Technically, my Left Heart Catheterization was performed on Day 70 (Tuesday, 09/15/2026)
It's been a while since I've written. There hasn't been much to write. A bit of a hiccup with CVS refusing to fill prescriptions at Walgreen's and forcing me to receive my med refills from them directly by mail. This forced-changed happened at the same time my doctors made adjustments to my medications. It's been a challenge, but I think we're on the right track with this.
If you've been following along, you'll remember my last update was after meeting my potential cardiac surgeon, who requested the heart catheterization to double check for blockages or anything else that might need to be taken care of while my chest is open for valve replacement and aorta repair.
Why I Explain My Procedures
One of the things I like to do is "document" these procedures while they're fresh in my mind. I do this so I can remember clearly what I've been through, and also to possibly help anyone facing the same type of procedures, surgeries, and medications. Again, I'm not doctor and every human's path is different. I'm not offering medical advice here; I'm just storytelling how things go for me.
The Catheterization
I'm going to tell you about the personal at-home prep for heart catheterization after I tell you about the actual catheterization. There are actually 2 important stories there, and I think it makes for better telling this way.
The wait after check-in was short, especially considering we got there early. The pre- and post-care rooms for heart catheterization are the same rooms for heart CT scans, so the area was familiar to me. Last time it was as simple as "sit in that chair and we'll get started." This time, I was handed an empty clear plastic bag and pair of socks and was told to "take off everything, including underwear, and put it all in that bag" and was given the smallest, thinnest, poorest-fitting hospital gown known to man and woman. UGH I hate this part!
After dealing with that, we started in on the usuals: Get a blood pressure cuff on the right arm, and an IV plug thingy inserted in my left arm, and start taking vitals and going over the procedure. This is when I found out Doc R would be going through a groin artery instead of a wrist artery to perform the procedure. UGH I was really hoping they'd do the wrist. First, it just sounds bad. Second, I would prefer not to have people poking around my groin. That's all I have to say about that.
So, what's next? The nurse takes a peek under the gown and says, "oh yeah, we're going to need a shave." So, now I'm here with a strange woman peeking under the gown reaching for some electric trimmers, and my wife sitting in a chair next to me about to watch all this go down. My comfort level dipped into the red zone. I was doing pretty good until this point, but at this point my personal bubble had been shattered and I was really uncomfortable. It doesn't make much sense, but this was the point when I said to my wife, "Um, baby it's about time for you to vacate." Fortunately, both my wife and the nurse found this hilarious. The nurse helped Kathy to a spot where she could chill without having to go all the way back to the reception area.
So then, this lady goes to work on me, on both sides of my body, with an electric trimmer. You know, the same kind I use to shave my head? Well, modesty and pretty much all other worries went out the window because it TICKLED! OMG it was really hard to keep still and not laugh while this nurse is using power tools around my groin! Doc R usually goes through the right leg, but there's a chance he'll decide to go through the left leg, so both sides had to be shaved. The nurse hoped the left side would be less tickly than the right. Nope. It was worse.
So, then my wife came back to hang out with me while we waited for my scheduled procedure time and for Doc R to arrive. She gave me a kiss goodbye and off I went to the procedure room.
If you've read my previous posts, you may recall my reaction to the Big Donut room where they did the CT scan. This room... first, it was BRIGHT! Clean white light filled every part of this large room, every nook and cranny. Light just seemed to "exist" in this room, I don't recall seeing any shadows, anywhere. This was a stark contrast to the Big Donut room. Everything was white, and clean, and spacious. I don't know my medical equipment, but this stuff from Stryker looked state-of-the-art to me. No old decrepit yellow plastic machines making old machine sounds... big screens, digital readouts, a giant boom arm, this placed had the goods.
We're almost at the point where I lose a chunk of time in my life. I think back, and there's window where I have no idea what happened. The memory stops in one room, the room I just described, and resumes in a different room, I think the room I started in, I'm not sure.
There were at least 3 nurses in the room, and let me tell you, these were the nurses you see in the medical shows on TV. I do not mean to compare them to anyone else or disparage anyone else in any way. But confidence oozed from these nurses. Their eyes were bright and alert. They spoke clearly and distinctly. When they asked me a question, medical related or otherwise, they seemed genuinely interested in my response. The helped me get myself off the rolling cart bed thing I was on and onto the procedure table. We had a few minutes to talk while we waited for Doc R to arrive. They kept me calm and comfortable. They were good.
Then I heard Doc R arrive and one of the nurses say, "Speak of the devil..." and another nurse turns to me and says "OK he's here, we're going to go ahead and start your meds. It'll take about 2-5 minutes for those to kick and we'll get you taken care of."
I remember the first 2 minutes. I remember thinking Doc R would come over and talk to me before getting started, and he didn't. I remember a nurse telling me, "It's a light sedation, more like a twilight, so you'll be awake but you won't feel anything because there's no nerves in your arteries - you might feel a slight poke and some heat when the doc gives you the local anesthesia, but that's it." I like to count things, and I remember looking at a giant light fixture above me and to my left, that was multifaceted on the inside, like a diamond or something. I remember counting the facets. I don't remember how many there were.
I don't remember the sedation kicking in. I don't remember anything from the procedure. I don't remember the local anesthesia or anything else the nurse said I might feel. I remember someone kind of yanking on me. Maybe they were cleaning up, because I was covered with iodine on both legs and groin areas. I remember it being a kind of tugging sensation. It could have been anything. The next memory is waking up in a different room. I have no idea how I moved from the procedure table back onto a rolling bed cart thingy. My wife was in the room, and either Doc R was already there or he arrived shortly after.
I needed some help from Kathy the day after the procedure to remember the conversations with her and Doc R immediately after waking up. The first 15 minutes of actual awareness are (were) still pretty fuzzy the next day. Full memory without assistance picks up when they asked me if I wanted to get up and take a walk, to which I said "awjeah!"
