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Mary keeps everyone on their toes!
It’s Wednesday, and we’re off to the gym. Since the staff knows of my impending operation, they are taking special care of me; no hanging by the neck or head-twisting exercises.
After the gym session, we went to Mary’s doctor’s appointment near UCI Orange Hospital. By 10:30 am, we were off and running home to check on Scout, the Wonder Dog.
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.
Carotid artery endarterectomy: The doctor recommended that I undergo a carotid endarterectomy since my carotid arteries are narrowed or blocked due to plaque. In your neck are two major blood vessels called the carotid artery that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your brain. You can feel the pulse of the carotid artery in your neck. Fatty deposits, known as atherosclerotic plaques, can build up inside the carotid artery. These plaques can narrow the passageway of the artery and interfere with blood flow to the brain. This blockage or narrowing is referred to as a stenosis. If blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked, a transient ischemic attack, also known as a TIA, may occur. When the blood flow is completely obstructed, as in carotid artery blockage, a stroke can occur.
Before the procedure, an intravenous line will be started. A carotid endarterectomy is usually done under general anesthesia, which will put me to sleep for the duration of the procedure. In this case, a breathing tube will be inserted into your mouth to assist with breathing during the operation.
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.
The surgeon will find the carotid artery and temporarily clamp off blood flow through it. She will open up your artery and make a temporary bypass to keep blood flowing to the brain. She will then remove the plaque within the arterial wall. After the blockage has been removed, he will sew the artery wall back together, usually by placing a patch. The patch may be made of part of one of my veins or an artificial material such as Dacron. Finally, she will close the incision with staples and cover it with bandages. A temporary drain is frequently left in the wound.
After the procedure, I will be taken to the recovery area where the staff will monitor my vital signs and neurologic condition. You will be given pain medication as needed, and gradually progress from a liquid to a solid diet.
Mary will have plenty of company as Irene, Vicky, Robin, Jope, and probably Colleen will be with her.
By the time we departed the office, we were hungry and decided to visit Aces for a small snack; salad and a glass of wine.
When we got home, we took a short nap and then Mary hit the kitchen with a vengeance. She made another batch of corn chowder, which turned out quite amazing.
So yummy!
Mary prepared dinner, making stuffed bell peppers and a small bowl of chowder. Who needs to go out to eat when you can dine like a king at home??
We visited Jeff and brought him chowder, as he had been pretty fond of the last batch about a week ago.
We watched the series entitled “Wednesday”.
Wednesday Addams is expelled from her school after dumping live piranhas into the school’s pool in retaliation for the boys’ water polo team bullying her brother, Pugsley. Consequently, her parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams, transfer her to their high school alma mater, Nevermore Academy, a private school for monstrous outcasts, in the town of Jericho, Vermont. Wednesday’s cold, emotionless personality and defiant nature make it difficult for her to connect with her schoolmates, causing her to run afoul of the school’s principal, Larissa Weems. However, she discovers she has inherited her mother’s psychic abilities, which allow her to solve a local murder mystery.
We watched it until 11:30 p.m. and finally crashed. We enjoyed the series and are eagerly awaiting the August arrival of the second season.
When we finally got home, we visited Jeff for a while and then went to bed. It has been an eventful day! Now we need pulmonary clearance, which we will get this week. On the bright side, we have a plan of attack!
