Up From The Depths

Unfortunately, I wasn't out of the woods yet. After being in the recovery room for a while soon it was back to my room. Just like after the Catheterization, lie on my back keep my head down and my leg still. It was not fun and even longer than before. The first period was two hours long. The nurse then arrived and the next part was pretty tough. In order to insert the balloons and stents, an eight inch sheath had first been implanted in my leg. That sheath now had to be removed and the nurse had to install a device to put pressure on the wound for 4 to 6 hours to stop any bleeding while this patient was to lay still without lifting my head.

There was exhaustion and my back was beginning to hurt from being on such a flat surface for so long. The nurse gave me a muscle relaxer and something for the pain and the ordeal began. There was also concern about potential bleeding as there was a history of excessive bleeding from a Tonsillectomy back at 19 years of age. Never confirmed, but it was a concern nonetheless.

And nonetheless, the time passed ok and the wound seemed to be beginning to heal quite well. But, there was more lying still for another 2 hours after the pressure device had been removed. It was soon 7PM and the Night nurse had arrived. As she sauntered into my room to write her name on the board and introduce herself, it was clear there was a special woman there. She said she had heard about my back discomfort and she offered to give me a back rub right then. It felt wonderful. Simply wonderful. After thanking her I soon dozed off to a light sleep. During the night, waking found this nurse in my room checking the IV monitors. There was a new sense of comfort in the air. Sometime during the night, she again offered to rub my back. I'll never forget how great it felt.

Wednesday morning arrived with another nurse introducing herself. She was the one to prepare me for release.