day man. Well, we both should quit, how's that.
Think about changing your habits, man, or else I will re-install AIM, go back into the Rott Chat Room, and start e-mailing you /d.
You've been warned!
:-)
Posted by: Vinnie at March 7, 2006 07:29 PMThanks for keeping us updated. I am once again happy to hear he's doing OK. My wife knows what it's like to hassle with someone who takes his meds for a while then kinda lets it go because "I feel fine, really I do".
Everyone misses him over at the Rott, so tell him to get well(er) and log on when he's up to it.
Posted by: SoCalOilMan at March 7, 2006 07:46 PMI would be happy to contribute some enjoyable and healthy recipes...guaranteed to please the most decadent of gluttons. Being one and working for one, I should know.
Get better, buddy. You don't want Lila forcibly medicating you like a housecat do you?
Posted by: Darth Bacon at March 8, 2006 01:38 AMTell Delfts to take his damn medicine.
Hard with a stubborn dutchman for sure.
Hang in there mama ,We are keepingyou guys in our prayers..Let Delfts know evrybody is missing him. Cheers fron Neil ANd Deanna in Sunny tampa Bay
Thanks for the update Lila, glad Bert is still improving, Let him know he's missed out here and to stop being so stubborn and take those meds. Always thinking of you guys and all the problems you've had. Praying for the best.
Posted by: Jack at March 8, 2006 08:03 AMHe'd best start taking them seriously.
Listen to your wife, Delfts.
RWR
Posted by: RightWingRocker at March 8, 2006 09:45 AMDelfts now listen please. This is because you are loved, not just by your family but by all of us.
I smoke so we won't go there except for this, (one thing at a time). I hate doctors ok! There are good ones but there are bad ones too. As far as smoking goes can you try and do Light cigs. It does make a difference and they may not be as yummy but at least it is a step forward to not having them be as strong and bad for us.
Now here is the thing Delfts, your blog is outstanding and it took being creative on your part to make it LOOK the way it does besides the posts you make. So because of that I know you have an imagination since you are creative like that. Soooooooo imagine that you do not do what you are told will help you. Not doing what the docs say might cause a stroke,it might be bad enough to leave you unable to do anything.
Imagine sitting in a chair and seeing your wife and daughter and not being able to hug them and tell them you love them.
Imagine sitting there and SEEING your computer and not being able to type anything.
Imagine wearing diappers.
I know this is being dramatic about this but hey things can happen like this and I want you to have every chance in this ole politically correct BS world. I want you around for a very long time.Your wife loves you I can tell and so does your daughter. We love you and the only ones that don't are the liberals so why please them (the liberals) and make them happy if something happens to you.
Now back to the doctor thing.......... ok I said I hate doctors. The best way for them not to be around is to be healthy. To do what it takes to not have to go see one. So please think about it.
((hug))
Wild Thing
Delfts, take yer damned medicine or I'll come say it to your face!!! :-)
Keep getting better, my friend. Mama, hang in there. You guys are in my prayers.