Text 8465, 175 rader
Skriven 2008-06-07 10:41:00 av DAVE DRUM (1:123/140)
Ärende: I Lived Through It ...
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Some of you will have received this via e-mail.
I is escaped from the clutches of the cute ladies down the hospital.
Somehow my blood sugar levels did a big flip-flop on me and I was experiencing
repeated low blood sugar episodes. Most of the time (nearly every time) I
caught the symptoms in time to re-elevate the glucose levels. Monday night (02
June) I had a low blood sugar that gave no symptoms (shaky, blurred vision,
sweats, weakness, etc.).
Last I remember was about 7:30 pee em until I woke up on the floor, on my right
side, with absolutely no idea how I got there. My new computer chair was
broken, there was a general chaos of things tossed about in no particular order
and I was having trouble with the strength on my right side when I tried to
roll over or push myself up.
So, I took stock of the situation and given the conditions outlined above and
the cardiologist telling me that my atrial flutter could lead to stroke - and
leapt to the conclusion that I had stroked out.
Eventually (about 11 pm) I managed to get re-arranged to a position where I was
parked upon my ample fundament. But, there was no chance I was going to be able
to get up further from there. Thought briefly about calling my brother and my
friend to come over and help me up and finally hit upon the wise and clever
plan of calling 911.
Got the fire dept. and a meat wagon. Told them I thought I had had a stroke -
whereupon the paramedics did some screening tests. Then told me that I might
have had a stroke but showed no evidence of it. But, "You get to go for the
ride anyway". Off to hospital.
Among the things they did to/for me at the ER was take my blood sugar again
after the ambulance folks took it and found it at 41 (which means my candle was
nearly out) then got an amp of glucose into me, post haste. The ER blood
glucose level an hour later was 88. Down the hall to get a cat scan - which was
negative. Proving that sometimes negatives can be positives.
Meanwhile, the strength was returning to the right side - letting me realise
that laying on you side against a hard floor for two plus hours will cut blood
supply and cause weakness. And point my thoughts away from the depressing idea
that I had had a stroke. Especially when I could stand and walk a few steps.
What a relief. I think I may have leaked a few tears.
Tuesday morning I was in a room and waiting to see my doctors and get further
tests done. Called my nears and dears - and Georgia e-mailed my long distance
friends. WOW! The phone calls started right away (you guys know who you are).
The only voice I didn't recognise was Manny, with whom I have never had a face
to face meeting. The calls were mucho appreciado.
By Tuesday afternoon after and MRI of my gourd and an echogram of my carotid
arteries and taking into consideration the consistently low blood sugars I was
throwing even with NO medication we decided that what had put me down was a low
blood sugar episode. And, as I had the heart procedure(s) already scheduled for
Thursday - they held me over for a sleep study (yeah, among other things I have
a sleep apnea - officially).
I had Tuesday through Friday afternoon to play with the menus from room
service. Unlike other hospitals I have been in Springfield's Memorial Medical
Centre lets you order from a menu between 6:30am and 8:30pm.
Since I was on a cardiac floor, waiting for heart surgery my diet was
restricted to low cholesterol, low sodium (2 mg), etc. Mrs Dash is a nice old
lady - but, she's no substitute for salt. Lotsa pepper helps - some.
Egg beaters with a dab of salt would not be too bad. But, when done in an
omelet with green peppers, onions, etc. and Alpine Lace Swiss Cheese, lots of
pepper and a bit of Mrs. Dash ain't too bad. French toast with real (go figure)
butter and Schmuckers sugar-free Jam is pretty OK, too. Mushmelon w/pepper
(lots) became a standard with all meals.
Oddly enough I was not allowed "English" Muffins, sourdough or rye breads -
because of the sodium levels. The wheat bread was darker than what I usually
get and fairly tasty - so, I need to get next to someone in the culinary
administration at Memorial and find out whose brown bread they are using.
Sometimes I got Land O' Lakes whipped butter, sometimes Promise fake butter. No
way to predict. Hellman's Lite Mayo to go on the roast beef and Alpine Lace
sarnie. No tomato juice allowed (salt). Steamed veg - including broccoli,
cauliflower, whole kernel corn, peas (from frozen), green beans and several
versions of tatties including mash & gravy (not too bad - but, as usual could
have benefited greatly from a few grains of salt.)
Cod Almondine, Roast Beef Manhattan, Baked Cod Loin, Pork and Gravy, Roast
Turkey and Gravy, Rice Pilaf were all tried and pronounced "Passable but need
salt!"
Coffee was not very strong - but hot and wet. Juices were juicy. Milk was 2%
except when they told me I had to have 1/2% chalk water - on which I passed.
Pepsi products were also available along with hot or ice tea and lemonaid.
Enough on hospital food. Suffice it to say that this experience was MUCH better
than the usual expectation of hospital food. And next time I expect to be an
inmate at the body and fender I will pack a salt shaker. Bv)=
-+-
Thursday morning - Tran-Esophogeal Echogram to look for blood clots and/or
blockages in the interior and on the back of the heart. None found. Lie told
"This tastes absolutely horrid and will deaden your throat so you can partially
swallow the transducer". FEH! The deadening part worked well. But, I've had
coffee that tasted worse than that. No worse than Diet Moxie.
Thursday afternoon - Cardiac Ablation. Started by shaving my whoosis and
cutting into both sides of my groin. After that it gets hazy. Woke up with a
pace maker in place ... which I hadn't counted on. Then back to the room where
I had to lay still until 9:00 pm. The race between the clock and my bladder
made things interesting. Eventually 9 pm came before the floodgates opened.
Phew.
Friday - time to pack up, talk to doctors, etc. Dr. Miller (one of the top
cardiac electricians in the WORLD) did my procedure. He told me that the
ablation went perfectly. My heart now beats the same on top AND bottom. But,
not often enough. Seems that the nerve bundle which tells the heart to beat
only passes about every other impulse. And since they had me on the table
anyway - VOILA! Pacemaker time.
So, that pretty much brings things up to date. Currently my diabetes meds have
been cut back to 1 mg. glimepiride (Amaryl) down from 8 mg. And the 1000 mg of
metformin (Glucophage) had been dropped altogether. Needless to say I will be
monitoring things on the blood glucose front very carefully.
MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06
Title: Tuna Mornay
Categories: Seafood, Cheese, Vegetables, Citrus
Yield: 4 servings
1 sm Onion chopped fine
2 tb Butter
2 tb Plain flour
300 ml Milk
150 g Grated cheddar
1 lg Can of tuna
1 c Corn kernels
1 tb Chopped fresh parsley
1 tb Lemon juice
pn Paprika
Salt & pepper
Melt butter in a medium pan and fry the onion until tender.
Remove pan from heat and stir in the flour, then return to
low heat for a few minutes.
Remove pan from heat again and gradually stir in the milk,
then return to the heat and stir until it becomes a white
sauce by boiling and thickening.
Add the cheese and stir until its melted.
Add drained and flaked tuna and corn, parsley, lemon juice
and paprika. Stir until well combined and heated through.
Season to taste.
This can be served as is with pasta, rice or veges. Or you
can put it in a casserole dish with cheese and breadcrumbs
on top and bake at 200 celcius for 5 minutes.
You can also replace the tuna with salmon and / or peas with
corn.
Recipe by: Pete: Just an average bloke who likes to cook.
FROM: www.aussiecooking.com.au
Meal Master Format by Dave Drum - 17 January 2008
Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives
MMMMM
... "Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?" - Leia Organo Solo
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