Procedure Results
The procedure was completed flawlessly and without incident. Remember, the purpose of this catheterization was to inspect the arteries around my heart and my aorta. We have lots of imagery of my heart from the outside and from sensors, but until now we didn't have any pictures from the inside. Doc R got in there and looked around to confirm what previous tests showed, and as a last check for anything else the cardiac surgeon might want to address while my chest is open for surgery. (The like to keep opening the chest to a minimum. Can't imagine why.)
The results showed nothing new and confirmed I don't have any issues with blockages. Minimal plaque buildup was found, but enough for Doc R to want to prescribe Lipitor. I haven't committed to this course; there's a lot of research and thinking to do before I take on a medication like Lipitor. As far as being ready for surgery, I'm good to go and the doctors now have a complete picture of my cardiac situation and can plan my surgery accordingly.
Let's Back Up - The At-Home Prep for Catheterization
My procedure was scheduled for 1:00pm, and I was expected to check in at the hospital no later than 11:30AM. I checked in at 11:15AM. Jewelry is not allowed for this procedure, and I ditched my phone pretty much as soon as we checked in, so after this I really lose track of time and can't tell you how long I waited for this or that, or how long certain things took to complete.
My instructions were "nothing by mouth after 7:00AM." I was allowed a sip of water to take my morning medications. After 7:00AM I didn't have anything to drink until we stopped for food after being released. I was allowed juice and toast up until 7:00AM, but I'm not really a big morning eater so I just skipped that. There really weren't any instructions for food or drink the day before the procedure. I had my last meal around 8:00PM and drank Vitamin Water until heading to bed. I think I had a 32oz glass of 2% milk before bed, too.
No vape, tobacco, marijuana, nicotine, caffeine, THC/CBD of any kind for 24 hours before the procedure.
I had to be REALLY clean. They had me take a shower the night before using antimicrobial soap, and were sure to emphasize a new bar of soap, fresh clean washcloth and towel, and fresh clean clothes or pajamas to sleep in. They even had us put fresh clean sheets on the bed. First thing the next morning... get up, take a fresh towel and fresh clothes to the bathroom and take another antimicrobial shower, dry up and get dressed.
Bloodwork - 2 Stories in 1
Also, bloodwork is required no earlier than 10 days before the procedure. I had my blood taken 5 days before the procedure. Here's where story #2 comes in...
My first bloodwork way back in June showed elevated glucose numbers. Doc G didn't like what he saw, so he ordered another blood draw to check A1C level for diabetes. I tried a couple of times since then to get the work done, but it didn't work out for a variety of reasons. So, while getting the draw for the catheterization, they also took a draw for the A1C/Diabetes check.
Diabetes
Doc G says an A1C of 9.9 and a glucose level of 237 "means you have diabetes." No further checks, no more tests, just straight to "you have diabetes." Furthermore, at this point he and I have not discussed non-pharmaceutical ways of working on my numbers and my condition. We haven't talked about diet. We haven't talked about exercise. We haven't talked about weight loss. Doc went straight to "I want to prescribe Ozempic for you. It's a pill once a day or a shot once a week. Which would you prefer?"
I'm not making any moves on this right this minute, other continuing the diet changes we've been working on. Pepsi has pretty much already been removed from my diet, along with other sugary and caffeinated drinks. My favorite foods usually involve some kind of white bread: sandwiches, burgers, sausages, pizza... all that has to change. As for medications, I'm just not sure and I'm not making any decisions either way. I need at least a few days to think about it, do some research, and hopefully have more meaningful conversations with my doctor about what's going on and what we need to do.
No stents were installed, no extra procedures, just a successful exploratory mission.
What's Next?
Here are the next steps:
- Recover: No driving for the first 24 hours, but no stairs for 7 days, and don't lift anything over 5 pounds for 7 days. Since the step into my truck is basically 3 normal steps in one big step, no driving my truck for 7 days. Have to be careful about sneezing, coughing, or exerting to take a dump for a while, too.
- Address the diabetes situation. However we're going to do it, we need to start now.
- Get with the dentist: My dentist has to sign off that I do not have any oral infections. If I do, they'll need to clean them out (with antibiotics and such) and check again. No heart surgery until a dentist signs off on "no oral infections."
- Schedule surgery.
- Carve a shit-ton of stuff because I won't be able to work in the shop for 6-8 weeks after surgery. Get ready for CannaCraft 6 on October 10th.
Closing Thoughts
It's crazy all the stuff is happening at once. It's like I woke up one day and I'm taking 5 medications, was told I have some bad heart parts that need to be replaced, and told I am diabetic. That's a lot to take in at once. And it's been nothing but questionnaires, tests, and procedures since this kicked off in July. We're still working on the blood pressure thing, that's not completely resolved. And it seems like every day requires time to respond to medical messages and questions or perform medical tasks. It's just, a lot.
Food is going to be an issue. I have a very poor eating schedule to being with. I'm going to have to learn to eat 3 to 5 times per day instead of 1 or 2. And I'm going to have find all kinds of new foods I actually like, or new versions of my favorite foods, to get any enjoyment out of food. Low-carb low-sugar lean replacements for all the things I've been eating and drinking for my entire life.
In this midst of all this crazy stuff, the symptoms that sent me to the doctor in the first place have not been a problem. I can perform normal day to day tasks, climb stairs, work around the property, and design and carve and keep the woodworks rockin', without getting winded or having breathing problems. I'm having zero breathing problems when sleeping, and I'm having zero problems sleeping, pretty much getting great sleep every night.
Thank you for taking the time to read my latest blog entry. I hope you found something useful, informational, funny, entertaining, or otherwise worthwhile of your time.
