a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Sometimes You're The Bird...

Sometimes the flag pole.

Today was a flag pole day for me but I could feel the well wishes, the prayers, the strength coming from all of blogdom.  Thank you.

If you don't know me, I will say sometimes I use sick humor to deal with stress so bear with me, please.

This was a defibrillator Hubby got today.  He offered to let me watch and I said, this is not childbirth.  I don't think I want to watch.  I can't even pick a sticker out of some one's finger but I can sew up a dog, go figure.

Anyway, Hubby's heart is so badly damaged from his previous heart attacks that this was the only option, short of a heart transplant, that will save him.  I don't think it really hit me until today when the doctor said, "You don't think this is going to cure him, do you?  He will not feel any better, he will not do any better.  It will make no changes in his condition.  It will only save him if his beat is irregular or if his heart stops, it will shock him and restart his heart."  How's that for cutting to the chase???

On the bright side, the surgery went well.  I left him in the room after picking up (his request) chicken McNuggets and french fries (good for the heart, you know)  He ran me off and ordered me to be there early in the morning to take him home.  He can not lift more than five pounds and cannot raise his arms over his head for two weeks or until the stitches are removed.

They had some trouble with the chest numbing medicine.  Hubby said he didn't know how many shots they gave him but he still knew when they tested the shocker.  He yelled and scared the surgery room half to death.  He said, Damn!  You shocked me.  They said, You're not suppose to feel that.  He said, well, I did!!!  They were hoping he wouldn't remember it later and they discussed it while Dennis listened.  He told them, he would remember.  It was the talk on every floor we visited.  At least he made the day lively for all the staff.

He was scared but like me he jokes.  When asked to undress but he could leave his underwear and socks on, he said I don't wear underwear...then he changed it to, I have my g-string on.  He does wear underwear and has never owned a g-string or butt floss underwear.  He is the tractor man.

And tonight, thanks to all your prayers and healing thoughts, he is still my tractor man.

25 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i am very glad the procedure went well (except for the chest numbing part! yikes!) but i am sorry that the prognosis is not for a miracle cure. i do hope he gets to come home tomorrow and you can keep him resting.

Farm Girl said...

Well I am glad it went so well, and thanks for the laugh. Meeting life with a sense of humor is the best.
I will continue to pray.
When my Dad had that done, he went home and the cows got out, why on earth he did this but he went out to help my Mom get them back in, a cow knocked him to the ground, and he was flat on his back. He knew he was going to die and then for some reason the cow moved on, he got up and went in the house.
Good luck on keeping your hubby still. :)Dad was never the worse for wear.

Unknown said...

So happy to hear everything went well. I'm the oldest of a third generation in a family with odds stacked against them heart disease; those who preceded me never had the opportunity for a pacemaker and I'm hoping to end that trend with me. I'll be keeping you and your tractor man in my thoughts and prayers.

Hugs
~Andrea

Lynne said...

Wow . . . happy surgery went well but doc sure cut to the chase with honesty . . . still happy surgery went well and you are okay?

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

lighting a candle and sending good thoughts your way. Oma LInda

Dreaming said...

Sorry that you feel like the flag pole today... but glad the surgery went well. The news is kinda a bummer, though.

Unknown said...

I am glad he came through it well. I hope it wasn't on account of you trying to jump start him with battery cables that caused some much previous damage to his heart.

the canned quilter said...

Been there with my own husband...sending prayers your way and a big hug.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

This is a tough one. Hang in there.

T

LilliStJohn said...

I guess that God needs tractor man to jump start a lot more stuff right here for a while yet - facing life and its obstacles with a good laugh or giggle is sometimes half the cure. I am laughing right now, cause I'm trying to picture tractor man on the tractor with his socks n drawyers on. ha,ha
Thinking about you both and sending prayers.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Glad the procedure is over and he still has a great sense of humor about it- I will keep him and you in my prayers. I know you will be glad to have him back home where you can watch over him.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh, if laughter isn't the best medicine ever!!!

Now I have to wipe that image of your dear Tractor Man and his G~string outta my mind!!!

Seriously sweetie, I'm holdin' ya'll up in prayer. I know this news can't be easy to handle. I'm hear for ya if ya need anything Miss Gail.

McNuggets and fries...are ya kiddin'??? Why doesn't the man just fill an IV with lard and pump it directly in? Ya need to whack him with a big stick sister!!! :o)

God bless ya my friend and hang on to that 'good' medicine!!!

Sandy Livesay said...

Gail,
Joking helps us with fears of the unknown. Surgery is a very fearful thing, and no one wants to have to experience it. Doctors have the tendency of giving us the worst of the worst news. Your Tractor Man was blessed with a difibrillator-pacemaker. This piece of equipment will help him through the next part of his life. Remember, Tractor Man is a strong man and probably a little stubborn like most men. Just wait, give him a couple of days home and he will be feeling like he needs to get moving. He will be back on that Tractor with underwear on :-). We will continue to have you and Dennis in our thoughts and prayers.
Your Friend Sandy

Susan Anderson said...

I will keep him in my prayers, Gail. I wish the defibrillator could make him feel better, but at least there is a safety net in place now.

And I'm glad that he came through it all right, though I can't believe he had to "feel the pain."

Sheesh.

"/

LilliStJohn said...

Yep, I'm back again and just wanted to tell you, you were on my mind when we got home today, so I decided to write you another small note. We had a very wishy washy kinda day with downpours n such and thunder and lightnin and were popping about town anyway and went grocery shopping cross border. As we drove into driveway, thoughts of you came to my mind and they were happy n bubbly and I wanted to share this happy feeling with you right now.
From the above comments that I have read, there are bountiful wishes for tractor man. Take care n ttys.
Lilly :)

Ellie said...

Glad to hear the procedure went smoothly even if he did feel the shock - that is quite scary to even think about.
It really helps to have a sense of humour doesn't it.
Hope your hubby has a speedy recovery.

LindaG said...

Really glad to hear that, Gail. Hope you got him home safe today.

Yes, late catching up again. Sorry. *Hugs* ♥

Irene said...

That's not the good news you were waiting for and then you tell me that he wanted mcnuggets and fries? Where's the sense of that man? People are trying to save his life and he wants fast food? He's an accident witing to happen. He's going to have to change his eating habits. Good luck keeping him inactive. xox

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Hi. This is good and not good. I had not idea his situation was so dire. None. Truthfully, I am sort of taken "aback"...
I knew, and have known for sometime that he was not up to speed by a long shot..I knew that you had a lot on your plate...
enough..I am off to write you an email...

Rudee said...

I wonder what they used to sedate him, because apparently, it didn't work. That's too bad. One shouldn't have to feel that or endure the memory of feeling that.

If he doesn't want to go through that again, he needs to heed the post operative directions. They really mean no lifting!

Hope he's feeling better, soon.

carolina nana said...

Glad the surgery is over and he is coming home. He has an advantage over the rest of us now, a life saver built directly into his chest. Hope he never has to use it !!
Blessing to both of you
Marilyn

Pat said...

Wow. I am so glad the surgery went well. With all the crap you husband has been through, the heart attacks, etc., I think you should name him "Timex". Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

jean said...

A merry heart does good like a medicine - Proverbs 17:22 In spite of the news, you give a good laugh. I'm glad your husband came through the surgery alright. Here's praying he recuperates fine.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh Gail I do not know what to say other then HUGS HUGS HUGS, I use humour too it seems to work for most of us. Take care. B

Far Side of Fifty said...

I am glad it is over! Now to recover:)

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