The other day Joyce and I joined the USA Fitness gym here in Palatka. We both have been gaining some weight so we hope using a gym will help take some of it off.
December 5, 2015
Where the heck has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday that we arrived in San Mateo.
During the examination of my feet by Dr. Pereira, he had a problem finding a pulse in my left foot. He also thought my feet were excessively cold so he referred me to a cardiologist to get checked out in case I have developed a problem with my heart or circulatory system.
At my first appointment with Dr. Caracciolo, he did an EKG and found that I have an abnormality in the electrical impulses in the heart. He then scheduled me for a Nuclear Stress Test and several appointments to do some tests on my legs.
I had the stress test done on Wednesday which went well, or so I thought. After leaving his office Joyce and I went to the Blue Hen Cafe in downtown St. Augustine for some lunch. While we were eating, the Dr. C’s nurse called to say the doctor wants to see me before I had any other tests done. Not good news.
I went back to Dr. C’s office and he has decided to do a Cardiac Catheterization to find out if I have some blockage. In his words, “I am not looking for something a stent will fix, I am looking for something might cause us to do bypass surgery”. More bad news. So, I am scheduled for that procedure on Tuesday.
On Wednesday evening, we picked up Abigail and Skyler, took them to dinner at the Cantina Louie (which they picked) and then out to Palatka to see the Palatka High School Musical Theatre Department’s production of “Elf Jr., The Musical”. It was a great show which we all enjoyed.
Yesterday, Joyce and I drove up to Jacksonville to see the new Tom Hanks movie, Bridge of Spies. Tom plays James Donovan, the lawyer who defended the Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in the 1950’s. In 1962 he negotiated the exchange of Abel for Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 pilot shot down over the USSR. Joyce and I both think this is one of the best movies we have seen in a long time.
December 14, 2015
Man, have things changed around here since I last wrote.
On Saturday evening we went to see the Regatta of Lights in St. Augustine harbor.
Pictures were taken with my phone.
Today, I am having an ultrasound on my carotid arteries to see what is going on in there.
December 17, 2015
On Tuesday Joyce took me to the Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine where I had another heart cath which was much more extensive than the last one. During this one the doctor looked inside my heart and the arteries. During this procedure, he also gave me some medication to speed up my heart. I can tell you that part of the procedure was a tad uncomfortable but since it lasted only two minutes, I got through it alright. The doctor did find a fair amount plaque buildup but not enough to do any intervention at this time. That’s great news since the alternative would have been bypass surgery.
Yesterday, I went back to the cardiologist’s office to have a portable EKG monitor put on which I will return today. Then, on the 21st, I’m having an ultrasound done on my legs to see if I might have a blockage there. On the 23rd I’ll pow-wow with my cardiologist to find out if he is going to change my medications, install a pace maker or just leave everything alone for now.
Gettin’ old is not for sissy’s folks!
Family Pictures
Harold & Michelle
Abigail
Harold & Skyler
Skyler
Justin & Travis
Travis
Barry & Joyce
