Bit of This, Bit of That

Well, I'm done for now with the outpatient surgery. An earlier blood screen showed my calcium and potassium levels were a bit high. Today's were even higher. This bothered the surgical team because I've had an ablative procedure (cryomaze). This procedure alters the nerve functions of heart regulation - so for every day use, it keeps mine from beating irregularly. However, during surgery, it is less stable and regulating medicines have less effect. So, in a stress situation, the ol' ticker could take off. That is what they feared if they put me under completely.

Another alternative was a spinal block. Most of the team favored putting me off and medicating my levels down to a safer level. My urologist decided to install a stent, moving the stone from it's blocking position and allowing my kidney to heal a bit - it's somewhat swollen. The urologist figures the levels will correct naturally.

So, they didn't put me under very deep, and used locals to install the stent. The pain from the stone is gone, but there are certain stretched parts that are complaining - nuff said. It looks like I'd be ready to work by Thursday, but I've got two followup appts Friday - it's a situation of "What's the use?"

Thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts - y'all don't know how much that means to me.