One Week to S Day

 April 23:  I am enjoying my glass of wine because this is supposed to be the last one for a week.  I took my last Aleve on Saturday thinking they may have been the culprit for some gut issues.  No more Aleve allowed either.  Another call from the hospital told me of one more video they want me to watch—but it never arrived so we can wait on that privilege.  One more heart test—an echogram tomorrow.  I was so bold as to call Dr. Wong’s office to say that I had received no instructions and did that mean there was no stress test involved?  Thank God, there is not.  I hope it will be a far less complicated and nerve wracking time there than last week.

Jim had two medical appointments today and came through both very well.  We are always glad when he gets another good eye exam and he too had an EKG which was normal.  

I was reading my book and suddenly had a feeling of panic about this whole thing.  I went out to the deck and soaked up some Vitamin D and tried to do my mindfulness with my breath prayers. (Healing in, fears out)  I got a vision of being in the hospital with Jim at my side and found that comforting.  He should be able to be with me much of the time before and after surgery but I definitely will send him home at night.  A friend told me her husband spent four nights at her bedside when she had pneumonia.  I hope not to ask for that!  One night and I hope I will be sent home the next day.  Another friend told me her mother had to go to rehab after hip surgery.  I told Jim that if I can’t get up the steps, we are going to Homewood Suites together where they have an elevator.  But that is borrowing trouble.  I plan to climb these 17 steps slowly but surely on May 2.  

As I am trying to think positively, I was grateful to have an important question answered by my dear gynecologist on the portal today.  And grateful to know that the follow-up physical therapy appointment I made will be with Jennifer—I won’t have to meet one more new medical person.  

———-April 24:  The echogram was easy.  We were in and out in about 30 minutes.  The doctor will call with the results tomorrow.  I am not anticipating any issues. The video email was lost in my junk mail.  However, it was one we had seen before and watching it made me feel somewhat reassured.  At least it wasn’t a whole lot more to learn.  I have a sense of preparing for a final exam and getting set up for failure.