Tidbits

Yesterday when I got home from work, I received a letter from Kai's surgeon's secretary w/ some information regarding the surgery and the stay. They had Kai set to be at the Heart Station (where he gets his pre-op echocardiogram) at 10 am on Thursday Sept 4th, then at Same Day Surgery at 1 pm to meet w/ the anesthesiologist and Dr Huddleston. I called to get the first appointment moved back an hour to give us some wiggle room in the trip down there. You never know what will happen at that time of day. So, after some coaxing, I managed to get the lady to agree to move the first appointment to 11 am. I did also find out that Kai won't be admitted the night before the surgery, he would come to the hotel w/ us. I don't know what time surgery is yet. She said surgery would be calling me to give me all that info

I also sent emails to my surgeon, Dr Moon, and Kai's cardiologist, Dr Sharkey w/ several more questions. This morning, I received a reply from Dr Moon. I forgot to forward the email w/ his responses to my home address so I will put what I can remember under my questions.
To Dr Moon:
1) My son's pediatrician had ordered a blood test to see if his iron stores were high enough before his surgery. His were low so they put him on some Iron Polysaccaride to build them up. I called my Primary Care Physician and she said to check w/ you to see what all blood work you would need. I am assuming you do the "pre-op" blood work the day before surgery down there, but is there anything I need to have up here ahead of time like checking for the Iron Stores?
A: Unless you have been severely anemic in the past, there is no need to worry about that.

2) Do you or the anesthesiologist have a list of meds that are usually given during this type of surgery? If so, could you please provide that to me?
A: Meds vary for each person but I could as the anesthesiologist and he could give me that info when we meet him for my pre-op.

3) Does the operating room have the capability of video taping the surgery? If so, can you tape it? I would like to see what was done to me. I know, some people are squeemish and others have no desire to see, but that kind of stuff does not bother me and frankly, I would like to see inside me :-) If it can't be video taped, will they allow any photos to be taken? I had some taken during previous surgeries and had other doctors tell me that if I would have let them know ahead of time, they could have either taped it or taken some photos. So, I figured it can't hurt to ask.
A: Yes, they can video tape it, but it is a big hassle so they don't. If I want photos, I can ask the anesthesiologist and he can take them for me.

4) How are the ends of the wires that hold the breastbone together protected so they don't poke?
A: They bend them down.

5) Will I have any post-op checkups w/ you or are they all w/ Dr Braverman? If I have some w/ you, can we coordinate them so Kai will see Huddleston and I will see you on the same days so we are not making additional trips down there?
A: My follow up w/ him is really just to see the incision, so if I am doing well, I can go to my primary care physician and have her look at it. But if I need to come down for Kai's anyway, then he would coordinate the appointments

6) I have some papers that need to be filled out for work concerning the time I will be gone. Should I fax them to your office or to Braverman's?
A: I should fax them to Moons office

7) What about a handicap placard? Will I qualify for one now?
A: He says he certainly hopes not. (and from that, I gather he won't recommend one for me, which I would really like to have more for orthopedically, but just walking into work, my heart rate exceed 100/minute and I work up a sweat.)

I have not heard back from Dr Sharkey yet, but she said she would not email answers back to me, she would call me, so I imagine I will hear from her tomorrow or Friday. I asked her about the referral to the Ronald McDonald house so we could try to save some money on hotel bills. I sent her the list of PE activities for Kai this year and asked her to indicated which ones were ok, which were not allowed, and which were ok w/ certain modifications and to let me know what adaptations she thinks will be necessary when he gets back to school. I also asked her about the feeling I got from Dr Huddleston during my phone conversation w/ him and asked her if I caught him on a bad day or if he was always that way. I just felt like he was annoyed w/ me. And lastly, I asked her if she thought it would take 10 weeks to get the kids DNA tests back since the lab was supposed to send my results w/ the kids' samples, so they wouldn't have to search for the mutation, they would know exactly where to look for it. I look forward to hearing from her.

I went to lunch w/ Michele Jensen today and her daughter, Brianna, just had spinal surgery at St Louis Children's Hospital on July 23rd, so she was able to tell me everything about how to save money and what was available. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed and keep praying that we are able to get into the Ronald McDonald house.

It's amazing, since I have received dates and most questions have been answered, I really do feel like I am almost back to my old self. I was really productive Monday and Tuesday and work and it felt good. Today it felt like I was just spinning my wheels, but nothing to do w/ the surgeries, just one of those days.

Last weekend, I had a lot of energy for some reason (probably something like when pregnant women do their "nesting" right before they are due, there's a lot to get done on my home front before these surgeries) and I really got a lot done. We are getting ready for a garage sale and started digging all kinds of crap out of the attic and got rid of a lot of it (or at least going to sell it). If it doesn't get sold at the garage sale, then I might try to sell some of it on e-bay and what I don't sell on e-bay, is getting donated. Bryan doesn't want any of it to come back in the house. And, if you want to get down to it, neither do I really.

Ok, that is all I can think of right now. I'll let you know when I find out anything else or I decide to let the world into my very busy mind.

Later!