12/18/16. I'm Back!!

We have had more health difficulties since my last post. In September, my husband had several TIA's and was hospitalized twice, but no etiology was found causing them.  Thank God his speech returned to normal and they have not reoccurred since.  His cardiologist asked that he return in a month for a stress test to check out his heart, which he reluctantly did.  He failed the test and was admitted for a heart cath the next morning.  The heart cath showed three 90% blockages and one 70% blockage.  And he was having NO symptoms!! This is actually common in diabetics.  It’s called silent ischemia. (And at that moment, he did not know he was a diabetic.  He had been told to watch his diet in the past.)

He then went for bypass surgery with 4 bypasses. Then the diabetes flared up and he was put on insulin.  Then he developed atrial fibrillation and was put on beta blockers which knocked his blood pressure to the floor.  Instead of getting up out of his hospital bed every day and walking down the hall in his gown holding on to his heart-shaped pillow, he was confined to his bed. He almost fainted everytime he stood up.  He became depressed. Finally it was decided that 'shocking his heart' would be in his best interest. So with a fresh chest incision he was put back under anesthesia and a long tube was placed down his esophagus to visualize his heart to make sure there were not clots that would break off.  When they got the all clear,  the paddles were placed and he was shocked. He bounced off the bed just like you see in the TV shows.

It was an awful sight, but at least he was back in a normal rhythm.

Then his beta blockers were decreased and he was able to get out of bed and out of the hospital after 7 days!

His recovery at home was slow. His sugar had to be checked 5 times a day as well as his blood pressure and pulse and rhythm.  Thank goodness I am a cardiac nurse practitioner as he required quite a bit of home care.  The insulin was stopped.

He missed Thanksgiving Dinner with the family, as he just could not handle being around people just yet. He had started walking and making little progress then the fainting spells returned and he was back 'out of rhythm'.  He was found to be in atrial fib-flutter and he was readmitted and had to be shocked again.

Now Christmas is just over  week away and we are hoping he feels like participating with our family. He is feeling better, walking more, and the depression is gone! He starts cardiac rehab on Monday and his surgeon is going to let him drive himself as long as he puts his heart-shaped pillow on his chest under the seatbelt.

He can't play golf or go fishing and his hunting season is shot this year, but he is so thankful his severe heart disease was found before a heart attack occurred.  He is patient and knows this was all in God's plan and he will be back to his hobbies soon enough!!

I will share some pictures of his ordeal.

 Before the TIA's. Out Golfing.

 In the cardiac cath lab.

 In the cath lab seeing all the blockages.

First day after bypass surgery.

Having the cardioversion (shock to heart).

 After the cardioversion, able to sit up, without fainting!

 Being discharged after 7 days in hospital.

 First attempt at walking outside, using a walker just in case!

Made it back home!!!

I have not painted hardly at all since September, as I have been taking care of my husband.  Now that he is on his road to recovery,  I have decided to once again try the 30 paintings in 30 days in January, but this time work on my palette. My mind is just not yet into creating. God willing I hope to finish the 30 days.  This will be my third attempt. Painting is my passion and I am looking forward to getting back to it. Hope you join me!