Wednesday March 12, 2014, Las Vegas, NV

After going to bed late yesterday, I was awakened at 4:30 for a vitals check.  It was about 6:30 before I got back to sleep.

Gerri and a representative of the pacemaker manufacturer got to the room at about nine.  The rep checked out the functioning of the pacemaker and found it was working as designed.  A couple of the staff cardiologists came around and said I was ready for release as soon as they finished rounds and paperwork.  One of the cardiologists showed me graphs that had been made by my heart monitor both before and after the pacemaker was installed.

The hospitalist came by at about half past ten and said I was ready to go as soon as the paperwork was printed by the nurse.  We waited and at about 12:45 lunch was served.  They had not brought me any breakfast.  At 1:50 Gerri asked the nurse what the delay was.  She was told that a supervisor had to sign off my release and that supervisor was in a meeting.  We picked up our things and I told the nurse we were leaving no matter what the status of the paperwork.  That got some action as we walked down the hall.  Of course I didn't know the way out.  After that it only took about five minutes to get the paperwork ready for my signature.

We were headed out of town by 2:30.  We only made one stop and that was for gas in Tonopah.

Sunset just north of Beatty.

 We got home at about 9:30.










What was supposed to be a quick weekend trip turned into a six day ordeal.  I certainly hope that health-wise it was worth it.  Several people have asked me if I felt better after the pacemaker was implanted, I don't feel any different than what I have always considered normal.

I have follow-up appointments with my cardiologist before our cruise in April.

Tuesday March 11, 2014, Reno, NV

It was still another night with interrupted sleep.  There was an added blood draw at 4 AM.  My surgery was scheduled for 12:30, so no breakfast again today.

The wait was over at noon when two people came and wheeled me to the operating room.  Once there they spent quite awhile prepping me, stickers for electric leads all over, scrubbing and then isolating the area of the planned incision.  I was on the edge of sleeping during the surgery.  I was vaguely aware of pressure and people moving around.

I was back in the room by 1:40 and my lunch was waiting.  The food here is very good but they don't pay much attention to what I had marked on the menu.

During my supper Kathleen and the girls came to visit and brought us all root beer floats from Dairy Queen.  After they left I watched TV until 10:30.   The alarm on IV machine was going off and it took the nurse until past Elena to come by and shut it off.

Monday March 10, 2014 Reno, NV

The night was normal, several interruptions to check me out.  I did sleep pretty well despite everything that was going on.

Per doctor's orders I had no breakfast in anticipation of surgery.  Another cardiologist came in and summarized the need for the pacemaker.  I ask her several questions that I had after reading information about Pacemakers online.  Her answers and explanations and explanation helped me decide to go ahead with the Proceedure.  A downside of the procedure is that it won't fix the a-fib problem.  I will have to continue the blood thinner and other medicines associated  with that condition and my blood pressure.  

Another thing I found out was that when a person comes to the ER under these conditions I had there is a flag  placed on the drivers license.  This flag suspends driving privileges until the medical condition is corrected.  The government giveth and the government taketh away. 

At first the doctor said the procedure would be this afternoon and that I could have breakfast.  A little while later she came back and cancelled breakfast, saying she will try to get the procedure scheduled earlier.  Even though the food here has been very good, I didn't mind.  The anticipation and apprehension period will be shorter.

At eleven I was told that the surgery would be tomorrow.  The delay was to decrease the effects of the anti-coagulant I had last taken Thursday morning.

The rest of the day was back to the hospital routine.

Gerri left right after supper.  Kathleen had fixed traditional corned beef and cabbage.

I read until about 9:30 and called it a night.

Sunday March 9, 2014 Reno, NV

Another night of interrupted sleep.  Awakened by nurses for blood pressure checks and medications. The IV monitor also had several false alarms.  My blood pressure was still high, but better than last night.

Gerri had to check out of the timeshare at ten and and then came to the hospital shortly after that.

A doctor came by at about one.  He discussed the medications I have been taking and was planning to release me after reviewing my tests and history on the heart monitor.

The doctor came back and told us he was sending the hospital cardiologist to see me.  There is a possibility that I may have to have a pacemaker implanted to control my heart rate.

The cardiologist came and explained why he thought the pacemaker was necessary.  After a lot of questioning he convinced me.  The surgery is tentatively tomorrow. I did ask that he consult with my cardiologist in Las Vegas before I made a final decision.  After he left I read a lot of information on the Internet and wrote down several questions.  By the time I asked the nurse to contact him he had gone home.  As it stands right now I don't get to eat or drink anything after midnight, in case we do have the surgery.

