Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Well, I am now 24 days post-op and thought that I'd better finish up with my procedure tale. I showed up at the hospital on the morning of the 21st with instructions to come on an empty stomach. This is for the blood draw that they did first thing. The thing that I would recommend asking is whether you can eat AFTER that blood draw is done. I didn't, and regretted that, as you will read...I was hooked to a catheter and then remained in my bed for the day. Bring a book or your Ipod.
I am not sure whether they hook everyone to a catheter but know that my roommate and I were both on one. Anyway, initially we had been told that Dr Simka would do my doppler at noon but in the end, I did not see him until about 5 pm. My husband popped in and out but seemed welcome to hang around as much as he liked. By this time, I finally asked about eating something and by now, it was too close in time to the procedure, so ask right after the blood draw. As Dr Simka did his doppler on my neck, he pointed out the restrictions on both sides...the right jugular was quite blocked and the left was, too, but not quite as badly. They finally came for me at about 9pm. I think they did at least three of us that day, although there were us two women and three men in the other room, so it may have been up to 5 of us! Given the fact that I wasn't originally supposed to be there until September though, you didn't hear a single complaint from me!
Oh, also early on, the nurse had done a quick shave to my groin area, just to each side of the groin area where the vein runs. That was really a non-issue. In the operating area, I was given some drug through my IV that just sent my eyes spinning and then they appliad iodine to the entire groin area to prep for surgery. Several cloth drapes were laid down, isolating where they would be working. From that point, Dr Simka stood by, while Dr Ludyga and the cardiologist did their work. I recall feeling the slightest feeling of a flutter in my neck on both sides. Dr L moved forward to tell me that the left side looked good with just the balloon and that he wanted to put a stent in my right side. Done. All told, the surgery was done by 10:30pm. I went straight to bed and then woke at about 3am and ate a banana that my husband had left for me. Pretty slam dunk! The next morning, my dressings were changed and I left the hospital and moved to our hotel. I was very pleased with the professionalism. Feel free to ask me any questions!
Brynn
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After a very busy work week that I am catching up with now and finally getting my strength back after the flu, I am hoping to get back to my last procedure update and my sticky thread entry in the next couple days. My physical benefits have continued, so I will go on and on very soon! 
Brynn