Cardiogram, Cardiogram, Is There an Echo In Here?


8:03 a.m. 

Bright and early on a Saturday, I am at hospital, waiting on my imaging appt. Did I mention this is Saturday? Been up since nearly, but not quite, 4 a.m.  I'm hoping they find no occlusions, no stenosis  more likely, it will appear that the yellow brick road runs through my left ventricle. Monjouro has me down another couple lbs, my stomach nearly as flat as my affect. Is there even a slight possibility this is going to result in good news? Keep hope alive.

2 PM. They already have a bill up for the angiogram I undergo on Thursday. Process flow: angiogram--if not too dirty angioplasty and stents. Too dirty, calendar for bypass surgery at Swedish. I am dreading both Thursday and the almost Bellagio-like buffet choices--all so excellent. Do nothing, stent or surgery. Fun. The bill for the procedure is already in Mychart. Just under 30 grand--I am responsible for about 800 of that because of insurance. I miss having double-coverage, which is reason alone to get married again----hahahahaha. Kidding. Remarkably, the doctor only gets $925 of that payday. What a racket. Well, with that low rate for the doctor, I expect it will be quick.

Thursday they will use contrast to find the blockages, today they just used gel and soundwaves. It took an hour, it was dark and quiet, and I fell asleep, which is my superpower--I can fall asleep anywhere. I looked at my lipid chart and I have more triglycerides than a french fryer. I am on the king of statins, and still I clog--look at me going all Maya Angelou. I hope they can use a snake and drano or whatever their magic is to clean this up and get the juices--or the blood I guess--flowing again. 

Valley is the same hospital that tried to kill me, but I trust the cardiologist and since this is a procedure and not surgery, I am okay doing it here. Had I known I was going to be at Swedish if I have surgery, I would have started there. Valley is where paramedics brought Jenny when Abby was born and is also where I got to hold Abby for an amazing amount of time, because Jenny was admitted after losing 5 pts of blood when her placenta failed to detach. Sweet Abby, I fell in love right on the spot. 

Swedish is where Omi spent her final days before hospice, as she fought valiantly against cancer. I am guessing, again, if I am there, I will be at the Pill Hill facility, not over at First Hill.   

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