Whew. What a long day yesterday was. Once Tony said that he was getting the thumbs up to come home yesterday, I couldn’t wait to wake up and go get him. I got up at 5:45, jumped in the shower and I was on my way by 6:10. I don’t like to eat anything too heavy in the morning when I drive somewhere for some reason. I also don’t drink coffee, which I totally love, but um, let’s just say it gets things moving in the morning in the bathroom department and I didn’t want to have to stop an hour after I left to go poop. TMI – I know!
We still use our old school GPS – Tony used to travel quite a bit up in Wisconsin, and I think I got this for him in 2006? We haven’t done any of the updates on it, but for the most part it works just fine.
I parked and got to Tony’s room by 11:30 – not too bad! I found his nurse and told her I was here and she was going to page the cardiologist to let her know I was there. Basically Tony has a leaky mitral valve, which is causing most of his problems. They noticed during a test that when his blood pressure was low, the leaking almost completely stopped. They never did the heart biopsy because it was too high risk, and if they can avoid doing any kind of surgery, they are all for it. So are going to control his fluids and blood pressure and see if that alone can manage the leaking. I have to go and buy a blood pressure cuff because we need to weigh him and take his blood pressure every day. We will report to the Mayo Clinic with those numbers every two weeks, and they will adjust his medications accordingly.
The fact that we may be able to control the situation remotely but still work with Mayo is amazing. After the doctor left, we had a Nurse Practitioner come in – Hey Aimee – what’s the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and an R.D.? We had a NP come by every time with the doctor. She went over everything, but we still had to go to the Mayo to meet with the cardiology liaison that we will be working with directly. All I know was that Tony was ready to get the hockey puck out of there!
As I was packing up, I saw the gift bag for the headphones I had sent up from the gift shop. Heather, I thought you’d get a kick out of the Doug Benson reference!
We were finally on the road by about 2:40 to head back. Tony jokingly asked if I wanted him to drive. Ha! He was so tired, I’d just look over and he’d have his eyes closed. Around 4:30 I was getting hangry. I ended up eating one of my granola bars around 10:30. We ended up stopping at Hardee’s. We don’t have Hardee’s around us. Tony just wanted a plain cheeseburger. I ended up getting the 3 piece chicken fingers – I thought that would be easiest to eat while I was driving, and we split a small fry. When I checked the nutrition on that, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t too bad – well, except for the sodium which was 1200 mg! But my 3 tenders and 1/2 a bag of small fries came in at 490 calories, 24 fat, 5 fiber, 43 carbs, and 28 protein. I never ended up using the buffalo dipping sauce – I thought it would be too messy. I am laughing at this picture I took off of google “now available in Lahore & Islamabad.” I’ve never even heard of those places! (Geography has never been a strong skill of mine!)
Mayo had sent our prescriptions to our local Walgreen’s, but one of the medications is sometimes not in stock, and he had to take that medication last night before we went to bed. I called around 3:30 when we were driving home and they assured me that they had everything in stock and asked what time we’d be picking it up. She said they were really busy, and when I said 8:00, she said “oh good – no problem!”
But I still ended up waiting about 25 minutes for the meds. I left Tony in the car and had to come out and tell him that I was still waiting for them – so close to home but not close enough! We finally pulled into the drive at 8:45. I got the car unpacked, and at 9:00 I poured myself a tall glass of wine. After driving 610 miles round trip for 10.5 hours, I think I earned a glass of wine.
It felt like I was asleep for 5 minutes last night! I did sleep in until 7:15 this morning, which is 45 minutes later than usual, so that helped. I have 15 minutes to get ready for work – no problem!
I hope to catch up on my blog reading and comments this weekend – thank you for your continued support these last few weeks – it means more to me than you’ll ever know!
And here is my shameless plug to vote for my recipe contest – have a great Friday!
I agree with SkippyMom – like Tony’s ankles. Hope they continue to keep their great shape.
I think you earned that glass of wine, too! That’s a very, very, very loooong day! Glad to hear that Tony is home now.
What a long day! But how wonderful that Tony is back home! Keeping my fingers crossed that monitoring and medication adjustments will take care of the problem!!!
So glad that Tony is back home with you and that your trip went OK!!! I hope that y’all can keep everything under control without another trip to Mayo anytime soon!
And, that was definitely a well earned glass of wine!!!
WOOHOO!!! Tony is home. So glad to hear that. Continued thoughts and prayers. 🙂 Jamie
So glad you made the trip safely – that is a lot of driving!
Biz, I think your question was basically answered in the comments, but I’ll answer it as well. A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice nurse who can prescribe medications. An NP is always a registered nurse first. Then they complete an advanced degree, a minimum of a Master’s Degree, but you are now starting to see more Doctor of Nursing Practice trained NPs. NPs can serve as your primary care practitioner.
An RD is a registered dietitian who has completed a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree. I believe they have to complete a practical program in the field and pass a national exam.
