Flying, Kaiser and TCAR

 This will be an update on what has been going on the last six weeks.

8-30-2021 I developed a spot in my eye when we camped at the MRRCS field a while back.  I contacted my Ophthalmologist at Kaiser, he is now the head of the department and I was referred to Dr. Nash.  I had an appointment with him today and he ordered all kinds of tests.

9-28-2021  I went to the Salmon Creek Kaiser for an Ultrasound on my Carotid Arteries that Dr. Nash had ordered.  They found that my right Carotid Artery was almost completely blocked and the Radiologist made an urgent referral to a Vascular Surgeon.  I got a call that afternoon from them, they set up a Catscan, and an appointment with Dr. Segall a vascular surgeon.  

9-29-2021  I found a process I could go through to get the Equinox towed away.  I had the deputy sheriff check it over and fill out the paper work.  I did all the steps and had the form notarized.

We checked a couple of places and then called Mike's Towing in Castle Rock, they hauled it away no charge because he said they would make a couple of hundred off it as junk.  I talked to him later and a friend of his is going to put a motor in it so his daughter can drive it to college.

10-2-2021  It was pretty foggy for my first flight today but afternoon was really nice.

10-5-2021  I had a Catscan today in preparation for the visit with Dr. Segall.

10-6-2021  I saw Dr. Segall today and she started the steps to set me up for TCAR procedure for putting in a stent.  She tested all my neurological indicators and other than the spot she didn't find any problems.  Her first surgical opening was October fifteenth so she put me down for it.

10-7-2021  Today I had an EKG done at the Longview Kaiser.

10-11-2021  I had an appointment with Dr. Nash today at Salmon Creek, he was excited that I had surgery scheduled and will do further checks on the spot five to six weeks after the surgery.  It was a nice day for a drive and we are getting pretty familiar with the area.  We also found a way in that avoids a lot of I5 and 205.

10-12-2021  I have been working on my helicopters while waiting for surgery.  I now have six that are flyable and took the X500 out for a test today.

This is an older style helicopter with no electronic stabilizing so it is a little more work to fly.  I have gotten in quite a few flights the last couple of weeks and the old skills are coming back.

10-15-2021  This is the view from my bed after surgery which took place at 8:30AM this morning.  Michelle came up at 4:30AM, drove us down in the Mitsubishi for my 6:30AM check in and then took Vera back home.  James came up and spent the day with Vera while they waited to hear from Dr. Segall.  The surgery took twice as long as normal because the artery was blocked so bad but it turned out fine.  Every two hours they would come in and do the neurological tests for the first day and night.  I brought along the three magazines you can see on the tray to read.  Since I had to spend and extra day I was down to reading the ads in them.

10-16-2021  Even with all the wake ups for tests during the night I felt fine at 5AM Saturday morning and posted this picture on Facebook

This is the view out my window.

When I down loaded the pictures out of the cameras here was this picture and several more taken at the same time I was taking mine.  It turned out Vera had been taking pictures of the fall colors at that same time and the computer sorted the pictures by when taken.

I was tethered to a monitor the whole time so I could only get to the window, bathroom and foot of the bed.  These IV's were always getting tangled up in things and I was sure glad when they were taken out.

I took a selfie just before dinner Saturday so I could see how bad the bruise was they had been telling me about.  I never had to take any pain medicine except for the three Tylenol they gave me just before the surgery.   

Dinner was really good, I ordered roast beef with mushroom gravy, vegies and potatoes.  You can see the apple pie up in the corner that was pretty good as well.

10-17-2021  Michelle picked up Vera and came down to pick me up today.  Boy does two days in the hospital seem like a long time.  It felt so good to get home.  Everyone at Kaiser Sunnyside was so nice that it was one of the best times I have spent in the hospital.

10-19-2021  James came up today and right away we put him to work moving some Christmas presents that had come.  He filled the pellet stove in the shop for me, then we made a recycling, mail and pellet run in the Blazer that was a lot of fun.  After we got home we walked over to Steve and Dianne's and visited them.  Right away James said I should sit where I didn't have to turn my head much as my neck is a little stiff and sore.  It was a great visit with lots of stories and laughs.

10-21-2021  Things are getting back to normal, well as normal as they get when you are not supposed to lift more than five pounds.  I have been eating great, Cathy and Laury both stopped by and left delicious treats.  I feel great and I made it out to the shop for the first time yesterday.  It only took a couple of hours and I was done for the day.  Hopefully I can get back on a regular schedule of posting here now because it was hard having to go back and remember what went on.