Originally sent as a text message and/or email to a few, very specific family members and friends and has been edited in the meantime. The angiogram, scheduled March 16, 2023 at 8:15, is a follow up to check for other brain aneurysms as I experienced a burst brain aneurysm September 17, 2021 which landed me in ICU for 17 days. Gratefully, unlike 50% of people that experience same, I survived. Even more surprising [to me, but not the Fellow] was the return to my usual self after hydrocephalus replaced aneurysm damage resulting in a brain shunt operation February 28, 2022. I am one very lucky girl and am grateful for every day that I awake and rejoin consciousness. I have not suffered any permanent disability, either physical or mental, though those closest to me might disagree! No, we can’t blame it on that. LOL
Yet another adventure! You may not have known about this upcoming angiogram but I figure you need to sit and relax with a fun read. Hopefully you’ll contribute a giggle or two.
First, I started off later than scheduled (big surprise) which meant I’d be 10 minutes late presuming I used directions to the room number I was given. Turns out, yes to first assertion, false to second.
My understanding [of directions] left me at a window in the MRI CT reception area asking for help after wandering around a bit. Turns out I was way off the path I should have taken to MG102 (correct address) after said receptionist informed me that I should head to MG192 (not correct). Onwards!!
If the original sage had said come in Main Entrance and go down one floor and MG102 is behind the elevator, a little time might have been saved (15 minutes).
Finally, I arrive at correct destination to be questioned, dressed in fashionable hospital garb and readied for the highlight of the day.
Dr. “Tall” as I never encoded his name immediately asks why this “invasive treatment” (angiogram) is happening instead of an MRI which is much more effective. I explain my visceral, claustrophobic response to said horror chamber which garners an explanation that I could have been granted the presence of a “Conscious Sedation” nurse to work with me and if that didn’t work out an anesthesiologist could be scheduled simultaneously to administer a GA (general anesthetic}. Could we all just speak English please??
I nodded that yes, I’d preferred that. It sounds like a short discussion but there was much to delve into like my many serious allergies which could rear their ugly heads to welcome anaphylactic shock. [Two hours later the angiogram was performed!]
OH DEAR! But wait there’s more.
I’m a true convert as I wanted to try the MRI again once I got a bit more meditation practice to ease my potential physical reaction.
I had been told the last time I was scheduled for an MRI, and freaked out, that they would have to intubate me if GA required and that wasn’t an option. AHA, they lied, sort of. A soft laryngeal device is available to relieve collapse of airway (did I mention I’m on a CPAP machine re: collapse of airways is a regular appearance on the night show).
More ammunition and support for the MRI experience, hurrah.
By this time Dr. H, another Fellow, arrived mid-argument, stayed for the rest and said he would call my surgeon, referred to by first name, A*****which confused me a little as I call him Dr. K**** (patient that I am). His name is Dr. A. K., confusion cleared up. Heretofore, Dr. K.
Dr. H returns after briefing Dr. K and Dr. Tall has left the room momentarily but returns soon after I’m told that Dr. K has said that we should proceed with the scheduled angiogram. Dr. Tall returned and after more discussion, I state that I prefer the MRI solution as visions of “invasive treatment” dance through my head.
Dr. “Tall” reiterates that it’s my decision. I recognize that it’ll mean another trip to the hospital and much communication and scheduling between 3 departments; Intensive Imaging, Neurology, and Anesthesiology. Whoopee, still good with me. I choose MRI.
Dr. H departs again to brief Dr. K. Many minutes later he returns to inform me that Dr. K is coming to chat with me.
OH DEAR GAWD, please get this over with.
Tangent: This is my first time meeting, in my mind at least, Dr. K in a conscious state as I was purposely drugged up in ICU for the 2+ weeks re: aneurysm Sept 2021. On this same occasion I was made conscious again when they decided to move me to a ward. Dr. K had informed my husband that I would be in this ward for a few days. When hubby arrived on my first full day in the ward, I informed him that PT and OT (physical and occupational therapist) were coming to visit me to decide if I was ready to go home. You can bet your bottom dollar I was ready!! I didn’t register hubby’s surprise at this news, as if, cuz I’m GOING HOME. Break out the walker. I passed their walking test and went home that day and don’t remember if my surgeon came by that day to see me off. Hubby assures me that I did meet Dr. K. OK! Then Dr. K was is off rotation for a period of months and a different Dr. took over my care from there until he performed shunt surgery 4 months later.