I had dinner about 5:30.  Gerri went to a Wendy's and brought me a root beer float for dessert.  She then went to Kathleen's for dinner and will spend the night there.

With all these happy thoughts and a lot of prayers, I called it a night at about eleven.  

Saturday March 8, 2014 Reno, NV

My sleep was interrupted several times during night by notice in the hall, false alarms on the equipment I'm hooked to or nurses coming in to check on me.  In the early morning tests started.  Besides blood draws they did an EKG, an echo cardiogram and a sonogram of my carotid arteries. 

I slept a lot of the morning between checks and meals.  

The doctor didn't come by until the middle of the afternoon.  She wanted to keep me longer as they reintroduced my blood pressure medicines and see how I reacted. She didn't seem to know what caused the problem except maybe the combination of drugs and dehydration.  So it may be late Sunday or even Monday before we drive back to Las Vegas.

The rest of the day was. Uneventful. Gerri went to Kathleen's banquet.

Friday March 7, 2014 Reno, NV

While we were having our coffee and catching up on e-mail and such, Kathleen called.  We made arrangements to meet her for lunch at the Casa Grande. Mexican Restaurant on Robb Street.

We arrived and had chips and salsa.  When the food arrived I had a few bites and told Gerri I was light headed.  I wanted to go to the car and sit down but she had me stay seated.  It was a good thing she did. A few seconds later I told her I was going to pass out, and I did.  I woke up to questions from some medical people who came to my aid.  Paramedics arrived and started an IV.  My pulse was in the 30's and my blood pressure was very low.

I was transported to St. Mary's Hospital ER.  After some time my pulse had come up to my normal 45-50 and my blood pressure was better, I had stopped sweating and my color was better.  The doctor wanted to keep me overnight for observation and more tests.  His supposition was that for some reason my medicines had built up and caused my heart rate and blood pressure to drop.  I have been taking some new blood pressure medicine for a couple of weeks.  He thought I would be better as the medicines wore off.

It was seven pm by the time I was taken to a room and by that time I was feeling good.  Gerri went over to Kathleen's for a little while and ate her leftover's from lunch.  She then went back to the timeshare at a little after eight.  I had a good supper and several pokes and checks during the evening.

On another note the climate control in Gerri's car started acting up .  It was putting out warm air but she couldn't control it.  

Thursday March 6, 2014 Reno, NV

We got up at 4:30 and were on the road by 6:15.  This trip is for a visit with Kathleen and the kids in Reno.  Saturday is Milana's 18th birthday and also, there will be a banquet in Kathleen's honor .  She was chosen as Irish Daughter of the year.  Milana leaves early Friday morning for Seattle to visit her dad for the weekend so we only have one evening to spend with her.  

We were out of town before morning traffic build up.  Our first stop was in Tonopah for gas.  Some where along the way we pulled to the side of the road for a picture of the snow covered mountains.

I posted on Facebook and got several comments about how awful and boring the drive from Las Vegas to Reno is.  I don't think it is.  I love the desert, especially when driving through the valleys with mountains on both sides.  The rugged terrain fascinates me as I think of the generations of miners who moiled for gold and silver and the ranchers who tried to make a go of it along the few streams and springs.  I also find the small towns we passed through interesting.  Some are ghost towns, some are ghosts of their former selves and others are growing and thriving. All are ever changing.

Walker Lake was a beautiful blue when we passed.  

The water level is the lowest I have ever seen.  We stayed on US-95 to Fallon and then followed US-50 to I-80 on through Fallon to Reno.  We did stop at a rest area.  I looked for a cache that hadn't been found since January, I didn't find it.

We got to our timeshare in downtown Reno at about 2:30 and got moved in.  Our plan was to meet at Kathleen's house at five.  Kathleen had her bowling league and we planned to take the girls to dinner.

Milana opened her presents

and blew out the candles on a cake.  

Since she was the birthday girl she choose where to go for dinner.  She choose IHOP.   Milana and Shannon had breakfasts, Maddie had chicken fingers and Gerri and I had burgers.

Milana's meal

After dinner we stopped by the bowling alley and visited with Kathleen and her friends while they bowled.  We dropped the girls off at the house but didn't stay.  Shannon and 
 have school in the morning and Milana had to pack for her trip to Seattle.

Back at the timeshare Gerri and I relaxed and caught up on computer time.  It had been a long day, I read some and called it a night.  Gerri was still clacking the keys doing her egg hunting game.