{"id":89928,"date":"2025-07-16T01:12:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T08:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=89928"},"modified":"2025-07-18T02:02:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T09:02:17","slug":"wednesday-has-arrived-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=89928","title":{"rendered":"Wednesday Has Arrived"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mary keeps everyone on their toes!<\/p><\/div>\n

It’s Wednesday, and we’re off to the gym.\u00a0 Since the staff knows of my impending operation, they are taking special care of me; no hanging by the neck or head-twisting exercises.<\/p>\n

After the gym session, we went to Mary’s doctor’s appointment near UCI Orange Hospital.\u00a0 By 10:30 am, we were off and running home to check on Scout, the Wonder Dog.<\/p>\n

After two hours at home, we were back on the road to visit the cardiologist who gave the OK to get the Carotid surgery ASAP.<\/p>\n

Carotid artery endarterectomy: The doctor recommended that I undergo a carotid endarterectomy since my carotid arteries are narrowed or blocked due to plaque.\u00a0 In your neck are two major blood vessels called the carotid artery that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your brain.\u00a0 You can feel the pulse of the carotid artery in your neck.\u00a0 Fatty deposits, known as atherosclerotic plaques, can build up inside the carotid artery.\u00a0 These plaques can narrow the passageway of the artery and interfere with blood flow to the brain.\u00a0 This blockage or narrowing is referred to as a stenosis.\u00a0 If blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked, a transient ischemic attack, also known as a TIA, may occur.\u00a0 When the blood flow is completely obstructed, as in carotid artery blockage, a stroke can occur.<\/p>\n

Before the procedure, an intravenous line will be started.\u00a0 A carotid endarterectomy is usually done under general anesthesia, which will put me to sleep for the duration of the procedure.\u00a0 In this case, a breathing tube will be inserted into your mouth to assist with breathing during the operation.<\/p>\n

On the side of my neck along the blocked artery, the surgeon will make an incision that may run just behind the ear to the point that is close to the collarbone.<\/p>\n

The surgeon will find the carotid artery and temporarily clamp off blood flow through it.\u00a0 She will open up your artery and make a temporary bypass to keep blood flowing to the brain.\u00a0 She will then remove the plaque within the arterial wall.\u00a0 After the blockage has been removed, he will sew the artery wall back together, usually by placing a patch.\u00a0 The patch may be made of part of one of my veins or an artificial material such as Dacron.\u00a0 Finally, she will close the incision with staples and cover it with bandages.\u00a0 A temporary drain is frequently left in the wound.<\/p>\n

After the procedure, I will be taken to the recovery area where the staff will monitor my vital signs and neurologic condition.\u00a0 You will be given pain medication as needed, and gradually progress from a liquid to a solid diet.<\/p>\n