(no subject)
Yesterday's cardiologist appointment went well.
The cardiologist went over Dad's tests and said that he is doing so well she does not feel January is the right time for such a huge/life altering operation. The new meds seem to have everything under control. She wants to do one more test to gather data that will help if they have to do the operation in a few months. He will be monitored with labs monthly. If his kidney function and other blood levels are good they will hold off. If his kidneys start to show signs of trouble from lack of blood flow then they will do the heart pump.
Basically the heart pump is just a bridge to help the other organs. It only takes care of the left side of the heart. His right side still has the congestive heart failure. It could still give out at any time. It can still have a stroke. It can still go into arrhythmia. I made sure Dad understood that so he didn't feel like he was being blown off...and that it wasn't anything I said that would make him think it was my fault he couldn't have the heart pump.
I had to reiterate the same to my sister. I also reminded her that most people die with 2 years because they have an open wound that leads directly to the heart that gets infected so... it is a huge not as easy as they make it sound thing. I am willing to try, but if he is good without it then I am happy and frankly I have a more normal life too.
I still have a check list of things that I want to do..in prep for when he needs the pump. I imagine relieved that I don't have to move out of my bedroom in January.
I need to tell her that if she gets a dog that she can bring the dog. We will just put up baby gates. The good thing about the apartments is that they are easily split in half. I know they will crate train the dog so it will never roam the house alone.