Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Impending Procedure

Shelley will be put on a fast at midnight for "possible" but "improbable" surgery tomorrow. The doctor, who is to perform the surgery, returns tomorrow from a Conference in Montreal and "might" be able to fit her into his schedule. She is on an "emergency" list which means she will be "fitted in" between patients who are already scheduled for surgery on an outpatient basis. If space doesn't open up tomorrow, she'll continue to be a "lady in waiting" until space does open up....Thursday, Friday or the following week. It is difficult for the doctors to give an accurate prediction of when they can fit Shelley in as it all depends on how the scheduled surgeries unfold tomorrow - ie. they could take as little as 3 or 4 hours or, if things don't go well, they could involve a much longer time.

Shelly is receiving excellent care, feels quite well, almost enjoys the hospital food (or more to the point, enjoys the fact that she has an appetite and wants to eat), has convinced one of the nurses to start running (has even set up a program for her), chats up anyone within her purview, and walks the halls of the wing whenever the opportunity arises. She is generally feeling quite well and anxious to have the surgery behind her.

A blessing of the week is that Shelley's nurse (the one she's convinced to start running) underwent this procedure a few years ago herself, so they now have a little support group going!

Someone asked us today what "to convert" meant in the midst of a WPW attack. When Shelley's heart drops instantly from 150 to 62 (for example), it indicates that her heart has converted and her normal pathway is functioning once again. Who knew that conversion of the heart held so many meanings!

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