I really thought things would start looking up today as I had an appointment with the 'cardiovascular surgery team' to set up the day I would go into the hospital for the aorta heart valve replacement of the 13-year-old pig valve I have that is really not working up to par which is why I was getting short of breath very quickly. They were to give me instructions of what to expect including an overnight stay, cutting out the blood thinner for a few days before, recovery time, etc. WRONG!!


It seems because of the delay in meeting with them---not MY fault!-- the insurance referrals not only ran out of appointments with them but they would need to redo the CAT SCAN and another test as insurance would not approve this procedure based on the 'old' (March29!) tests! Yes, we have to now schedule the 2 tests before we can schedule the aorta operation because that will decide whether they will enter through the thigh, the chest or the heart with the balloon. They will call me with the appointments for the tests at the hospital--you know--the hospital that lost my bridge that I still haven't had the new one fitted properly.


I was then handed a pamphlet and wouldn't you know the first page I open to is page 20 which is entitled "What Are the Risks?" and the first listed is Death, followed by major stroke or major vascular complications, life-threatening bleeding event, heart attack and on and on and on. All that doesn't bother me because the 14-15 meds I am taking already list the side effects that I can die, among other things, from taking them!


So far I have accomplished 0 and to add insult to injury I had arranged a free ride with my HMO. The driver picked me up at 10:30 AM for the 11:30 AM appointment and I was there by 10:45 AM. I won't get into having to be up in the middle of the night so I would be ready but the injury added to the insult was that I was finished with the 'team' at Noon and my ride didn't come to pick me up until 1:30 PM and I finally got home at 1:50 PM!!


I know, as a rule, the drivers are great at picking you up early enough for the appointment but they are bad news as far as picking you up to get your home! Allen would have gladly taken me but I figured there was nothing major and their parking situation is horrendous but I didn't want to bother him and knowing the driver might be late to take me back I had a book to read while I waited but, come on, 3 hours and 50 for a 30-minute appointment!??


I may be a patient but how patient is a patient supposed to be? (Okay, I thought that was funny.)


Now I wait, patiently, for one of the team members to call me with the test dates--I may be breathing regularly by my 22nd birthday!