much ado...

Awoke yesterday and weighed immediately, which I usually do, on Jan's wonderful Weight Watchers' scales. Up 2.7 lbs! Alarm bells. I am supposed to call in to the Cardiac Nurse if a sudden weight gain--which in this case is over 2 lbs in a day--so I did. What amazed me most was that I got a quick call back from one of the PA's on the unit who was clearly up on my case.  Granted in the 5 min it took for her to return my call she could have (and should have) examined my file. But I remember doing case reviews as a consulting psychologist. All the ongoing cases are reviewed, say, once a week, by the complete staff, so it is highly likely that she didn't have to do much review at all. In any case,  she was back quickly.  She listened to my activity level report for the day before (a fair amount what with picking up Jan's car which still had a couple problems), getting my car gassed, and doing some driving. 

Of course the worry is about edema. As reported, when I checked into the hospital a couple weeks before, I had a bunch.  Daily, I am awakening with pretty skinny feet and ankles except that by the end of the day, my feet and ankles are swollen again. Without weight gain, and until this I was without weight gain, not a problem. As my heart gets stronger even this little bit of edema should go away. That's one theory, sure.  Another is that I might have to go on a di-uretic such as lasix on a permanent (?) basis. That also means dosing with phosphate daily. I hope not!

The PA did not want to go to di-uretics because on my first usage, in hospital and thereafter, I dehydrated to the point where one of my kidney measures showed up bad (creatin??). So:

She said, "I want you to have a quiet day". Bang, zip. There went my plans to attend the Annual Cruise In parade.  For those of you unfamiliar with this 34-yr tradition, herewith a synopsis: About 1000-1500 custom cars descend on Cache Valley every summer, about now, for a week of showing their cars (fairgrounds). There are various activities throughout the week. Judging the cars takes place on Saturday afternoon and this activity culminates with a give away (this year a juiced up 1970 Camaro SS) and a parade of the cars. In actual fact almost no one of the judged cars ever participates in the parade. The cars are too expensive to risk it. But every half-finished, half started custom job, or simply the fact that you have a new Ferrari or an old Packard is grounds to pony up the few dollars it costs to enter the parade. The police close a bunch of streets and the cars drive (rev?) through town and, we, the residents sit on our lawns and cheer them on and suck a cold one and inhale exhaust fumes.  All in good sport. 

We usually gather at the home of close friends which is located on the route and thereafter have a potluck dinner in their lovely back yard. Not this year for moi. Damn. Maybe next? 

Usually one can sit at home and watch the judging on a local TV channel. Not this year: technical difficulties (which is monopoly speak for the station has not ponied up the price to be on our cable). Rats, foiled again.

But I had a good book handy and a nice small supper, so while I missed seeing all the clan, I was and am happy.

This morning, the feet are skinny again and there is no further weight gain. In fact a 1/2 lb loss which is probably within normal daily variation.  Again, in medicine, slow wins.