We're Just Gonna Rule That Out

Well, the blog hasn't had a post in awhile, so i'll use it to share my latest story.

As you know, i had my catheter ablation in mid-Jan, and it was a huge success. Stupid electrical pathway ablated, random racing heart a thing of the past.

Since then, i've noticed that specific things that used to be no problem were leaving me more out of breath than was necessary -- going up the stairs at work, or taking my turn in agility class. So i went in a week or 2 ago and talked to a nurse practitioner about it and he made me get a whole bunch of tests, including a heart monitor that i wore for 7 days. (I was supposed to have jury duty but did not have to report -- wish i had as that monitor woulda gotten me outta there in a flash!)

Yesterday was my scheduled follow-up appointment with my cardiologist. 9:15am, on my way to work. Or so i thought.

Once i got there the Dr said it could be 2 things -- blood clots in your lungs, which i'm sure it's not but we'll just do a cat scan to rule it out, and something else that you'll need to take medication for for a few months, here's a prescription now since i'm sure that's what it is. Yeah. As soon as he said "rule it out" i KNEW that was gonna be it. So i popped down the hall from his office into the hospital for a cat scan (gee this appointment is getting longer, i guess i'll call work and tell them i'll be a tad late), which -- no surprise to anyone except everyone but me -- showed loads of blood clots in my lungs. Also called pulmonary embolism, which sounds WAY scarier. Well, it turns out that once the hospital knows you have PE, you ain't gettin' out of that hospital, no matter how much you point out that you've had it for a month before they knew about it and have been largely just fine. (Yes, i know it can cause sudden death, but i'm not into spontaneous hospital stays, okay?) Into the ER and admitted to the hospital before i could dig my heels in, and on the phone in hysterics to my parents (who dropped everything and immediately drove 4 hours south to stay with my dogs) and my boss (who doesn't know what to make of me because i'm sometimes freakishly cool about impending heart surgery and sometimes randomly in tears). And then a fun overnight in the hospital where all the nurses were TOO nice (STOP ASKING ME IF I CAN WALK 5' TO THE BATHROOM, I'M FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!!!), the Dr was super bummed out about me having a complication (i heart him), i received the horrifying news that i must immediately stop and switch contraceptives (i super mega gigunto hearted my pill), and all the VERY old and VERY unhealthy people in beds around me got on my VERY last shallow and cold-hearted nerve.

For those still following, i am fine. I am home, and am going to give myself injections of a fast-acting blood thinner for several days, followed by probably at least 6 months of coumadin (aka warfarin/rat poison/blood thinner) via pill, including lots of blood tests to get my blood exactly thin enough. Now that i'm on blood thinners i'm not going to drop dead from the blood clots. I have no restrictions (other than to watch my intake of leafy greens). I'd like to see a lot less of hospitals and labs after this year. And the next doctor who says we're going to rule something out is gonna get a right hook to the jaw.

Hope you all are doing GREAT!

The man said more pics (part III of III)

A beautiful mountain to the northwest of Niigata, Japan


The business traveler still life. I drank 6 of those bottles in the 11 hours between London and Tokyo, in addition to two meals, a snack, 4 cups of tea and a few carafes of wine

Fucking Yakuza Disturbing My Afternoon


JAL "Executive Class" (two class international service; good food, terrible seat) meal, Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur.



This way to Mecca (from the ceiling of my hotel room in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of a Muslim majority nation)


The Petronas Towers. (or, why I hate P&S cameras -- I had a perfect shot, but this came out just a hair overexposed. I really need to load CHDK on our P&S cams)


THE INTERTUBES MUST HAVE BEEN INVENTED HERE


Data Center Still Life, Cyberjaya, Malaysia



Fresh roasted lamb. So damn good. (from Kuala Lumpur)



I miss you, my friend.

The man said more pics (part II of III)

Francesc Macia, 3rd president of Catalunya, the former nation state that boasts Barcelona as it's capital:
The first of three wish rocks, all taken from a bowl at Nat's memorial service. Sent into the Med in Barcelona:
My "Nat's Memorial Lunch" afterwards -- calamari, salad, wine, sparkling water at an outdoor cafe overlooking the beach:


When I got home, Jessie and I decided to do one of our "cheese, wine, and fruit" dinners, a tradition started in Siena, Italy just a few days after we got engaged. No, we didn't drink all the wine, but I do think we ate almost all of the cheese.



In mid November, Margaret and Jeff came to visit us in VA. I hung with my bro Washington, and took a picture. (this picture is in homage to my brothers now infamous portrait with General Lee, which caused us to be accosted by a docent at the Virginia State Capitol)


YOU'RE A KITTY!



Trying to feed a three year old and explain chopsticks is a fascinating, if sometimes infuriating, experience.

I peed on the table at Thanksgiving. This is why Ari says people shouldn't drink:


Dawn over the far east of Siberia, enroute to Tokyo. We were level at FL410, crusing along. Upper deck of a BA 747, my first time in "upstairs" on a 747. (Most airlines running 747's split business class between the main and upper deck, put First Class in the nose, and coach over the wings. The upper deck biz class seats are usually reserved for fliers with status, since it's quieter and there is a greater cabin staff:passenger ratio).



More to come.

The man said more pics (part I of III)

From the last 90 days of 2008... Andrew's quick dose of travel pics.

Three fish in Prague, a cute little water fountain:


Things that suck, part MMCXVII: Vivaldi.


RUMSFELD!


1.5 Liters, first of 3 at Restaurant Urquell in Prague


Venison, Styrian fresh mushrooms, croquettes, red cabbage, so fucking good:

Size 13 foot, huge maple leaf in Dusseldorf:

Footlong bratwurst, and some delicious Alt, in Dusseldorf:


How you kill a brutal head cold, London style -- Financial Times, two Tylenol Sinus Severe Congestion, one Claratin D 24 hour, two Dayquil, two Ricola, three shots Afrin Severe Congestion in each nostril, and a Builders Bar:


First class meal on Iberia: duck confit, jamon iberico, salmon three ways (ceviche, smoked, butter poached), ice cream, salad, manchego cheese:


More to come.

Hey! Post more pics!

Also, have a happy new year.

The Holidays

I just wanted to see what people are doing for the holidays. Penny, Elisabeth, and I will be in CT the weekend before Christmas (12/20 - 12/21) if anyone is going to be in the area then. We will then spend the rest of the holidays at home, possibly bored out of my freaking mind. So, if anyone will be close to Levittown stop on by. Hope everyone has a great holiday. Also, gratuitous Penny picture with her stuffed animals she lined up.

Please do it at home

From Ginza Station, after dinner with Andrew.
This is one in a series of posters exhorting the subway-riding populace of Tokyo to observe proper manners.