Curmudgeon Hospitalized

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: JudyB
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 11:01 PM

Not sure I'll make it to the Press Room tomorrow (I'm not sure I'll be out of work from today by tomorrow, but that's another story) - but know that my thoughts and wishes are with you both.

   JudyB

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Mudlark
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:45 PM

Good luck to you both...it's a long haul, every hour in hospital equals at least 4 in real time. But it sounds like he's oing to get the help he needs. I'll be thinking of you both...

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:33 PM

Thanks for the update, Linn. Rest well and know that we are here for you and Curmudgeon...guess he has to live up to that name, eh?

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:33 PM

(rocking sedately)

We're with you Linn-- in for the long haul. Sleep it all away for as long as you can. We'll keep an eye out as you sleep, and as you wake and resume dashing about. Jump in the lap anytime; I'll still be right here rocking and looking forward to your return.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: CarolC
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:45 PM

Good luck and best wishes to both of you.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:45 PM

Gravity and fatigue are catching up with me -- didn't sleep much last night and been moving at a million miles an hour in my head, making lists, prioritizing lists, making lists of lists, etcet etcet. I think I was probably too tired to be behind the wheel on my way home from the hospital -- I took it slow and deliberate and more than likely totally annoyed the drivers behind me.

Anyway, here's an update. Gotta be quick cuz I still have several phone calls to make before I fall asleep face first in my glass of wine.

Tom had the angiogram (cardiac catheterization) this morning and was just getting back to his room when I got there this morning. This procedure necessitates complete immobilization of the right leg (he was allowed to wiggle his toes but nothing else) and his head and upper body couldn't be at greater than a 30 degree angle and not move his head much. Well, trust me, that got old fast and he was soon curmudging and growing grumpier and grumpier. Add to that the fact that male plumbing doesn't like to work in that position and he was being goaded on by staff and diuretics. Then his back started to hurt and he didn't get meds until not long before he was able to move around a bit again. He, of course, took it like a man . . . meaning that he was exceptionally grumpy and complained loudly. (I think that also means he was feeling better.)

Anywho, it appear from the information we were able to pry out of the doctor that he will be moved on Monday to Portsmouth Hospital, the best cardiac facility in the area, and Tuesday have an aortic valve replacement and bypass.

He's looking a lot better than he has in some time and he slept well last night for the first time in many months.

He's going to come out of this in much, much better shape than he's been in for a long time.

Nothing, of course gets done on weekends, so he'll be at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH until Monday. Dover has a main drag (Central Ave) that goes straight north through town. The hospital is on the north side of town on the right -- can't miss it. (789 Central Ave.) He'd love visitors. He's in Room 336B. Phone number is 603-742-5252.

I went to the Press Room session for a little while tonight to update everyone (and eat, I'd sort of forgotten to do that since I had some bread pudding for breakfast before dashing off). Then I went back to the hospital and realized somebody was turning up the gravity at a fearsome clip.

No, Charley, he doesn't have access to any music; just TV (mostly the Food Channel -- yay, Emeril!) He was in much better humor when I got back, being able to move about a bit and all.

I'm having a couple people run out this thread to take to him sometime this weekend -- he's looking forward to reading it!

Thanks, everyone, for all your prayers, good thoughts, advice, oh, and just for being! Mudcat is an incredible place full of incredible people.

G'Night!

Linn

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:41 PM

Wentworth-Douglas Hospital is in Dover. I typed directions, then decided they were downright frightening. Just take the Spaulding Tpk to the Dover exit (6A I think), and when you hit Dover, follow the signs to 108 N...or is that W? Just don't make any left turns once you get on Central Ave in Dover.

Better than trying to figure out what the heck I'm talking about, try a map. The hospital's on the northward bit of 108, also known as Central Ave.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:14 PM

I think Spaw is having an identity crisis...

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Bobert
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:11 PM

Whew, Dr. Spawz all over this one, Curmud, which ain't exactly good news there, pal... Better not plan anything fun fir next weekend 'cause yer but is gonna be stuck mowing the lawn, cleaning out the gutters and in what ever spare time you have, chasin' Linn around the house in the buff...

Aww' jus' funnin'. The neigbor kid took care of the lawn, fir ya...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Barry Finn
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 06:24 PM

Hi Tom & Linn

Where is this Wentworth Douglass, Linn? I'd like to drop by wish him well, if visits are ok with him. Maybe I'll take my son & his band by (they're upstairs practicing right now) & leave them there, that should cheer him up or give him good cause to have another battery of tests. The staff will make well of him in no time flat & pay for it all out of their own pockets. Best wishes & luck & keep us posted.

