Dreading the Weekend....

[mickeysaver]

Early Friday morning, I have a 2-1/2 hour drive to make to a hospital in middle GA. My father is having a cardiac cath done. This is his first since his heart attack 11 years ago. He was supposed to have had several done by now, but he is really not good about following doctor's orders. Of course, in the last 11 years, he has not quit smoking, which is why he also has COPD now. He certainly has not changed his diet. He has been diagnosed as having hypothyroidism and generally has the body of a 64 year old man that has lived and worked his way through a hard life.

As you can imagine, I love my father. I stayed with him when my parents divorced when I was 14. My mother was abusive.....we will leave it at that. While I know that my dad isn't perfect, I still love and respect him. I certainly would never have wished his health problems on him. I begged him for years to stop smoking, but he has a horrible addiction to those darn things. 50 years of smoking takes a terrible toll on the human body.

My father is an only child, as am I. We are so much alike personality wise that it's truly scary. My mother used to say that he opened up his mouth and spit me out because we are so much alike.

Anyway, I am dreading the drive to middle GA. I am praying that they don't have to do anything more than just the cath procedure or possibly new stents. I am so worried that they will end up doing bypass surgery. I am going to be the only family member there during the whole surgery. His wife has to go to work because she is self employed as a newspaper carrier and can't find a substitute driver for her route. I am dreading possibly having to stay at his house. They don't have internet access! They don't have a computer and while I could bring my laptop, the town they live in is so rural that there are no internet cafes either. I won't be able to surf the DIS, play on PokerStars, or basically kill time and keep my mind occupied with something other than the stuff that is right around me. Basically, I won't be able to hide. Being that they both smoke, my asthma is going to be aggravated. The only plus side of staying there is that it's free and I can rescue my Disney stuff from my room and bring it home to our Disney room......I looking forward to adding my ventriloquist Mickey Mouse dummy to the room.....but I digress. Gabby won't be able to come with me because someone has to be home to take care of the dogs.

Ah, the joys of being an only child. Between two attempted home burglary attempts and this, my month is really sucking. Bring on September!!! Maggie

 

[gradtchr]

 

[I Love Pluto]

for you and your Dad.

 

[MoniqueU]

Hugs for you and your family.
As my aunt who's husband had a heart transplant always has told me is heart procedures in men are among the most perfected medical procedures there are. She learned this in a year long course she and her husband had to complete prior to transplant. I always tell that to anyone having a heart procedure. I know it sounds scary but the risks are usually lower then one might think.
He will be in my thoughts.

 

[mickeysaver]

Thanks guys. I am just checking a few more things on the net and then I am going to finish packing and go to bed. I have to be up at 2:30am. Dad has to be at the hospital at 6am.

I feel so sorry for my dogs and my partner. My dogs are about to be put to bed before I go to bed and then, my partner will have to let them have some more "out time" when she gets home from Chicago later tonight. After working all day and having to fly home, I know that the last thing that she is going to want is to have to stay up late with the dogs and then put up with me getting up in the middle of the night.....oh, and did I mention that she has pneumonia too.

Ok, I totally sound like a pity party case.....unintentional, but my life is just in a not so wonderful state right now. Thankfully, with God's help, this too shall pass. Thanks for the hugs, thoughts and prayers.....not to mention, letting me vent. Maggie

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

That sounds like a really hard trip to have to take.

 

[mickeysaver]

I'm home. My Dad had angioplasty and two new stents placed. I had to stay with him overnight. He wouldn't ask for pain meds, but he was obviously uncomfortable, so I spoke to his nurse and had her give him some meds to chill him out. Thankfully, it worked and he rested much easier afterwards, but he needed something about every 20-40 minutes throughout the night. He is super weak. He is most likely going to sleep the day and night away, so I came home and will try to go see him next weekend. I was afraid that if I went home with him that he would feel the need to try to be up to see me instead of focusing on getting the rest that he needs.

I am completely exhausted. I had 3 and a half hours of good sleep in just over 48 hours and about 4 hours of 10 minute naps. I crashed when I got home for about 4 hours, but I am still really tired and sleepy. There were no comfortable chairs at the hospital. My legs, feet, back, and neck are all killing me.

I left the hospital in search of food and a quick trip home. I was dreaming of Starbucks, but had no idea where one was, so I figured that I would have no chance of finding one off the interstate. I decided to get Chikfilet and there was a Starbucks drive through just across the street. I got a chicken sandwich and a venti mocha latte. I made it home in just over and hour and a half for what should be at least a 2 hour drive. I hit the shower and the bed.

I just pray that he behaves himself. Maggie

 

[DisnyMama]

Prayers and hugs for both of you.