Update: Heart Surgery Today

by jtg

Community

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Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 at 8:13:10am PST

UPDATE: Friday, Dec 26, 2025 · 6:45:11 PM +00:00 · jtg

Another day of recovery.

I spent Xmas day with my critters. I slept and sat in my recliner working on my YouTube channels.

My hand suddenly developed a large bruise, similar to those sported by tRump. I don't know why as I dont recall banging it. I sent a message to my surgeon asking if I need to be concerned. It doesn't hurt nor has it affected my hand's functionality.

I have been coughing as since I had a tube in my lungs my esophagus was rubbed raw.

I should be week for several weeks. I'm not supposed to overly exert myself for several weeks. Fortunately it's winter break and no subbing until January 12.

#jtg

UPDATE: Thursday, Dec 25, 2025 · 10:39:12 AM Pacific Standard Time · jtg

I spent Christmas Eve Day mostly sleeping and cuddling with my critters, especially Fenris and Thoth, who are eternally lying on me.

I am feeling more stable, but I need to be careful and not get too bold, as I could easily fall, which would reverse my lifestyle quickly.

Santa came last night, and cat and dog food got delivered to the front porch after sundown in the rain. I had to get dressed and go out on the porch to open boxes and bring in the bags of dry dog and dry cat food. I left the canned critter food in the rain as I was cold and getting wobbly. The canned food will not be hurt by the rain.

Thanks to the Elves who packed Santa's bags for my critters via my Amazon pet supply wishlist.

I even got some food for the lead critter, me.

#jtg

UPDATE: Wednesday, Dec 24, 2025 · 10:51:44 AM Pacific Standard Time · jtg

I got home yesterday evening. It was one of the windiest days of the year with sustained winds of 30 mph with gusts up to 60. Walking across the yard was a challenge as I was, an remain, very weak and unsteady. The doggo went nutzo when I got inside, and Thoth appeared quickly. When I got to my recliner, I was covered in a living blanket of fur babies. I fell asleep in the chair and slept all night and into today with only a couple of pee breaks.

Thoth was cuddled on me all night. A couple of times he would stand up, walk around on me, and return to his spot lying against me. Thoth was on my right side and Fenris was on the left. A few times Thoth started licking Fenris but Fenris did not approve. I tried to explain that Thoth loved his pupper but Fenris did not like his head cat kissed.

Thoth did not want me to leave Monday morning. He knows when I get dressed that I'm usually going somewhere. Usually this is to go to school to substitute teacher time. Me getting dressed in the middle of a winter night seemed to freak jim, so he kept jumping on me and cuddling tight while complaining when I tried to stand up.

Being that Thoth was a long time homeless stray. And several times since I brought him inside I've disappeared for weeks into hospital, he is very sensitive to being left alone.

More to come.

Ask me in comments. I haveread all of them. I will reply soon.

#jtg

UPDATE: Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025 · 3:21:11 PM Pacific Standard Time · jtg

On my way home to my 🐈 s and 🐕 s.

#jtg

UPDATE: Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025 · 11:57:25 AM Pacific Standard Time · jtg

I am hopefully going home today. My blood pressure is low causing me to be unsteady in walking. Hopefully that resolves soon. I'll let you know.

#jtg

UPDATE: Monday, Dec 22, 2025 · 5:29:55 PM Pacific Standard Time · jtg

I am currently exhausted. I am limited to answering with my phone.

My blood pressure is critically low so the nurses won't let me stand, much less walk, without one nearby holding on to me arm. They think this will fade after a night of sleep 😴.

Bookmark this diary and over the next couple of days I will have a lot to say.

I was again touched by the community support when I saw the flood of positivity when I got to my phone post unconscious.

I am hoping these surgery will be a turning point for the positivity.

Keep checking here.

#jtg

UPDATE: Monday, Dec 22, 2025 · 3:55:07 PM Pacific Standard Time · jtg

In recovery.

I had to lie on my back for four hours until the incision in my groin stopped bleeding. It killed my back.

I'm now sitting up in a chair. My blood pressure is very low, 80/50, so I'm not allowed to get up and walk yet.

I haven't eaten in 22 hours so that's not helping my stability.

Food is coming.

#jtg

UPDATE: Monday, Dec 22, 2025 · 2:16:47 PM Pacific Standard Time · jtg

Procedure seems to have been successful.

I'm out of AFib for the first time in years.

I'm still in recovery lying on my back in bed

I'll write more when I can sit up.

#htg

As you are reading this, I am either in surgery or soon to be out.

This is yet another intense medical procedure of many over the last 18 months. I am getting very PTSD over all this.

I am having a long-scheduled and long-delayed procedure called catheter ablation at Stanford Medical Center. Simply put, the surgeon will put a catheter into a vein in my leg and thread it up through to my heart. Then she will burn out a small portion of the interior of my heart. Hopefully, this will stop my long ongoing AFib, and my heart will go back to its normal beat again.

This is supposed to be a nearly routine procedure, but anytime someone is poking around inside my heart while I’m under general anesthesia, things can go wrong fast. One oops, and the heart interior or a vein can be ripped, and that would result in an emergency cut-open surgery, or worse.

I am fortunate in that Stanford is considered one of the best hospitals in the world. I was there for my staghorn kidney stone removal, and the professionalism compared to my local hospital is not comparable.

Normally, they would send me home the same day, but due to my physical conditions, size, et cetera, they are going to keep me overnight for observation and recovery. Plus, being about 100 miles away would not be an easy trip right after this kind of surgery.