Newstocks

Chipped tooth

Somehow I managed to chip the ceramic cap on one of my front teeth over the weekend.

I chipped the tooth itself when I was a kid (I fell off my bike, landing right on my front teeth). The cap that I've had on it ever since gradually wears down and needs repairing from time to time. But this was the first time the cap itself had chipped. I'm not sure what caused it - Mandy noticed that the bottom of my tooth wasn't straight at about the same time that I felt that something was different about it.

Fortunately it didn't hurt, or even tingle, but I figured I'd better get it repaired ASAP in case the rest of the cap came off. So I called the dentist yesterday morning, steeling myself for a weeks-long wait for an appointment. Surprisingly, however, they got me in yesterday afternoon.

The repair only took about 15 minutes and was entirely free of unpleasant sensations, smells or sounds. I'm a bit of a dentist phobic, so I was extremely happy about that.

Bobby out of hospital

Happily, Bobby got out of the hospital Thursday afternoon and is now back at home. He's going to have to take some drugs to get rid of the clot, but no more surgery should be necessary.

Double bummer

Bobby was admitted back into hospital last night.

He had a checkup with his GP yesterday who, on seeing his swollen leg, suspected a blood clot and sent him to emergency for tests. After a lot of waiting around he was finally admitted and will probably be there for the next couple of days. His leg was giving him a bit of pain, but he had a good night and was given some painkillers this morning, which have made him feel much better. I believe they're expecting to do an MRI sometime today.

Unfortunately, today Mandy and I were also supposed to be flying to New York for a long weekend without Aidan, who we were going to leave with his granny and poppa. Naturally, we've had to cancel. Fortunately the airline has given us a credit for the full cost of our tickets that's good until the end of this year, and the hotel didn't charge us for the late cancellation. The only money we're likely to lose is what we paid for tickets to La Boheme at the Met and the Broadway show Curtains.

Bit of a bummer all round.

Bobby home on Thursday

Bobby was given the all-clear by the doctors yesterday and will be flying back to Bermuda on Thursday. He could have come back on today's flight, but decided he didn't want to rush things. Given that he only got out of the hospital on Thursday, that seems to make a lot of sense.

Bobby's on the move

Today, Dad moved to the hotel and continues to feel better and better each day. He's definitely a step closer to coming home!

Bobby in Baltimore

Sorry sorry! I didn't realize how many of you were reading this! But having been stopped in the street many times today, obviously a number of people are! Dad's doing well. The nurses and doctors have nothing but good reports.

He's had two really good nights with Denise - his cute, blond, twenty-something nurse. How could you go wrong really when you've got one of those?! Every day he's walking a little more and has been working with the therapist to learn to stand up and sit down without using his arms, go up stairs and things like that that will help him and, most especially, Mom in the short term.

It's likely that he'll be in the hospital for a few more days before moving to the hotel. He has to stay in Baltimore for a week after leaving the hospital before coming home. Aidan and I will be going up to provide bedside entertainment when Dad moves to the hotel.

A really good night

When we left yesterday, I was feeling pretty bummed that they hadn't gotten Dad up and out of bed at all. But at 10PM when we called for an update, Karen, his nurse, said very nonchalantly that they had walked down the hall and back. I was totally floored and had to ask for clarification because the distance that I understood at first seemed totally unrealistic. However, sure enough he walked to the main entrance of the ward and back; about a 200-foot walk. That's totally cool!!

Right now he is off the blood pressure medication and off the pacer and his pressure is still nice and high. If today is a good day, they are hoping that there will be a bed available on a regular ward for him to move to. Fingers crossed, as beds on a regular ward are hard to come by on a Sunday.

Quote of the day

I twittered yesterday's quote of the day, but it probably makes more sense in context.

Mom was telling Dad about a person who works at Northrock and Dad asked which Northrock she was talking about. Mom replied "The telecommunications company. Did you think I might be talking about the rock offshore?"

