Echo Results

I just received an e-mail from my GP, regarding my recent Echo Cardiogram.


The good news is that now that my heart has been reset electronically to pump in synchronisation my EF has improved.





Just to re-cap, the EF or Ejection Fraction is the amount of blood that is pumped out of the aortic chamber of the heart. Normal is between 55 and 70%. Prior to the last surgery my EF had dropped from 35% to 25% and then to 19%.

Any lower and I would fall over and die at anytime. That was not good! My new improved EF is between 45 and 50%. That means I am physically almost as normal and the rest of you. I just have to pace myself when I work, which being a Grey-Noble is difficult. I have been re-training myself and now I work as hard and as fast an English Plumber.

My physical last week went well and my blood must have been good because I didn't require any additional medication.

Obviously, my improved EF has not resulted in change to my twisted sense of humour or my good looks.

ECG Update

My darling elfin granddaughter will be pleased to know I managed to get to my February 2nd ECG appointment at Royal Jubilee Hospital on time.

I actually went there twice this week for the same appointment. The first time I was 24 hours early.



The second time I was fifteen minutes early. Don't really know what happened there, I guess I was living in the future again.

No results yet but they should be ready for my tune up next week with Doctor Pocock.

Yes I am going in for a full exam, haven't had one a couple of years, been kinda busy having my chest worked on.

I will update with any results, but right now it feels like all is quiet on the western front.

New Years Eve

This year we received the Best Christmas Gift ever! Madeline Rose Deglow was born on December 21 weighing in at 5 pounds 9 ounces. Janna and Travis are the new proud parents of our first grand child. Mor Mor/Merete/The Danish Princess and Travis were in the birthing room along with 9 other nurses and doctors. As of today Mother and Baby are doing well but will remain in hospital for another 5 to 7 days. Madeline much like Janna was determined that she wanted to come out when she wanted to come out, to hell with all the planning.

This gave me a chance to promote my theory of always including the possibility of kaos in the planning process. I became the man behind the curtain during the final moments of the birthing process. When my feet came too close to entering Janna would yell, 'Don't come in now Dad!' I would back away from the curtain. I ended up having the privilege of seeing our granddaughter within the first 5 minutes of her birth, a thrill I didn't have with our own daughters.

Janna and Travis are now finding out about Hospital NonSense, Mis-Communication, Stupid Rules that even the staff don't like but have to enforce. Down the line when they actually get some rest I might try to get them to write a guest blog on this experience. All in all the staff have been wonderful but until you get caught in this bureaucracy you really have no idea how frustrating it can be.

It is New Years Eve 2010 and here is my personal health update. I am doing well and will have an EKG sometime in the New Year. Dr. Novak is pleased with my progress but wants to see what my Ejection Fraction is like. Other than that NO procedures appear to be in the near future.

Happy New Year Everyone!
(Janna informed me that I had to do an update, so there it is Little Mommy.)

The Eyes Have It.

Earlier this summer I went to the eye doctor because I was due for an exam and check up.





I had noticed a few changes in my vision. While painting I spent good deal of the time bobbing and weaving like an aging prize fighter. This disrupts the flow of my work and annoys the heck out of me. The other thing that has happened since my original heart surgery is Gray Fuzz Outs. These Fuzz Outs don't hurt but can be annoying especially if you're driving. I loose the top of my vision. This can last from 2 minutes to 15 minutes. I described this problem to my Eye Doctor. He decided I should go to a specialist to have this checked out.

Three weeks ago I went to see the Specialist. He was an interesting 60 something fellow who likes musical theatre and performed his duties as if we were in some San Franciso play.

It can never be simple, have you ever noticed that? You can't get one referral you have to have a minimum of two. This last Thursday I went to Royal Jubilee Hospital to see two more specialist. Here's a question for you, Why is it always sunny and bright when they dilate your eyes? Is there some kind of secret deal set up with the weathermen to bring the sun out for eye dilation? Two times in a row, I kid you not, blazing sunlight. I digress.

