My post on Monday concerned the heart catheterization that I was scheduled to undergo the next day.  went off without a problem.

Since Lynda is still not driving much in fear of an a-fib attack (which are fewer, less intensive, and shorter than before her heart ablation last year), we arranged for rides from our church folks. A retired man who lives near us gave us the early morning, 6:15 a.m. ride to the hospital. A woman in our Life Group gave us a ride home in the afternoon.

I enjoyed meeting my cardiologist for the first time in the hospital room. I’d had a virtual appointment with him that turned into voice only when something went wrong with the video function of the Google app. Other appointments were with his nurse practitioner. He did a good job explaining everything beforehand. Other hospital staff did their jobs efficiently and were friendly.

The procedure happened on time. The results were somewhat unexpected. I expected them to find that one or more of my arteries were partly blocked and they would put a stent or two in, requiring me to stay overnight. Instead, they found one artery 50% blocked, but not restricting blood flow. They also found another artery that was torn in a couple of places. My cardiologist said both of these could be treated with medicine.

So they kept me there for a couple of hours of observation, so I could come out of some of the effects of anesthesia, and sent me off. Lynda contacted the lady who would give us a ride home, and she was there around 1:30 p.m. and we were home around 2. She also brought us supper, enough for two nights, and a very nice banana split pie for dessert. Guess it will take a while for my blood sugars to return to normal.

As soon as I could, I went to the sunroom to read, and promptly fell asleep. I must have been a couple hours in my chair, the window behind me opened a little and a delightful breeze soothing me. Then I got up, went into the living room to my reading chair with the book, and immediately fell asleep. I woke up around 6:15 p.m. Lynda had heated the food we were given. We had a nice supper and dessert.

We spent the evening watching The Curse of Oak Island on the History Channel, then read until it was bedtime. I realized my right shoulder was hurting and concluded I had pulled a muscle, probably getting in and out of the hospital bed while trying to keep the skimpy hospital gown covering me. I was afraid that it might keep me awake. It didn’t however. I slept well and long, not getting up until 7:45 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Mercy posted the results of the heart cath. I copied and sent them to my cardiologist friend from high school. He sent back a short note that he concurred with my cardiologist’s diagnosis. I think. He texted me in medical-speak, so it’s hard to known.

Wednesday (when I’m writing this) was somewhat of a normal day. I worked at the computer in the morning, adding the last 800 words to my work-in-progress and declaring the first draft DONE. Took the afternoon to read and nap. No physical exercise. No driving. No need to fix food. Truly normal routines won’t re-start until Saturday. Waiting on a call from the pharmacy to say my meds are available for pick-up.

So heart cath #2 is in the books. The last one was in 2001, when they found nothing abnormal. Maybe the next one won’t be for another 21 years. I’ll be 91 at that time.

Edited to add on Thursday: I’ve done a little more research, and have one more report from my cardiologist. The torn artery has a name: Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, or SCAD. The causes are unknown, and the cure is unknown. It is NOT fixed by medicine as I understood it. The artery tends to heal itself. If it doesn’t, the cure is a stent or a bypass operation. Part of the reports were a number of links to Mayo Clinic info about SCAD.

Also, to better evaluate the condition of my abnormal aortic valve, the doc wants to do a trans-esophageal echocardiogram.  Say that fast five times. That is not scheduled. I’m also to be referred to a cardio-rehab program. Waiting on those.

So, I’m not sure when I’ll be back to normal, if ever. Let’s hope that artery heals itself.