The Other Side

I finally made it to the other side of my catheter ablation. The past few days have been a blur. I'm trying to find my energy but it hasn't shown up just yet.

Phil and I made it Pensacola early Thursday morning as scheduled. I was very nervous of the unknown. I was taken back, and prepped for the procedure, then Phil came back and waited with me until it was time. We talked with both the anesthesiologist and Dr. Verma before they took me away. I asked Dr. Verma one more time, "now exactly how many days do I have to be off the court?" I got a roll of the eyes from both Phil and the doctor. He reiterated that I needed a good 5-7 days of rest before easing back into activity. Fine. As I was laying in the cath lab, being hooked up to umpteen monitors, I was trying to think of calming thoughts. I closed my eyes and prayed to God. The last thing I remember was looking one of the four monitors that had the time and date and it was 9:27 a.m.

Next thing I know I'm in recovery and being told to lie still as they were preparing to move me to my room for the night. As I was wheeled to the room I could finally see Phil waiting for me. I was so thankful and happy to see him. It was around 4 in the afternoon by then. Stan and Mary Lu Wagner and John and Marilyn Pittman had come from Destin to Pensacola to sit with Phil during the three hour surgery. It was comforting to know he wasn't waiting by himself, as I knew he was worried about me. Once settled in the room I was pretty much out of it. My throat hurt from the tube down my throat. I had to keep my legs still so the insertion places in my groin would clot and begin to heal. There was also an insertion place on my neck. I wasn't feeling pain, just an extreme sense of being uncomfortable. I had to be repositioned a couple of times during the night. Poor Phil was in a recliner chair attempting rest, and keeping one eye and one ear open, listening for me. More than once he sat next to my bed just holding my hand and stroking my hair until I fell into a restless sleep. He has been a God send through all of this.

Dr. Verma came in early Friday morning, checked me over and signed my release papers. By the time we got out and home it was close to noon. Needless to say, I slept most of the day Friday, as did Phil. Since then I've felt very tired, and sore in the spots where the catheter went in. I'm also on a blood thinner for 3o days. I can see now why Dr. Verma said to take a rest for the first week. I couldn't do anything if I wanted to. I did go with Phil to Hidden Dunes today while he played a doubles match. It was only for a couple of hours, but since we've been home, I've been on the couch or in bed. I'll do the same tomorrow and gradually try to build up time.

Dr. Verma feels like the procedure was successful and time will tell. I see my cardiologist June 10 for my first check up. I'll follow doctors orders until then and hope that my strength and energy continue to improve. Phil has been giving me just enough rope to hang myself, then he's there to remind me that I have to take it easy.

I am so grateful and thankful for the many prayers and well wishes I received from so many people. We had dinner delivered from Evert and Donna Jonsson on Friday night. Pat Merkle and Anne Toone brought dinner tonight. It's just been amazing how everyone has rallied around to help us through this little hiccup in my life. Renee and Jerry have covered work during this very busy holiday weekend. Not the best time for me to be down and out, and certainly not my choice. I expect and intend to make a full recovery and be back working out with Geoff, doing workouts on the courts, and hitting the tournament trail again. I'm just glad to be on the other side.