I want to first and foremost thank everyone for all your kind thoughts and prayers during these past months. It has been a crazy roller coaster of emotion, and I'm so grateful that I was finally able to have the procedure done. Here is what happened...
We drove to our parents' this weekend to spend some time with them and drop the boys off to stay there for the remainder of the week. Then Sunday late afternoon Micah and I left to make the 4 hour drive in preparation for my surgery in the morning. We arrived safe and sound and went to see a late movie. I was determined to eat until the very last moment allowed, since you have to fast before surgery. GI Joe was great, and the popcorn was yummy!
We slept in the next morning and arrived at the hospital at 10:30. My surgery was scheduled for 11:30. I was checked in and taken back to get "prepped". We had a PA come in and talk to us about the procedure. He told us that they would most likely use the radio frequency (RF) ablation, but it would depend on what they found during the EP study. The chryo ablation was obviously an option if need be, but they have a higher success rate with the RF, so if they determined that it was safe enough, that is what they would use. As he left the room I asked if they were running on time, and he laughed and said that would be a first if they were! At that time it was 11:10...so I really didn't hold out much hope of getting my start time of 11:30.
As 1:00 and 1:30 passed, I was getting a little irritated, only because no one had come in at all to say why things were so delayed, or give us any time frame. And at that point I was getting really hungry! All we expected was a little communication, and we didn't get ANY! Finally a little after 1:30 a Fellow of EP came in and looked at my chart. He wasn't really that engaging, so we didn't know if we were getting in anytime soon. But luckily a few minutes later a nurse came in to take me back.
I found this lab to be more comfortable than the one I was in last time, however my experience was way different! The last time all I remember was going in and getting prepped-and that's it! I woke up looking at the clock in my room and realized only an hour had passed, and knew something was up. This time I remember everything. I was wide awake for the whole thing. The nurses that got me ready were really nice and we had some good conversations-which helped ease my nerves a little. Then when the Fellow showed up, the atmosphere changed. The doctor arrived and smiled at me, and that was the extent of our exchange. The Fellow seemed anxious to get things started, and so it all began.
From the start my IV hurt, and ironically enough that is what is still most painful. I could feel every time the nurse pushed drugs. I was relaxed, but still felt everything. I wasn't in a lot of pain, but the pressure was quite uncomfortable. During the EP study they were making my heart go into tachycardia so they could find the pathway...that was hard for me to experience because I hate it when it happens. So I just had to lie there while my heart was racing and couldn't do anything to make it stop. Apparently they found the pathway right away, but it was taking them awhile to gain access to it to do the actual ablation. The one Fellow was working on it for awhile, then another showed up and tried as well. All during this time the Doctor was in the other room directing the Fellows in what to do. (This procedure requires a lot of radiation, so there is a glass partition that allows others to be a part of the procedure without being exposed to the radiation). As the second one kept trying to no success, Dr. Morady scrubbed in and took over. Immediately I could feel the difference in his touch of expertise and was more comfortable when he took the reins. With my husband as a resident, I completely understand and approve of the teaching and learning experience with surgery. I didn't have any reservations in the Fellows working on me, so when I say I was more comfortable, it was in the amount of physical discomfort I was feeling when the other guys were working on me and the more gentle approach the doctor had when he worked at it.
All of a sudden they announced they were done. I was surprised, because I didn't know they had "zapped" me yet! I think I was expecting for a "1, 2, 3, Ready, Aim, Fire" thing :) In all honesty, there was no communication with me at all during the procedure. The nurse every once in awhile asked me if I was ok...but that was it. I was obviously awake and alert, and was trying to pay attention as best I could when equipment wasn't blocking my view. I didn't want to interrupt anything and mess with someones concentration either...I mean this is my heart they are working on after all! So I was a little disconcerted with the lack of communication.
At that point they moved me up to another room and I waited for Micah to come back. During that time the doctor met with Micah and explained that after assessing the EP study, he felt the abnormal pathway was though close to the AV node, it was still far enough away to use RF, instead of cryotherapy. He used a lower intensity radio frequency that would be safer than full strength, but would be more reliable than the cryotherapy. They watched me for awhile and tried to repeat the tachycardia, but it didn't come back. So they want me to follow up with my doctor here in 3 months to be reevaluated and make sure everything is ok. There is about a 5% chance of recurrence, and in that case I would need to go back for a touch-up. So time will tell!
