04/12/2024: Post Angiogram Update

Sanskrit saying: VaidyO NarayanO Hari:

English Translation: Doctors are God.

Today, I have stumbled upon the scientific proof for the above. In my 44 years of existence, I have tried, on countless auspicious/religious days, to observe fast, without  success. I would always start the fast ambitiously, and, after a couple of hours, succumb to the nearest carbs in sight. To me, it is impossible to see food and not eat. Miraculously, I fasted today, drinking only water for nearly 21 hours, because my doctor ordered so. Doctors=God. In my case, Doctors>God. Hence proved! :)

We arrived exactly at 2pm, as instructed, at St Vincent's, and found out that my procedure doesn't start until 4pm! Two whole hours more to kill, and more importantly two more hours of hangry! 

The nurse took us to our room IRU7 and was going over the logistics. I excused myself and ran to the nearest restroom to pee. I burst out laughing when I found the nurse waiting outside the restroom, for my urine sample, literally seconds after I purged out what felt like a gallon of it! 

That was the last time I laughed for the rest of the afternoon. My nightmare began the moment a young nurse walked in to start me on IV fluids. Two hands, two veins, and two excruciatingly painful and unsuccessful attempts later, the young one left and in came the lead IV tech. She brought the ultrasound machine with her, felt around my veins *before* poking, gave me a numbing shot, and then poked me. I made a note of this BKM- and I am going to insist on this being the standard practice for my special snowflakes of veins.

Ironically, it took longer to insert the IV than to complete the angiogram. Dr.Jane Ng, the one who attended to me in ER back in February, did the procedure. About half a dozen people in scrubs hovered around me. Lots of fentanyl, a puncture to my right groin, and 6-7 injections of various dyes from groin to brain that made my face burn like hell- it was an experience like no other! 

The doc confirmed that my sagittal vein is NOT occluded, and is functioning as expected. This means that the nerve needs to be preserved and any tumor that's too close to it will need to be left alone. It will be monitored in future and/or addressed with radiation as needed.

Dr.Jane also made another discovery. I seem to have a cerebral aneurysm (a small blister) in there. While many such aneurysms can be life threatening if they burst, the doctor believes that mine is encased in various membranes and is parked at a very safe location, and the risk of it bursting is very low. The doctors will keep it on watch, likely lifelong, via MRIs, just as they would do for any remaining tumor near my sagittal vein. Ah, never a dull moment on tumor travel!

A whole 7.5hours after my check-in, they wheeled me out of the hospital. I'd have to take it easy for a couple of days- no driving, heavy lifting or running. In the time I was gone, Raaga and Taara were shuttled for their four after-school activities, fed, and entertained, and even the mountain of dishes in the sink got loaded, by some of the kindest friends on the planet.

Doctors=God; Friends=Angels.

No further proof necessary!

 

Raaga picked up Taara from school- what more can I ask for on national siblings day!

Vandana aunty dropped T off at Abacus class

Taara at Reddy uncle's home post dance class

Brightest moment of my day!

After the torture of three pokes of IV

After Angiogram and lots of rest