Well, this all started a few weeks ago now, with Doug having some feelings of lightheadedness while playing pickleball. It never lasted long, and it never stopped him from finishing the game (of course!), but it was worrying enough for him to go to our local GP and ask what he thought was going on. He never had any symptoms of chest pain or arm pain, just lightheadedness and an unsettling feeling that he might faint.

The doctor did the usual, blood work (all normal), listened to his breathing (all good there), and so our GP decided to refer him to a cardiologist.

We saw a very pleasant guy in Bentonville, AR, who suggested that it would be prudent to go ahead with a cardiac catheterization for a definitive answer. All seemed to be going well. The catheterization was scheduled for the week we returned from helping take care of our new granddaughter Amelia Rose in Virginia.

The day arrived, and we set off to the hospital. Everyone was very nice, friendly, organized, and the place was clean and well-equipped with cafes and restaurants. The doctor popped his head in to say hello and told me that he would talk to me after the procedure. Instead of leaving the building, I stayed. It was about 4 hours before someone came and got me and took me to the room Doug was recovering in. He was groggy and goofy but awake and cracking jokes. His nurse was very attentive and checked on him every 15 minutes. We both were expecting the doctor to come in at some point, but it was not to be. The NP came in and gave us the rundown. She told us that there was some blockage, but that it was in such an awkward spot that the doctor was not able to rooter-router it. I asked which vessel or artery we were talking about. She said, "I think it was the LAD." I think and LAD in the same sentence, WOW! She also said that she wasn't in the room when he did the procedure, so she's not sure! Again, WOW! 

Side note here :- The LAD is the Lateral Anterior Descending artery and if it gets blocked 100% this event is known in the medical field as the WIDOW MAKER! So again WOW!

I still didn't speak up as I presumed that at some point the doctor would come in, but no! We were discharged home on aspirin and cholesterol medication.

The next day Doug showed me the report from the cardiac cath that was on his portal, and I was gobsmacked. Not wanting to seem worried, I said there must be a reason for the doctor not coming in and talking to us. He must have been tied up with an emergency, and he surely will call on Monday. But no, I was wrong, and when eventually Doug did get a hold of someone at the hospital, it was an RN who said she wasn't too familiar with the problem but that he shouldn't worry, just take the medication and see the NP in two months. Again, WOW!

Now the worry did set in. I stopped making excuses for the doctor, and Doug sent the report to his good friend John Milton (who is a retired ER doctor of good standing) and his wife Cathy, who herself is a retired ED RN and has some heart problems, and they both said without hesitation: second opinion and soon!

Just by coincidence, Cathy had been looking into The Cleveland Clinic for herself, which it turns out she didn't need at this time, but was very impressed by the statistics of their cardiac center. She proceeded to do more research for us and sent us all the data about it. We then heard about another good cardiac surgeon in Iowa from my son-in-law, who had a friend with a similar problem, and he was helped by this guy. So Doug set to and reached out to both of them.

The Cleveland Clinic was the first to return with information and advice. Doug said that the nurse was very informative and helpful. Iowa also reached out, but their doctor was unavailable for a few more days.

Doug went to the local hospital and signed all the paperwork needed to transfer his medical records and got imaging on a DVD, which he overnighted to both places.

Cleveland Clinic was the first to respond with an answer.

Side note: I had just decided to book myself for a pottery class (the last time I tried this, I herniated my disc, and not only could I not do the pottery class, but I also never worked in the ER again). I digress.

I came home and told Doug I was going to sit and watch a bit of TV. Doug said, "I need to sit and tell you something! The Cleveland Clinic nurse has just called me and told me that I need triple bypass surgery. I told her I was driving, and I'll call her back." He was pale and in a bit of shock.

Together we called her back and she started telling us all about how the surgeon had seen the film and yes, bypass surgery was needed. Doug stopped her at this point and said that the doctor here had no mention of surgery and didn't even want to see him till May. She apologized for being so blunt; she thought that we knew that this was what was needed, and then she said you might want to get yourself a new local cardiologist.

The call lasted about 40 minutes. We agreed to the surgery and booked the date.

We leave on the 15th of April, spend one night in STL, then head to Cleveland. (Again no Pottery Class for me LOL)

 The surgery is scheduled for the 18th of April. And that, my friends, has you all up to date.

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