CHECKING IN HOME - AT LEAST FOR AWHILE

We checked out of Arkansas Heart Hospital Oct. 16 and spent night in Little Rock, both of us worn out, so felt an immediate resumption of a near 175 mi, long drive simply to much to attempt under the circumstances.

Since WiFi did not reach the hospital 3rd floor, I am behind on reading all your blocks and a few FaceBook notes.

I have a couple of funny and not so funny stories to write.

Mainly I am trying to get some strength to do just daily stuff like washing clothes. It is not the washing--I do have a clothes washer and dryer, it is the sorting, folding, carrying from room to room, etc.

And cooking is proving a problem. I think I may consult the a certified nutritionist. The hospital warned me to watch salt, and of course fat. Yet they served me bacon, but no breaded, fried foods in the heart hospital. This does not help me in food selection, nor my husband who tries to help cook.

I have some Mrs. Dash products. But meat tenderizer has salt in it, same for Lawry's seasoned salt, both long time staples in my seasonings.

Last night I had one serving of Healthy Campbell Chicken and Rice soup and 1 serving Kashi Original crackers. It alone had 1/2 my daily salt allowance. That is after turning down black-eyed peas,which I love, my husband cooked with a hunk of ham in it. I still don't know which was the better choice. He did not add salt to the peas, but the cured ready-to-eat ham was injected with solution which usually includes salt ablationin addition to other ingredients. The curing process usually includes salt also.

As the King and I movie: "IT IS A PUZZLEMENT!"

It will be hectic until we adjust to so many paradoxical changes, not to mention the drug, called TIKOSYN, has a lot of other restrictions as to which medications can be used, but no food restrictions that I have yet found.

The ablation may be the answer; as soon as I have my lungs re-evaluated, I may sign up for it. It is not open heart type surgery. It is done with special catheters, but under general anesthesia--the one hold up in my opinion.

I took no pictures but really enjoyed the Kindle and had time to learn a few features. I read one Max Lucado book, Imagine your Life without Fear, three times, underlining passages I thought I needed to re-read frequently.

Of course, learning a few the Kindle's features were great, like using the dictionary, highlighting passages, but have yet to find them in My clippings. Am sure I'll get it eventually.

CHECKING OUT TEMPORARILY

I am OFF THE BLOG HIGHWAYS, Monday, unless I sneak a connection from surreptitiously I will have NO connection until out and home.

The Arkansas Heart Hospital only has WiFi in two lobbies which apparently are floors of offices, not patients rooms. One very nice contact offered me his ATT phone connect cord. He has no idea that I'm used 24 hr connection. I thanked him for his generosity and helpfulness. I think these phone connections are like a cell connect and quite expensive.

I am sure some funny experiences (to me, some of which may be ribald and unprintable) will happen so plan to have my computer in my room along with my Kindle. Still gotta a lot to learn about the Kindle.

I am not leery of the stay except we are introducing still another medication to my many, especially COPD ones. I just worry about mixing such a cauldron of potions  (it is October, you know!).

Also, it is the second time in my life I have spent my birthday in the hospital! They don't even bring you a cupcake! Maybe a piece of pumpkin pie? I love that, too. Pumpkin has some very good nutrition, just not with added sugar, but I'd even take Splenda in it and ONE candle, maybe a dab of fat-free Cool Whip.

SILENCE BROKEN

After a frenzied two weeks of political (I resigned) and medical activities, I decided to post an alert I'm still around.


I will be spending about a week at the Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock to hopefully regain  control of atrial fibrillation, short is A-Fib, where a special oral tablet will carefully be subjected to titration for my body and circumstances.


If things go as expected, I am given 2 tablets a day and I can read, sleep, whatever I want while being evaluated. I am sure evaluated means wires hanging out of you in ever conceivable manner.


However, I was promised I may be able to take less meds which is comforting, too, at least as the ones related to heart and blood pressure.


So maybe I will be able to catch up on reading your blogs!! And my Kindle.


We have two laptops so HUSBAND gets the one that works the best at the nearby motel. Luckie gets the one that is near dead. HAH HAH.