Barry

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 05:20 PM

Very good stuff, Spaw. I hope you're still available when they haul my old bones in for resurrection.

I'm sure Tom has something to listen to music with, but if not I'd be happy to bring down to the Press Room our super MP3 player, loaded with what we listened to on our flight back and forth from Oz.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 04:00 PM

I posted to this thread twicw yesterday and neither one made it. Anyway - Tom and Linn are in my prayers. I spoke with him at the hospital today very briefly. Someone official was meeting with them and took priority (HARUMPH!) Tom had had the catheterization and was immobilized. He probably was dreading what Linn might choose to do while he was helpless. No news of the test results yet.

Unlike Spaw, I not only haven't approved this, I haven't even proofed it.
SINS

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: JenEllen
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 02:39 PM

Best of luck and love, Bats and 'Mudge. You're both in thoughts and prayers.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 02:12 PM

Hey Bill.....I'm working on my M.D. degree at Igotit University. Doing pretty well too!!

Spaw

I'm catspaw49 and I have approved this message.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Tig
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 01:45 PM

Lots of love and healing hugs

Tig {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}]]

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Allan C.
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 12:05 PM

Best wishes to both Tom and Linn. Much candlepower is being sent in your direction.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Morticia
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 11:56 AM

lots of good wishes zinging to you from the UK, be well,Tom.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:34 AM

Glad to finally get through--the best of good care and good luck to both of you!

SRS

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:27 AM

I tried to post last night, but got this weird message saying Mudcats buffers were full...

anyway, rest easy Tom... they are pretty durn clever dealing with these problems nowadays.. and for Linn, a big hug and advice to take lots of stuff to read when visiting, as you never know when he'll sleep, or the nurse will toss you out while they do tests!

Will be looking for the updates as they work out the repair procedures! Perhaps they should call in 'spaw as a consultant, as he has studied every possible known procedure that can be done between the neck and the pelvis! ...and with almost no prodding will tell you all of them!

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:12 AM

Look Tom, let me go at this from a different angle.

Enjoy yourself in the hospital. I mean, what's the option?   You can piss and moan and act like an ass and it won't get you anywhere, least of all out. They're going to release you when they're done so just go with the flow. Having heart problems and the concurrent testing is about like riding an elephant downhill. Once it gets started, there ain't no stopping the sucker, so just hold on and enjoy the view.

And the view is the thing. See, they will want to look at your heart from a lot of directions from the inside out so you'll probably get a heart cath which uses a probe slid into the femoral artery at the groin and they will run it up the aorta and into the heart and it's feeder arteries. No pain but the groin takes awhile to stop bleeding so they keep pressure on it after the test and you lay still for about 6 hours. But the test itself is fun to watch. You can see the screens with the probe snaking around inside of you!

The best method to check on valve problems is an echocardiagram, which is just a sonigram like they do with pregnant women to look at the baby. You get a really great view of the blood passing through the heart and any valve that might be leaking or allowing a backflow. If they need an even better picture though, they will go with a T.E.E........and this one kinda' sucks. It stands for trans-esophageal echocardiagram and it means they run a tube down your throat to do the sonigram. It' over in about 10 minutes and that's the best thing I can say about it. You'll probably have some catscan and/or MRI work, but that's just lying in a tube and pretty boring.

The most common male valve problem is with the mitral valve although it could be something else. In any case, it's fixable and if not, it's replaceable! The St. Jude's replacement valve you can actually hear tick at times so you know you're alive! Because they are the first place an infection goes, you need to be a bit careful should they replace it. On the other hand, it will get you past every other person in a crowded E.R. Walk in and say you're running a fever and have an artificial mitral valve and you go to the front of the pack immediately!!! No more waiting around.

Actually Tom, I'm sure they'll find the problem whatever it might be and I know it's a real pain in the ass to be there, but just ride it out with a smile and a few laughs with the Docs and Techs and the time passes faster. I took simple stuff and tried to do them perfectly.....like I figured out exactly how to peel an orange and it took me almost 2 hours to eat one! Anything to pass the time.....

Good luck and keep us posted Linn. You both have our best thoughts. Karen well knows what you are going through Linn. Anyway we can help, let us know.

Spaw

I'm catspaw49 and I have approved this message.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:06 AM

Had a brief message from Linn as she was rushing off into the day-- sounded like she was on top of all the details--

Linn, when you get a chance to catch your breath--- catch your breath! :~) And in that moment, remember: you can delegate all the worrying and so forth to US! Let go... breathe... soak up Mudcat Care Units. "Go in, with your hands down! We've got you surrounded!"

~Susan

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:47 AM

I second that, Rapaire!!

Linn, Tom and Jeri, {{{{{{HUGS all round}}}}}}} and, LOTS and LOTS of Love, Healing Energy, and Peaceful Thoughts coming your way.