"Well there is a restaurant called Northrock" Dad fired back. Then he said, "Gee, I didn't realize you two girls were so stupid."

What a cheek!! I guess he figures he might as well get in all the smart comments he can while we can't slug him.

Awake and Saucy

Dad's awake and saucy as ever. He doesn't feel too much pain. He needs to breathe deeply and is doing that all the time. They've sat him up and is popping pills already. They will be getting him on his feet today. Roll on!

When we first arrived, Matt, his nurse, started a conversation asking him whether he knew where he was etc., so we chimed right in and asked what his birth date was and whether he remembered the saga from before his operation - which he did. Well, from then on, he thought we were testing him, so everything we told him, he said "You already told me that. You testing me?". A bit confused, but that's normal.

Anyway, Matt says that he's doing really well. Time to head back in to the room.

All done!

The trouper has done great. It's all finished and went exactly according to plan. Only did three bypasses in the end, not four. There goes the gold membership. Oh well.

:-)

Update #1

Dad was doing well this morning, but hadn't slept much. Last night one of the doctors told him that before the surgery he'd have lots of people asking him four questions

1. His name
2. His DOB
3. His surgeon
4. What op he was having

Well, wasn't the bugger up all night worried about the questions and, most specifically, getting his birthday right in American language - 5/11/34. However, somehow he had May as the third month of the year, so he had the wrong damn date! We had a good laugh about that this morning which was nice. Aidan called too, which made his day I think, especially given the last thing he said was "Pop".

We're back at the hotel awaiting a call to say that they've made the first incision. Should take 4 - 6 hours, but could be more and could be less. The nurse will call with updates ever hour and a halfish. We'll head back over in a few hours.

The Bermuda Bypass Club

Well, it wasn’t enough to just join the BBC. Dad’s taking out the top membership. At 6:00am tomorrow morning the doctors and the rest of the team start prepping him for a quadruple bypass. Yes, only a gold membership to the Bermuda Bypass Club would do for Bobby Oatley.

The doctors say that he’s a great candidate for the operation. It’s not an emergency situation, his four veins are large (albeit totally clogged) and his heart muscles are excellent. The doctor continued on with, “So I can have plenty to drink tonight! I’m not worried about a thing.” We immediately knew that he was the ideal doctor for Dad!

By this time tomorrow night, it’ll all be done and over with and I’m sure Dad will be craving an egg sandwich with extra mayo (dream on, Dad!).

Mandy and Verna

Surgery confirmed for tomorrow

Bobby's bypass surgery has been confirmed for 6am tomorrow (Friday) morning. The procedure is expected to take about six hours.

All the best, Bobby. We'll be thinking of you.

Triple bypass

Verna called just as I was finishing that last post.

The doctors have found the blockages around Bobby's heart, but decided that they're too big for stents to suffice. So he's going to be having a triple bypass operation either tomorrow or on Friday. Apparently they'd rather do it as a scheduled operation than an emergency one, and there doesn't seem to be any reason to act immediately, so I suspect it may end up being Friday. A final decision will probably be taken tomorrow.

Notwithstanding that, Bobby's vitals are all strong and he is apparently feeling fine. Fingers crossed that they can get the operation done sooner rather than later and that he'll soon be back on his feet.

An unwelcome trip

Mandy's dad went to the doctor today complaining about a pain in his shoulder and chest. He was immediately referred to the hospital. A couple of hours later they told us they were sending him by air ambulance to John Hopkins hospital in Baltimore.

It seems that he may have had a very mild heart attack in the last few days, so they're going to run some tests over there. He seems absolutely fine in himself, and his blood pressure and cholesterol are normal, but obviously it needs looking at ASAP and I guess they don't have the expertise to do it here.

Verna's obviously going over there with him and Mandy, Aidan and I may follow tomorrow. Alternatively, only Mandy may go and I may stay here with Aidan.

Fingers crossed that they won't need to keep him over there for very long, and that he'll soon be on his way back to Bermuda.