So my two new friends first do a test to see if I will react to the phosphorus dye they plan to pump into my body. I passed the test. They then proceeded to take multiple pictures of my eyeballs following the dye in and out of the veins and arteries in my eyes. In between shots, we discussed dining options in Sooke (try Wasana's Thai Kitchen)and how busy the traffic was last Saturday.

After 15 minutes I was allowed to squint my way home, with the aid of the Danish Princess at the wheel. Besides the squinting, the other side effect was phosphorescent urine for 24 hours. This was useful during my 4am pee break.

I'll keep you posted once I get my results, in the meantime I continue bobbing and weaving my way through my current painting.

Spot Seen

Dick has a Spot. Dick has had a Spot for a long time.
In the spring on an unusually sunny warm day Dick
burnt Spot while sitting on the deck.



Spot appeared to go crazy and got bigger and looked weird. Dick went to see his friendly GP. The GP said "Just to be safe Dick, I think I'll send you to a specialist."

Months go by and Spot has gotten better. Whenever Dick goes out in the sunshine, he puts on a little SPF sun screen.

Finally Dick goes to the specialist. Dick showers, puts on a clean shirt, fresh socks and heads into town to see the Skin Doctor. Dick forgot something, can you guess what he forgot?

Dick gets called into the exam room. The New Skin Doctor with special magnifying glasses looks at Spot. "Hmmmm" He says, "Take off your shirt Dick." Dick complies. Then the New Skin Doctor says, "Drop your pants Dick and turn a round."

Dick hadn't listened to his Ol' Mom. Dick had forgotten to change his jeans and underwear. Dick felt like a Dick. Dick was very embarrassed.

Dick wanted to cry all the way home. When he got there Dick checked his underwear. Dick said, "Thank God no skid marks, I'll never do that again."

Dick is going out tomorrow to buy fresh underwear, t'shirt, jeans and a shirt for his Eye Doctor Appointment Friday. Dick isn't going to take anymore chances. Especially if he has to go to a Proctologist, he may even floss. Oh and Spot is okay, he needs to have a biopsy just to be safe. Dick will wear his new clothes on November 9th.

Dicks' Ol' Mom used to give him the same look as the Danish Princess in the photograph and say "Change your underwear before you go out, you'll thank me if you get hit a by a bus.......it could happen!"

September Update

After a serious prodding by daughter Janna, I have decided to write a little update.






Generally I am in good health and have had a pretty darn good summer.

This is the time of the year of course is when the doctors line up to poke and prod me, adjust medications and join the throng to pester me about my carefree life style.

My heart is still pounding away, my drugs are still messing with my digestive tract and I still get tired. I have cut down my naps quite a bit lately and only have one when I have done something stupid after the Danish Princess has gone to town. Things like cleaning the moss off the roof, tearing the bunkhouse apart and rebuilding the beds so it now sleeps three. Minor stuff that used to take half the time.

My schedule this month is today go to the Vet with Molly because her right leg is buggered up. Then on Saturday, Marc is coming over to watch the dogs overnight while the DP and I drive to Courtenay for a sleep over at Terry and Carole's place. Monday I am off to a skin specialist to have him look at the blotch on my cheek, because it looked weird back in April. On the 17th, I am off to an Eye Specialist to determine whether I will end up painting like Monet or Van Gogh. There will also be a visit near the end of the month to see my favourite GP.

Steady as she goes until November and I have my Electronic Tune-Up. If anything exciting or crazy comes up I will gladly share it with you all in great detail.

The News 5/28/10

Yesterday, I went to Royal Jubilee Hospital.
It was my 6 week surgery follow up.

It went well!






Apparently my read out is good, all the wires are working. I did have a little incident, at least I thought so. Well my incident wasn't recorded, I guess I just over did again. My old cardiologist Henderson said "If you push your heart too hard, it will push back." I am guessing I had a push back.

The only thing that was recorded was a minor incident on May 21st. That was the night I got pissed off and jumped up to sleep on the couch. Realizing that I would wake up crippled, I turned around and went back to bed. I think the actual reality of sleeping in the same room with 3 dogs was enough to send me back to bed. I wasn't really that mad and a good nights sleep is more important.

Bottom line, all is good.