Giving thanks for a complete and healthfilled outcome.

luvabuncheskat

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:43 AM

If we really put our energy into it, I'm sure that Tom will hear us singing at the Press Room this Saturday for the Shanty Sing.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: RangerSteve
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:32 AM

Get well soon.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:29 AM

Alright then...

All you folks in the Northeast gotta move to Idaho. Nobody from here has posted to the Cat about being sick, because nobody from here gets sick. Why, there used to be two hospitals here in Pocatello and they closed one!

So, Linn, as soon as Tom gets well (and he will, since I've sent a Secret Idahoan Get Well Telepathetic Message to insure it) you and he pack it up and move West. Kendall too. And everybody else there. Bobert, DougR, all of you. Make a long convoy and move here, and then the remaining hospital here can shut down.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Dahlin
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 09:18 AM

Tom and Linn
   Only the best and most positive energy headed your way. "All will be well again"

Dick D

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: jeffp
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 08:19 AM

Good thoughts and luck to everybody.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Alba
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 07:47 AM

Nothing but Love, Light and Healing thoughts coming your way Tom and Linn.
May Progress be Swift and Recovery Quick.
Blessings.
Jude

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 07:40 AM

Well, it's early in the a.m., I got to sleep late and woke up early, my mind already making lists of things to do and when to do them and who all did I call/e-mail last night and who have I forgotten. Well, that's the way it is. Life will be lots simpler (well, at least a little bit) if I can get my primary computer cooperating again and be back on broadband rather than this tediously slow dial-up, but I'll deal with that as I can. Even the diabetic cat (Mortimer) is cooperating and letting me give him his insulin injection without any little aggravations and Sabine didn't leave a corpse of a small woodland creature on the bed last night (or on the floor where I can step on it). Small favors.

Everyone's good thoughts, prayers and support helps a LOT! -- I really, really, appreciate it!

Kendall, one of the first things Tom said to me as we sat in the ER yesterday with him hooked up to oxygen, monitors and the machine that goes 'ping' was how he wished he could talk to you right now. Curmudgeons need to confer. (And unlike Maine Med, Wentworth Douglass doesn't have internet access with the rooms -- I don't think.)

I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks again, everyone!

Linn

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: bbc
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 07:11 AM

I'm so sorry to hear this. I know that both Linn & Tom have a lot on their plates right now. Best wishes to both!

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 06:55 AM

Hi Susan. I don't know what Tom's wishes are on the matter, so it might be better if Bat Goddess answer that one. She's been having problems with her computer, but I'll see her tonight and ask.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 05:56 AM

Tom, this won't do. I'm glad you're getting medical attention and I wish you the best of health. Light and love and hugs wending your way (and Linn's, too!)

Love,

Allison

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Partridge
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 05:33 AM

Sending happy healing thoughts, take care,

love

Pat

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 05:05 AM

Get well soon Tom!

Lots of healing energy from this side of the pond.

Hope to see you both in October.

Love
Khatt

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 04:54 AM

I second - fourth?- the wish for a speedy return to health and hearth. Get well quick!

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 04:42 AM

Tom, best wishes to you for a quick return to rude health, and love to Linn too.
From a sunny Scotland
John

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 04:10 AM

Get well, dammit!

Bruce

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: jacqui.c
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 04:07 AM

Kendall here,
Tom, You will makeout just fine. If you want, I can send a list of what nurses like in a patient.
Seriously, my best thoughts are coming your way.

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Tinker
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 12:26 AM

Okay, Linn... this is the third time I've typed this ( I'm a little slow some nights). I've not made it out to a Shanty sing this year, but I think about it often. I'm sending the best strength and light available out to you both and tommorrow while I'm out in the Godess Garden taking in the best early spring sunshine has to grant I'll be sending it out to you....

Blessings

Tinker

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 12:16 AM

Best vibes en route, Linn!

A

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 12:05 AM

Jeri-- is this for the prayer chain?

~S~

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 08:17 PM

Tell the old lefty that the Mick is praying, and thinking of him steadily. And give Linn a hug from me. In fact, give yourself one too.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Joybell
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 08:10 PM

Sending my thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery. Hope it all goes well. Joy

Subject: Curmudgeon Hospitalized
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 08:06 PM

Tom, husband of Bat Goddess (Linn), and my friend for almost 17 years was admitted to a local hospital today to await tests for a heart problem - probably a bad valve. I thought he deserved a thread of his own. Linn will probably post the mailing address for the hospital when she knows it. I'm sure he and Linn would appreciate your prayers, healing energy or good thoughts.

Thanks,
Jeri