They think it is a heart valve....

DLL

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allowing desat blood to mix with the sat blood. It lowers my oxygen in my blood. I have had a pulse ox of 72 to 85.

We have three more tests. PH test...where I put the probe in my Esophagus for twenty four hours. A wire comes out my nose and runs down to a recorder. Another test is the yukky blood gases test. They put something in my artery so they can see what is going on while I ride a bicycle. I figure about 60mg of morphine and 30mg of oxycodone should allow that to happen. The ABG tests are not fun. I learned a trick. Put lidocaine on the area they will go into. Then they put a wash cloth on it and a heating pad. It brings the artery closer to the surface. I like the idea of the Class II assistance myself. Chris will drive me there of course.

Tolly, my service dog, has had quite a trip. More later, someone is burning wood and the fumes are coming in the window. I have to put my Linksys antenna outside.

Take care, all of you. Protect your lungs. NO SMOKING. I never smoked, but my parents did. I think of Tom a lot. If he had came here, he might still be with us.

If this works right, I will find a surgeon to fix the valve in my heart, then to SF to their super urology hospital, then find a surgeon for my lower back, then oral surgery to clean up what I did when 3 years old...I drank drano. and ....I feel like I am leaving something out...tired I guess.

Can't wait to get back...take care, Dave
 
Good to hear fom you Dave! Good luck and drop us a line at BE anytime.
 
Things move fast here at National Jewish Hospital. We spoke to the head of the Cardiac Unit and he called a friend who is one of the best heart surgeons in the USA. At 2pm yesterday we were told about this hole or tear in an inner wall of my heart. I think I would have had the surgery last night if my Cardiologist could have found this surgeon. When he did find him the earliest they can get to me is 2pm today. So I go in for repair of the inner wall.
It is allowing my desat blood to flow across into the oxygen saturated blood, lowering my oxygen levels throughout my body and making my heart work a lot harder to keep me standing upright.

They tell us this doctor has done a lot of these procedures, so I think we are lucky there.
Wish Tom had seen doctors like this, he would probably still be with us. Anyway, after the surgery we will be here at least a week, until the surgeon releases me.

Take care and all prayers gratefully accepted...Dave & Chris
 
Prayers sent! You'll be a new man after the incision heals!!!!!
 
Dave -- That was anamazing story. YoMy heartfelt best wishes go with you. - Warren
 
quote:

Originally posted by lil red truck

Let yourself be taken care of, Dave.




A friend just had a quadruple bypass and is doing great; Dave, take care do the same!
BTW, I just noticed the image posted by "lil red truck", and I think I know the location...from the bicycle path on Key West Beach. Right?
 
Heart surgery done, the surgeon said I did fine. Repaired the tear with a new procedure.
One problem down, two to go.

My brain is not functioning correctly and my small airways are either damage or diseased.

So one down and two to go.

Is anyone planning a trip to Angel Island soon? Like in 3 or 4 weeks? Take care, another week here, then about ten days to come home. I am falling asleep, better get to bed, TTUL,
Dave
 
Well, hell Dave, has your brain ever functioned correctly??? [:-bonc01] [:-mischievous] All kidding aside, so glad to hear that they fixed the ticker for you. Getting good oxygenated blood going through your body consistently will surely make improvements with everything![:-idea]

In the meantime, keep those dreams and plans of cruising to Angel Island alive and well.[:-thumbu]
 
Monday, 10am...I slept about 11 hours last night and about twelve the night before. I am tired and haven't done anything. I am still on oxygen all night.

Our bodies adapt to most things, so when my oxygen levels slowly dropped and dropped and so on, my brain accepted it as a way of staying alive, therefore when my pulse ox is in the 60s, my brain still has not sent out a Mayday call to my lungs to breathe deeper, faster, harder and so on. Most of you would get that signal when your pulse ox goes below 88. If we put all of us in a room, tested the blood oxygen levels, 99.9% would be 95 or above, unless you are sick. I don't know how we can "retrain" my brain to sound the alarm at 88, so they will probably put a pulse ox meter on me for crossing the Rockies and the Sierras.

My lung damage may be beyond repair. I did not see the CT Scan, but there are a lot of dots in my lungs. Damaged small airways. I sure think of Tom at times like this. I miss our late evening chats. Anyway, if any hospital can fix it, these people can. I have to come back for a 6 month checkup with the cardiologist and may spend another week with the pulmonary people. Maybe QVAR 80 can help out. It stops inflamation of the small airways.
If 6 months of that doesn't work, I may be out of luck.

Thanks for the nice thoughts and prayers. I was very concerned when he said I had a "hole or a tear or a flap" malfunctioning on the inner wall. My Uncle died of a "tear" in his heart wall. Aneurism? I can't remember how to spell it. But I come from good stock. My
dad's mom, Grandma Loving, chewed "Boll Weevil" chewing tobacco and I kid you not, I saw Grandma drink warm bacon grease out of a skillet. Not exaggerating. But she came into Oklahoma in a Conastoga wagon. My grandparents were born around 1875. Irish. Strong like bull, dumb like rock. take care, more later, gotta rest, Dave
 
Hey Dave,

Best wishes for a complete recovery! I've always enjoyed your postings, good to see you back.

Charles
 
Thanks Charles, but we haven't left yet. I had to be released by two hospitals here. The National Jewish Hospital assumes responsibility for your health care when they start treating you and the Cardiac Surgeon wanted to see me one more time, to check for ...well,
to make sure I am ok.

We will take quite awhile to get home. Laramie, Ft. Bridger, Salt Lake City, maybe all the way to Winnemucca if I can make it, then to Reno or home. And we will probably have to take some "rest" days in between. Actually, I don't know how I will do. With no leaks in my heart, I might do a lot better than I think I will, but Chris watches me pretty closely, so I overdo it.

We are looking forward to some rest on the boat and will call for it to be washed before we see it. I can't remember the last time I spent the night on it, maybe a year...certainly close to it. I was trying to go down to run the systems monthly, so I hope it is still floating. We are moving to R-12 when we get back.

That should get us a little further from the band's music and might even give us a little better breeze. Gotta turn the rental car in today, had it a month, Enterprise will love that. Take care...Dave
 
quote:

Originally posted by DLL

We are looking forward to some rest on the boat and will call for it to be washed before we see it. I can't remember the last time I spent the night on it, maybe a year...certainly close to it. I was trying to go down to run the systems monthly, so I hope it is still floating. We are moving to R-12 when we get back.

That should get us a little further from the band's music and might even give us a little better breeze.
Gotta turn the rental car in today, had it a month, Enterprise will love that. Take care...Dave






Dave,

It has been a long time since you've been down at the boat. Sal lost his lease on the Lighthouse over two years ago and is now running the Riverboat. The Lighthouse has been closed ever since so there is no music or real activity. I'd put a hold on moving since it will only mean carrying stuff further down the dock. The wash is a great idea though.

Looking forward to seeing you back on the boat again.
 
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