Heading into Week 2 in the Hospital

Another day at the hospital…it has been a LONG weekend with many ups and downs.  For those of you who don’t know, hubby, Rob, has been in the hospital for congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy since May 20th.  

Saturday, we thought Rob was coming home for at least a few days armed with a vest to monitor his heart.  Within about an hour of one of the cardiologist (from a group practice) telling him this, the nurse came in and said everything was cancelled.  UGH!  Rob had a bad night on Saturday with no sleep due to not being able to lay down – he kept loosing his breath.  His lungs still appear to be clear but he is retaining water in other parts of his body.  .

Sunday was a tough day – shortness of breath even when Rob was just laying down.  The only positive was that he got to take a REAL shower – it is the little things that mean so much.  Then after dinner, he was sick. The game plan according to the cardiologist is to transfer Rob to Jersey Shore Medical Center for the defib pacemaker either Tuesday or Wednesday.  Of course it was a long weekend so nothing could take place.  So, we are praying that they will transfer him on Tuesday even if it is late in the day for a procedure on Wednesday, a few days in the hospital and then maybe home before next weekend.  

On Monday morning I got good news, the message read “I slept last night”.  YEAH!  With a little help from some medication, Rob was able to get some sleep and was feeling better.  We moved to Jersey Shore Medical Center about 5pm.  We still do not know when the procedure will take place but we are hoping by tomorrow.  Rob figures since he doesn’t do well in heat and we are going to have a hot spell by the end of the week, he will go home just in time for that.

Trust and believe that God has a plan – has been my mantra for the last few days as we wait for more answers.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day.

In a fog…

The foggy weather outside is a perfect description for what I have been feeling this week..  actually, that is kind of how I have felt since the doctor put Rob on restriction on May 7th.  We have traveled through the last two weeks going to doctor’s appointments and tests.  Hurry up and WAIT, as Rob would say.

The last test was on Monday and without hesitation they moved him from the Cath lab to the Critical Care Unit.  The doctor explained to me that Rob had congestive heart failure which has caused all of the fluid around his heart along with cardiomyopathy then there were lots of other medical terms that I didn’t really understand.  A few days is what they are saying so that they can pump him full of a diuretic to reduce the fluid and the pressure on his heart.  THEN they are going to adjust his medicines.  Then, he will probably go to cardiac rehab before he can come home.  The stint is only 50% blocked so they are going to wait to replace it.  The biggest problem through all of this is that Rob had NO symptoms that there was a problem with his heart – no chest pain, NOTHING.  

God blessed us with what we thought was a sinus infection which was the reason that Rob went back to the doctor on May 7th.  He wanted to get better for our trip to North Carolina to see Belinda.  Well, that trip didn’t happen nor did we spend our anniversary in Atlantic City.  We are together – struggling through the trials of this disease knowing that God has his hand in all of this – whatever is recommended by the doctors.  There is light at the end of the foggy tunnel.

I am blessed with a supportive family, friends and LOTS of prayer warriors who help me to stay strong.  For despite the fog, I don’t think that this is something that will be over in a week and Rob will be back to work.  His spirits are good and he is ready to do whatever it takes to get better.  His goal – travel to North Carolina to see Belinda AND to have a steak a Charlie Browns.  Okay, so the two don’t go together but considering that Rob hasn’t had much of an appetite in over a month, it makes sense to us.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and well wishes.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day.