I was put on 3 hours of strict bedrest-I couldn't even lift my head, but I did get to eat! So that made me happy. After my time was up they sat me up and had me walk to the bathroom. When I got out they asked how I was feeling and I was doing pretty ok, but was surprised how swollen I was at the site where they went in. They took me back to the room and determined that I had developed a hematoma, which is bleeding under the skin. They had to express the blood-which hurt a LOT and keep me on bedrest for another hour. When that hour was up they had me get up again...and again I started bleeding. So that meant another hour. Luckily the nurse took pity on me and gave me some drugs to help with the pain and discomfort, for which I am very grateful! At that time it was going to be after 10:30 before we were getting released. The nurse informed us that because I had bled twice, it's supposed to be an automatic admit to the hospital over night. However they felt that my bleeding was becoming fairly minimal and because Micah was a doctor, it was our call. At that point we decided it was dumb for us to try and drive back in the middle of the night, having to stop every hour for me to get up and walk around to prevent clotting. We decided that if we were going to have to spend money to stay the night, we might as well both be comfortable in a hotel room...and we were close enough to the hospital that if anything were to happen, we could get there quickly. So we asked to be released, and would drive back in the morning. Micah already had contacted his attending to explain the situation, and he was very understanding...so getting back in time for him to make surgery in the morning was no longer a stressor.
We got lost trying to find the hotel the nurse told us about, so we went back to the hotel we stayed at the night before, and slept in again. :) I got up...and started bleeding a little...AGAIN! Grrr....But luckily it was only a little, and the nurses the night before told Micah that if it was just a little, there was no need to call-and just use our judgment. So we are still keeping an eye on it, but so far things seem to be going well. I'm still a little sore and really don't want any pressure applied (when Micah has to check for more bleeding) but it's all for the best. We drove back home and got in early this afternoon safe and sound. Micah is on call tonight, but isn't going in until he has to. I have a quiet house right now and have time to just relax and heal up.
I am SOOOOOO grateful and happy that they were able to do this ablation finally! I am thrilled that they only had to go in one side and not both like last time (they used both femoral veins last time), and I am happy we had understanding and attentive nurses after the procedure. However I just wish my overall experience had been a little different. Micah mentioned, and I agree, that it is very helpful to be on the receiving end of patient care (where people don't know who you are) to truly understand where patients and families are coming from. Even though everything was thoroughly explained to us, the lack of communication and sensitivity to patients needs was incredible. In the end I know this experience will help reinforce to Micah proper bedside care - because I already know that he is a sensitive caregiver. It was just hard for me to feel elated at the time when I was so disconcerted after the surgery. So now that I have had time to adjust to everything, I am left with this...
YIPPEE!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)
haha :)
The beginning of the second part of our trip...we stopped to see some friends in SC before heading off to FL-so now we are really off to FL and the boys are excited :)
And this is the end of our trip, almost home...just look at all that stuff! geesh!!
Aiden was so super excited because he though we were going to "camp". We had to break it to him that we would just be roasting marshmallows and making s'mores, and he was ok with that!
Aiden chowed down-and Devin chilled out.
Mom was trying to get his collar down.
It was a fun and relaxing evening, and we're looking forward to doing it again soon :)
Here is my sweet baby boy...
Covered in mud! If you recall from his birthday posts, the kid did not really want much to do with the cake on his own. But as these pictures show, he has NO problem getting into mud and chewing on anything he can get his muddy little fingers on!
Needless to say he was a hot mess :) and had a great time getting dirty!
Walking along to go see the big tractors
Cousin Gregg was kind enough to take the older boys on some tractor rides. Aiden was a bit hesitant at first, but was fine after I told him it was just like riding in the backhoes with his Uncles.
Watching Aiden drive the tractor (those are Gregg's niece and nephew with us).
Cute family!
Miss Lily :)
We had to get a picture of the cousins together...even if it was the end of the night and everyone was getting cranky! It was awesome to see them and meet one of the newest additions to our family :)
I took these off my Dad's camera-Miss Lily all squeaky clean!
And then how stinking cute is Devin here?? Oh they grow up so fast!
Sandy boy!
I think this was his first "beach"...
Cleaning off before heading into the boat
And he's out for the count!
They really wanted us to try this new tube out...it's been YEARS since we went tubing...and they were the ones where you lay on and hold on for dear life.
We still needed to hold on for dear life!
We dropped the kids back off to the beach with Sandy before Micah went skiing.
Getting ready...
getting up
And we're skiing!
All done!
And we left him! I forgot to yell to Larry that he was down...I was too busy getting the shot and waving to the boys!
Aiden in the water.
Devin loved the beach! He also really loved going into the water too...it was nice and warm :)
Look at that doupa!
They had so much fun :) Thanks Kiki and Grandpa!
Sandy took a few more photos of us with the kids and cleaning them off in the water...unfortunately I didn't know that they didn't download to the computer, and I went ahead and cleared my card! I was so upset, because she got some cute ones...so this is the only one of all of us. I guess that means we need to make another trip to the beach!