OK, back to meeting, a handshake with permission, Dr. K. Such a warm and pleasant introduction. Then we got into all of the reasons starting with my physical challenges and then a bit later the cost of hospital resources.
I told him that when I left after the failed MRI attempt I felt terrible about the waste of resources for a treatment that, had I comprehended at the time, I would have requested medication for, but somewhere in my twisted mind I thought I was headed to another CT scan, which was okay cuz only my head would be inside a rather larger opening, so no problem. WRONG!
Then he explained the discussions and push back that would happen and all that could fail due to multiple humans (departments) being involved with their own ideas of what should, could, would, be done! Not uncommon in business or family transactions. He also kindly explained that the actual procedure is about 10 minutes and we can stop at any time if you’re anxious (had the “hold em back” teary eyes twice from frustration) and if anything hurts we can help with pain meds and, and, and. Kind of funny really because I have no fear of surgery generally speaking. I don’t focus on the risks, like dying on the table, or have visions of catastrophes from a medical perspective, I have loads of other stuff for that!
So now we’re back to the invasive procedure. DID I MENTION THAT I LOST ONE OF THE TWO 25mg BENADRYL PILLS IN THE CAR. I’m in a 25mg deficit at the moment. This being part of, along with scheduled Prednisone dosing, the protocol pre-angiogram to prevent allergic reaction to contrast dye discovered way back when, in ICU.
Another tangent: You see, hubby was in the drivers seat waiting for me as usual and I asked him if he wanted me to drive, he said ok, but I placed my lunch bag behind passenger seat for easy access. You see the issue? I’m still driving when the “AN HOUR BEFORE PROCEDURE” comes and goes. I reach for bag while driving a busy highway in rush hour hell. Hand it to hubby and ask him to retrieve pills for me. The BENADRYL blister pack is real easy to open, it turns out, and I gulp down only 1 pill but no second pill and I checked to make sure I had them both when packing the night before. So that was trepidatious (is that a word?) as I can’t stop on the highway during rush hour to find a pill only to be even later so we continue on. Didn’t find the pill.
So back to the treatment: I have explained to 4 or 5 different people that I only took 25 of the 50 mg pills I was supposed to take. In order to move forward, no to taking the pill that’s been sitting on my tray, we have to find a vein instead.
Oh great, more horrors, but the nurse that works with me after I explain my fun experiences with phlebotomy is really careful and finds great spot (helps that she’s, in her own words, “pasty, blond and bruises easily too”! I suggest “has porcelain skin” much nicer descriptor!
I returned from procedure at 10:30 and was told “you have to stay lying flat on your back for 2 hours”. What I heard was I can leave in 2 hours so I texted hubby same, without glasses which were taken off in procedure room and comes out as incompressible English/French gobbly goo. I used the microphone and pressed the language button by mistake, eh voila!
He replied “Huh?
I asked nurse about glasses and they’re sitting on my tray, which I can’t see because I mustn’t raise my head or my right leg. OH BOY! Anyway, msg sent and received at noon-ish that he should come hang out with me and bring lunch bag (14 1/2 hours no food), Before he arrives I am informed that I’ll be released at 14:30 if I can walk to bathroom and pee. CRAP CRAP CRAP! [thought I was leaving at 12:30]
Well, we enjoyed a lovely conversation and very happy for his company as always (well almost always, HEE HEE)
Dr. H, who performed the angiogram, comes back and shares with hubby that we had a lovely chat about food and not so lovely about winter. He’s from Singapore and Dr. Tall (the other Fellow) have one-year fellowships which will end July, both returning to their home countries and hospitals.
