9/15/25

 We got to the hospital and checked in. It is nerve wracking and stressful. The parking, the idiots in the parking garage that don’t understand parking garage etiquette, finding and taking the correct elevators and what are they going to tell us or find today?

We had just checked in when the fire alarm went off. This has happened throughout my life. I take it as a sign from my dad. It is kind of cool how often it happens. Hi Dad!

We checked into the cath lab area. We met with Ethan’s nurse practitioner who is worth her weight in gold. She is on the ball and wonderful.

While we were waiting, I asked Ethan if he wanted to go back to the prep area alone or if he wanted me to go back with him. He preferred me to go back in case they asked him questions or suggested doing something, I would know what they were saying.

This is frowned upon. I know it. No one likes the plus one….while they are trying to get things situated. The nurse was very kind. When they called him back the nurse didn’t want me to go back but he advocated to have me with him. 

They took his blood pressure. They tried to use his left arm, but Ethan reminded the nurse of his fistula.  I noted his blood pressure was higher than it should be. He could be stressed so I made a note to circle back to that. (I took it later at home and it was in a better range).

Ethan likes to do these procedures in his neck without sedation. Typically most people have it done in their groin with sedation. This threw the staff off. We did state that when we made the appointment. 

We had about 5 people come in and talk to us. All of them spoke as if Ethan was getting sedation and seemed surprised when we said he wasn’t. All 5 people were surprised -including the cardiologist doing the procedure (we had never met this one before), that he wanted them to use his neck.

One of the nurses told Ethan they couldn’t use his neck because his chart indicated he had a long term port occupying that vein. This was Ethan’s subclavian IJ that was removed in November 2021.

We had to remind them that they couldn’t use Ethan’s left arm for anything because he has the fistula. We also reminded them that he needed a “limb alert” bracelet to avoid any accidents.

Me being with Ethan is really just to oversee things. He is medically complicated and the staff is not used to that. He also comes with a novel of medical notes impossible to read and know for just the day. The staff needs a little help, that’s all.

I am on edge to make sure that nothing is missed. It is mentally exhausting. I don’t enjoy it at all. When the machine alarm went off, my eye twitched a little. Repetitive noises. I just have difficulty with it.

Ethan was in good spirits today. He did well, spoke to everyone, wasn’t negative and advocated for himself. I am proud of how far he has come.

Ethan got an insurance claim denial in the mail recently and I asked the nurse practitioner about it. She asked for me to send it to her so she can deal with it. Hell yes! One less thing I have to do! Perfect! She is just the best.

Afterward, we were discharged. Phew! It was over. As I drove home, I got extremely tired. I was struggling to stay awake. 

I was working today and kept busy at the hospital going through emails, writing offers, answering questions. I had an interview to do a half hour after arriving home. After that was completed I took a nap. I needed to just close my eyes. Jiminy volunteered to snuggle up with me and share a blanket. I am pretty sure I was snoring.

I set an alarm for the next interview and got some much needed quiet time. I was very social this weekend and I think my body needed a break.

After work I did some meal prep. I am moonlighting Tuesday and Wednesday evening for a few hours after work at the vet office. It ties up my evenings so I had to do my chores on Monday and Thursday this week. I will be tied up otherwise.

Another fan in the window kind of night. The cool nights with warmer days is wonderful for sleeping. 

I am glad today is done.