Working thru it...

 It's been a while again. This time not because I don't have anything to say, but because I have procrastinated. I was going along, swimmingly,  until I wasn't. I had developed a sore abdomen (right side) that I attributed to a workout injury--you know--a muscle pull. Until it wasn't.

Appendicitis

Finally, the pain drove me to the emergency room several Sundays ago. They took pix and said I had an angry looking appendix. Come to find out, some appendicitis can be treated with antibiotics. They wanted to see if I would respond to some. So, I said give me the pills and get me outta here. They said you are going nowhere. All of a sudden things got more serious. They also asked had I taken my blood thinners (Eliquis). Answer: Yes, that very morning. So, they said if we have to operate we need to wait a couple days until the thinner is gone, otherwise, if surgery is necessary you could bleed out. Long story, two days of hospitalization and being awakened more than one likes. I was not officially a patient according to Medicare, just hospitalized for observation. Isn't that a distinction without a difference? It may be in $$. (Supposedly, the gap policy should cover this--we'll see.)

So they popped into my room on the Tuesday morning and said there's an opening in the operating suite for 2:30 this afternoon. Let's do this! So I had the operation, which was done laporoscopically. I was home by 9 pm that same evening. Unbelievable!

The result has been a relatively pain free recovery. A few extra strength Tylenols. A whole bottle of hydrocodone, unused. Of course there was pain, hence the Tylenols, but it was manageable. Two weeks after my surgery I ventured back into the gym for a light workout. I  had the second one today. All good, so far.

There have been some slight changes in heart function, that I think are temporary. An occasional A-fib reading, slightly elevated blood pressure and some edema primarily of the feet and ankles. But that is retreating in the absence of my usual diuretic. Feels to me like I am healing.

All of this is not to say that abdominal surgery at 82 is a picnic.

Hearing

Love my new hearing aids! They are blue tooth capable and come with an app that allows me to set them for different environments. Also, I can run my music through them and take phone calls and yada yada.

Heart

These guys are next up. An echocardiogram is scheduled for Sept. Hopefully I will be back in better physical health by then to see whether not there is any positive change in my heat's function.