Well, I've been blindsided. <sigh> Not quite ready to talk too much about all of it yet. Had a doctor's appointment in Billings today with my cardio/vascular surgeon and my legs are blocked - again. It's more an inherited issue than anything else. I've had stents put in them 4 times since 2009. Linda and I both inherited very narrow arteries and veins from Ma along with a good old fashioned case of Familial Hypercholesterolemia, a fancy term for high cholesterol caused more by genetics than lifestyle. Linda's resulted in a ruptured aortic aneurysm Christmas day, 2012, and the kidney destruction, dialysis, and her recent bypass was the result. Me, it's the legs. And every time they block, they block just a little higher in the aorta and illiac arteries, right above the last set of stents. The last time I was stented was in November of 2013 - 6 months ago - and he used closed stents on both sides this time. He told me then that this was probably the last time I could be safely stented. I'm already on life time Plavix, which is usually used for a year after stenting, aspirin, and looking at doing some Lovonox self-injections again. If my blood gets any thinner we'll have to change the old expression from "blood is thicker than water" to "water is thicker than Ma's blood!"
So now I'm left with some options, none of which appeal to me. That's the part I'm not quite willing to talk about yet. Got a lot of thinking to do. He gave me the options, then sat there like he was waiting for an instant decision. Well, not happening. I told him I needed more time - wanted to talk to my family and then decide what to do. He reminded me not to wait too long. For the first time since I met him, I was actually mad at him today. Isn't that stupid? I like him, I trust him completely, but today his pushing irritated me. I fired the first cardio/vascular surgeon I had. I called him "Dr. Pretty Boy" and that pretty much describes his arrogance. I told him to his face after my first stents that if he'd spent more time studying people and less time admiring his profile I'd be a happier patient. This doctor isn't like that at all and it certainly isn't his fault that this happens. Fortunately there was no aneurysm noted again today. He always checks, especially since Linda had one. I must add, in his defense, that he was as disappointed as I was with the results of the doppler and other tests. He put a gentle arm over my shoulder and said, "We talked about this possibility the last time, Diane. I was just hoping it wouldn't have come up this soon."
Severe PAD is not much fun when I want so badly to keep up with Katie, Kendra and Evan. I know it's probably getting bad again when I have to get in the car and drive across the street to Jenny's because I can't walk that far. We live in old 10x60 mobile home and just walking from the back where the bedroom is to the front kitchen I have to stop and rest my legs a couple of times. I'm such an active person and this is so hard. I've gone from 179 pounds to 163 since my last stenting (and now that I've told you that I'm afraid I'll have to shoot you!) and the doctor was very pleased about that. But I guess it is what it is. Ma passed away at 58 from her heart and vascular problems, so I've done better than she did - I'll be 64 this December.
So that's my day. Now, I've shared it. I have to think about it and I won't mention it again. The decision rests with me, Ken, my kids, and God. Don't have time for pity parties and while it's no secret that I don't mind attention, this is not the way I prefer to get it. So......
Now, "Blooied"?? Oh, gotta love it! I most humbly (well, as humble as I ever manage to get) and gratefully accept the honor of having something so auspicious named for me. Um, do I still get to play? I mean, can I Blooie myself? Wait....I really need to think of a way to rephrase that!
