Tag Archives: blood tests

Bee’s Knees: Pre-RTKR, Testing and Stuff

Posted on by MaryO

During the medical clearance, the nurse wasn’t happy with my blood pressure so she sent me to my primary care for blood pressure medications. She said if I did that and they faxed her, she would approve my surgery.

I did all that but she lied. She didn’t approve my clearance.

My surgery is now February 3, 2025, time TBD

Another month gone.

Meanwhile

For the saga of my left knee, see these posts: Bee’s Knees

Bee’s Knees: Pre-RTKR, Testing and Stuff

Posted on by MaryO

This morning, I got my surgery time for 9 am on Monday, January 6 – be there at 7. Ok.

While I was doing my pre op testing, my doctor’s office called and said because of the predicted snow (I’m in the 4-8″ band, my surgery would now by Thursday, January 9, time TBD. Moving the surgery ensures that it won’t snow.

During the medical clearance, the nurse wasn’t happy with my blood pressure so she sent me to my primary care for blood pressure medications. She said if I did that and they faxed her, she would approve my surgery.

This afternoon I had an hour training on the ROMtech machine. During that, we had thunder snow. I don’t think I’ve ever had that before. It was 45 degrees when we left the hospital.

While I was napping after all this, I got a call from my surgeon’s office that the nurse didn’t give the clearance like she said she would so the surgery scheduler canceled my surgery.

Of course, it was after hours when I got that message 😦

Another day gone.

Meanwhile

For the saga of my left knee, see these posts: Bee’s Knees

Bee’s Knees: Pre-RTKR, Testing and Stuff

Posted on by MaryO

A few days ago, I got a call from my insurance company letting me know my surgeon had prescribed a ROMtech machine for me. That was the first I’d heard of this thing. With all the other stuff going on, I didn’t give it another thought until a woman called on 12/29/24 and said they’d be delivering this on Thursday and someone would call me on 12/31/24 to tell me the time. She only asked me what room i wanted it in, my height, if I had a straight back chair and confirmed my surgery date.

Of course they didn’t call on New Year’s Eve so I didn’t give it another thought until the next day, New Year’s Day. A guy from Texas with several kids yelling in the background called on 1/1/25 and said he’d see me on 1/2/25 between 8:30 and 8:45.

So, I decided to look into this thing. I checked in one of my Facebook groups – some people had used one of these things successfully. I came across some YouTube videos – mostly company produced – and it looked good. Full of happy, smiling people. Looking back to my first day of PT for my left leg, no way was I happy or smiling.

So, I finally found some other information – even through their videos don’t show it, my chair should be against a wall. We don’t have many of those – we have book cases, pianos, organs, sofas, beds, and stuff. No blank walls. And somewhere I read that I should be wearing shorts when the delivery guy came. I finally settled for capris that I could roll up.

Delivery guy was on time at 8:30. Didn’t care about the shorts at all. <Whew>. He says he delivers/picks up 15 of these things a day! Who knew?

This morning’s PREOP TESTING ORDERS:

Medical Clearance for Surgery by RHC PAT Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant

CBC w/ DIFF              CMP                CHEST XRAY 

PT/INR                        PTT                 HEMOGLOBIN A1C               

UA                               EKG                MRSA/MSSA (Nasal)

This afternoon I have an hour training on the ROMtech machine.

Another day gone.

Meanwhile

For the saga of my left knee, see these posts: Bee’s Knees

Monday – 3 Weeks Post-op

Posted on by MaryO

I’ve decided to do a sort of timeline in case anyone is interested.  This is all from memory so future posts should be more accurate.

Week Zero, January 28, 2013 was the actual CABG surgery.  The hospital experience  can be found here.

DH came home on Thursday of that week and the first visiting nurse arrived on Saturday. Luckily, DS was able to stay until Sunday and he was a big help.

DH wasn’t allowed to lift any more than 5 pounds, so couldn’t raise himself out of bed.  He slept on a recliner in the living room and either DS or I slept on the sofa in case he needed any meds or help during the night.

Week One, February 4, 2013, one week from surgery.

The visiting nurse came twice and is pleased with wound healing.  Blood pressure is sometimes low.  The nurse thought he should have more fluids.  One lobe of the lung isn’t working to capacity and she wants more use of the incentive spirometers.  DH has two types from the hospital – the traditional one and one that our dog thinks looks like a dog toy that she should have.

incentive spirometer

Week Two, February 11, 2013 two weeks from surgery.  DH continues to lose weight.  He’s still sleeping in the recliner and I’m still on the sofa but there is much less getting up at night.

The Oxycodone is down to half pills much less often than prescribed.

The first (and only) visit to the surgeon’s office this week.  We saw her nurse practitioner who was very impressed with how DH is doing as was his PCP.  The nurse practitioner was so pleased, she said we don’t have to go back unless there are any problems.

The PCP ran blood tests, glucose, liver enzymes, cholesterol and others.

We saw the visiting nurse twice.  She thought DH was doing so well that she discharged him on Thursday.

DH made a few phone calls this week, worked a little, had a visitor on Sunday.

Week Three, February 18, 2013, three weeks from surgery

DH slept in the bed for half the night last night and seems to be doing ok.  He still took a half Oxycodone this morning.

We see the cardiologist this afternoon.  That report will be in the Week Four post. I imagine that we’ll be talking about rehab at this appointment.

Weeks Four and Beyond will have their own posts.