I’m so glad to hear that Tony is home.
Glad “Tony” is home. Love the shameless plug!
I’m so glad you are both home safe and sound! What a long day of driving – you are a warrior!
::SKIPPYHAPPYDANCE::SKIPPYHAPPYDANCE::SKIPPYHAPPYDANCE::
-whew- okay now I sit down!
SO happy Tony is home. Especially happy that you have a workable plan to ensure his comfort until the tests are scheduled.
I liked the pic of him standing in the window, but I have to admit the first place I looked was his ankles – and gee…they’re looking sweet. Not swollen [to my eyes anyway] So bravo! for that.
Hope you both have a quiet weekend at home. Holding hands and sleeping. This whole week has just been a whole pot of good news, hasn’t it? Steven and I are thrilled for you both.
Take care and stay out of FF restaurants – for Tony’s sake, at least. Even 7-11 sells healthier [lower sodium] stuff than Hardees. heehee
Oh wonderful!!! so glad to hear Tony is home and the remedy is doable!! We had a NP (Nurse Practitioner) come to our house the other day that works through our Ins. Co.) Took our blood pressure, checked meds. checked my feet, (diabetes) answered questions and asked lots of questions. My blood pressure was up. I have a blood pressure cuff so she showed me how to work it, (could never figure out the high and low numbers…now I understand it) So she wants me to check my blood pressure everyday and watch what I eat….eating “low glycehric foods” I do have to watch the salt intake too…Another challenge. Oh and get more exercise.
Hey you could be a truck driver with all those miles in one day. We have a Hardees here in Appleton….I never stop there though….the commercials on TV always look tantalizingly good but probably carry along with the food many, many carbs and calories sugar and salt…..yeah right…”Pleasure beyond Measure” (until you weigh yourself and measure yourself) 🙁
Wine looks great even though it’s in a Chicago Bears glass……BUT….would taste MUCH better in a Green Bay Packer glass…hahahah…that comment is for Tony!! So glad you are home Tony and you will be feeling much better soon!!! Listen to your wife, she has some good sence!!!
Week end is here, you two can sit on your deck and grill out and enjoy!!!
Uh, coffee does the same for me. I always have to take a pass when someone suggests a Starbuck’s run at work. Glad Tony is home and you have a plan. My man is coming home tomorrow and I can hardly wait. Have a great weekend.
Glad to read you are both home and they have a plan for Tony. TGIF Hopefully both of you will have a restful weekend. Voting continues.
So glad you are home, and I have been voting every day!
Grateful you’re home with a good treatment plan – still keeping both of you in my prayers & voting daily. Wishing you an R&R weekend!
So happy you got your man back! Hope you guys can have a restful weekend and everything starts getting much, much better. 🙂
So glad you both are back.
I have to say that I hate everything about that wine glass – It’s Chicago Bears and has ice in the red wine! (Please tell me that it’s Sangria.) Okay, I’ll let it slide this time… I know you’ve been through a lot. 😉
I’ve been voting for you every day!
Take care and have a nice weekend!
Wow, that’s a long day…you definitely deserve some wine!!
Glad to hear you both made it home safe and sound and there’s a plan of care to get Tony up and running 🙂 Get him on a Biz diet of real food cooked with love and care – and maybe some gentle walking together in your beautiful neighborhood 😉 Now you both need to relax and get some well-deserved rest! Enjoy the weekend 🙂
PS – I think RD is a registered dietician, could be a nurse but not usually.
NP is a nurse practioner – advanced degree nurse. We have wonderful NP’s that work with our neurologists and provide great care with easier access than the docs.
PS- If you’re ever on the road in WI/MN again – KwikTrip gas stations do have some decent choices for food/snacks – apples, oranges, bananas, yogurts, single servings of cheese and veggies, hard boiled eggs, small salads, etc. Of course you have to get by the hot food case loaded with junk and all the baked goods to get to that stuff. That can be tough, I know! Their coffee is decent too – not Starbucks, but good for a gas station. Oh wait – no coffee for you 😉
Welcome back home Tony! Sounds like a plan you can work with. Wine in a football cup…my kind of girl. 🙂 Have a great weekend and catch up some rest.
Lol….those are cities in Pakistan. McDonald’s in Pakistan tastes TERRIBLE. I visited there in 2001…it was cool, but kind of creepy with the street beggars. I gave most of our pocket money away to them. Sad! I hope hardee’s tastes better there! lol
How wonderful that Tony is home!! I hope you both have a nice, relaxing weekend! 🙂
I’m horrible at geography 🙂
Yay yay that Tony is home!
Glad you are home safe and sound with a plan. Let me know if you need anything! Been voting daily for your recipe, sure to be a winner.
Glad to hear that Tony is home and with a plan!! Hope you can catch up on some rest over the weekend.
Best,
Bonnie