Another Tangent: I asked Dr. H if he’d been home to visit and no he hadn’t. He has a 4 year old and 2 1/2 year old along with the rest of his family waiting for him at home. I also learned that he and his wife used to rollerblade the entire island in 8 hours, pre-firstborn. We commiserate with each other on the facts of life with children. I told him that some lady (senior) in a grocery store, shopping as I was, with my toddler at the time which removes the obstacles of aisle shopping, told me to enjoy him while you can. Clearly she was too old to remember what it was like to have a screaming baby on your hands 24/7 who suffered with ear, nose and throat issues and constant antibiotics that didn’t always work because he became resistant so lets do another course of a different one for another 14 days and the colic and sensitivity of lactose intolerance which I didn’t put together until he was much older when I notice the short time span between eating cereal and emergency landing in bathroom. Right, now I remember the enjoyment!
Dr. H responded that he agreed and that it was quite the challenge and could we just skip to the mostly independent stage! I laughed as I told him that I used to go to bed and wish/pray for kindergarten. LOL
It’s 14:30 and I will once again be an ambulatory citizen of the world. I have been informed that I am not to do any cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. With eyes trained on me. I told her, isn’t that a bit sexist to assume that I do all of these things. She said no, she had been looking at my hubby with these declarations as well. I explain that most of the cooking is done independent of each other on different time schedules. I further explain that we don’t have to worry about the cooking as I had already decided the night before on pizza. I didn’t catch that she was shooting darts at hubby with the whole “you’ll be cooking tonight” which addresses my accusation of sexism. Hubby assures me he got the look.
We slowly crawl out of parking lot at 15:19. Yippee more rush hour. I’ve got this one page of dos and don’ts to read over so I read it out loud so hubby can remind me when I’m colouring outside the lines.
The last bulleted point which I’ll paraphrase; you can resume sexual relations 2 days after procedure. I was reading the list later to my 42 year old son, and got an immediate reaction to that last point. Awww Mom, I don’t want to hear about that. I laughed uproariously! I say it’s just another one of the points to keep in mind.
We get home 5-ish and pizza is scheduled for delivery at 6. I notice that it’s karaoke night at one of our community rec centres and call a friend to see if she wants to go, she can’t. I shouldn’t even entertain the notion. A tiny speck of reason enters the brain suggesting that it’s not a good option for me either, considering! My friend and I have a lovely chat while hubby and I are munching on pizza.
Fast forward to 2 am when I awake to scratching the daylights above and below both armpits. I believe I woke up much earlier than this doing the same but maybe part of a dream. I turn on bathroom light to inspect, go back to get my swim bag which has a tube of anti-itch cream and then take some Benadryll both of which contain the same ingredient. Head to sofa to read some cuz there ain’t no way I’ll be able to go back to sleep.
Hubby is awoken by this frenzy of activity at “stupid o’clock” hour and heads toward me. I apologize several times for waking him up. He gets settled with his cell and tablet and I read him some bits and pieces from the book I’m reading about the efforts of one women to move salmon farming to terra ferma instead of embedded in the archipelago directly in the migration path of wild salmon. It is beyond sickening; the colossal lack of interest to do anything about this whilst continuing to issue licenses to establish more farms. Fascinating read!
A short time goes by waiting for Benadryl to kick in and I decide ice packs may help relieve the itch. Immediate reduction in discomfort but at this current hour I have upped the dose and am still with ice packs and the itchiness is spreading to other realms. When will it go away, I ask. I did go back to bed around 6:00 and went back to sleep until the itch gremlins made it impossible to stay in bed around 9:30.
Hubby is sleeping on the sofa and I’m in the office typing. I forgot to mention earlier the instructions from the nurse varied slightly from what the Dr. had stated about self care. She pooh poohed Dr. instructions and reiterated her version as gold.
12:20the day after angiogram: The End due to irritations aforementioned! LOL
Feel free to share with me the bits that made you chuckle and we’ll have a good laugh about it when next we speak.
Here’s to Benadryl and anti-itch cream. May they both provide the relief they were made for SOON!!!!!
Current status: A week later I’m still dealing with itch gremlins and clothing is still optional but feeling much better and can be in the company of others (just my hubby thus far re: clothing optional) without emulating a gorilla that scratches indiscriminately. Hurrah!