[ Sick Mood: Sick ]
[ Reading various blogs Currently: Reading various blogs ]

I am sitting here in a fair amount of pain and with my upper chest rather sore. But it is all over and I survived so that is a good thing.

The day started early for us as I had to be at the hospital by 8 AM which meant getting Beth off to school, getting Mikey ready for school, and then driving to the hospital. I had to take Michel and Mikey because I was not going to be able to drive home since I was going to get some Versed for the implant. Driving on the Long Island Expressway during rush hour is usually not pleasant but since there were three of us we could drive in the HOV lane. This really does make a big difference. When we arrived at the hospital, I popped out and Michel took Mikey home to meet the bus.

The first thing was the tilt-table test. I had no reaction to being brought upright so they tried to get my heart rate up with medication. The Pindolol (the beta-blocker I take) however was working too well and they couldn’t get my heart rate above 75. They were aiming for 90 and kept increasing the medication but eventually they gave up. So the test was basically a failure.

Next it was off to get the implant. A technician from Medtronic was there to explain how the loop recorder works and show me what I needed to do if I passed out. The doctor then did the procedure but I slept through most of it. He told Michel they gave me a tiny dose of Versed and I was sound asleep in a minute. I woke up with no pain and we were only in recovery for about 90 minutes before they let us go home. Michel got me a very nice ham sandwich from the cafe in the hospital. Thanks Michel!

On the way home the local started wearing off and my chest started hurting. I hate to be a whiner (I’m sure Michel will disagree with that) but it hurts a lot more than I thought it would. Tylenol helps some but it is still sore. I have to go back in a week for them to check the wound but meanwhile no showering! Perhaps I will be "fragrant" like Mary Archer by the end of the week! (That’s a joke for Debra over at Deblog.)

And finally a big thanks to everyone at North Shore in Manhasset. And a special big thanks to my nurse Wendy who was great and stayed with me during the entire ordeal. Wendy changed careers to be a nurse and I could see that she did it because she has a calling to the profession. (Just like Michel!)

Update: the picture is for Jeff who always comments at what a good sport Michel is for letting me add her picture to my blog when she is in recovery. Very Happy