Miss Penny and Me

I really don’t have a lot to write about.  I haven’t been doing much since I returned from Ohio.  Miss Penny is definitely glad to be home.  She hasn’t left my side.  I guess she missed me while I was staying at Jana’s.  She did get a lot of attention at Brian’s, but I still think she missed me.  She has had a good time checking everything.  I never know where she will be next.  She is always in the same room as I am, I just never know where.  I think she also missed watching the birds because she spends a lot of time at the windows.

It has been extremely hot here so I haven’t been outside very much.  The weeds have taken over my rock garden.  I am hoping that after next week I will be able to work outside again.  I cut a small area of grass, saw a snake and quit!  Apparently snakes are plentiful around here this year.  LaNora has seen quite a few and Renea saw one in their vegetable garden.  Yesterday Renea and LaNora cut both my grass and Renea’s grass. 

I guess I should tell why I have not been doing anything, especially yard work.  A couple of months ago I went to the doctor and told him about how short of breath I always am.  I was trying to ignore it, but when Kevin and Renea noticed it, and they both insisted I go to the doctor.  Not only that but they called Brian and told him, and he called me and said the same thing.  So, as I said, I told my doctor.  He immediately sent me for chest x-rays and an ekg.  I was then given an appointment for a heart echo.  Next was an appointment for a stress test.  Because I have a blockage in my left bundle branch I could not have the treadmill test.  Instead they gave me the medicine thru an IV.  That test is supposed to last four minutes.  I made it about 45 seconds and they had to reverse it. 

Of course, they don’t tell you anything.  I just had to make an appointment with the cardiologist.  And, since I am a new patient I didn’t get an appointment for six weeks.  I did see my primary care doctor, and he told me they didn’t find anything life threatening.  Just the start of heart disease and blockage.  He changed some of my medicines and sent me on my way.

Right after this, David passed away and I went to Ohio for a month.  This was another reason the family would not let me drive to Ohio by myself.  A couple of days after my return was my cardiologist appointment.  She informed me that the heart disease is a thickening of the walls of my heart due to my high blood pressure.  And, yes, I do have blockage.  They are just not sure how bad so I am going to have a heart cath on Tuesday, 6/30.  This will determine how much blockage is there and if I need a stint.  Meanwhile, I am to stay out of the heat and not do anything strenuous. 

It’s really boring.  I have been doing a lot of reading, working on the family genealogy, and my plastic canvas.  I also join Penny watching the birds.

My cardiologist gave me some new medicine which I take once a day.  She told me I would probably get a headache when I first start taking it.  I not only got a headache but I got dizzy and drowsy.  It’s getting better, but I still get a headache just not as bad.  She also gave me a prescription for nitro tabs. 

So, that’s my tale of woe.  I just hope that cath will not show anything serious and I can get on with working in my yard.