oh god oh god oh god...

[lupo pazzesco]

Mama Lupo is super badass. But she doesn't drink. Spent 18 years married to an alcoholic (my dad), so she lays off the booze. She doesn't need it. I mean, where do you think I get my attitude and sparkling wit from?

[Whiskey]

Oh dear I didn't even realize there was a concentrated version of Lupo.

Should I send sedatives? Calming teas?

Do the doctors know what theyre in for?!

[lupo pazzesco]

Why do you think Mama's been put under for all her tests?? lol

Seriously, though, Mama is cranky, and doesn't like being in the hospital. She actually said she'd rather be at work, and her job has been inspiring major hate lately. How's that for odd? She's like me in that she can't stand sitting still doing nothing, but at least she is catching up on her sleep, though she grumbles about it. Stepdad is staying on her though, so it's an amusing little role reversal (Stepdad's been in and out of doctor's offices for the last year, having health problems which he's supposed to have surgery for, but it keeps getting postponed. Mama has to keep reminding him not to do what he's forbidden to do and he gets cranky. Now he's there reminding her she can't get out of bed without help, and to stop poking at all the wires and tubes she's hooked up to. )

[Whiskey]

So I guess I should send sedatives to the doctors and nurses? Where is Anima?????

Your mom sounds like a real trooper. Her job is a major source of stress, but it seems (through her actions that you posted) she still wants to be there. Stress is not always a bad thing. Bad for blood pressure (chill! mama!), but when you love your job and things go wrong, it causes stress. Tell mama the whole internet said CHILL!

THE WHOLE INTERNET (i'd like to see someone disagree.)

[Elspeth]

Mama Lupo is in my thoughts. I understand what you are going through.

Hugs to you both. And tell Mama Lupo, if she doesn't do what she is told then she just has to stay there longer. This phrase should be delievered with hands on hips with one hip cocked with the Mommy "Death" look. That works sometimes.

[lupo pazzesco]

If nothing else, they may appreciate the offer of whiskey more than mama. Yeah, her job is a major stressor. She's in charge of about an entire 1/5 of a K-Mart, the pantry section which includes groceries, candies, pet supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. She has to change all the layouts, work the aisles, endcaps, displays, do signage, ads, etc.

I already told her to relax, take it easy, get some rest and take care of herself. Of course she started with the "I take care of myself fine!"

Because I value my life and limbs, I carefully did not point out that taking care of yourself fine =/= sitting in hospital bed waiting for tests to be run.

I'm smarter than that.

[Whiskey]

What I've found that works with Mama's type (i.e. MY type) is telling her that you KNOW she's fine. Who else would better know if shes fine than HER! But, the doctors want to make super sure shes fine and then bring her cookies and a facial mask.

Try making it a spa day, you know? Less "i'm in the hospital, have to be strong, oh god" and more "Eh, I'm FINE these docs are STUPID WHATEVER look at my cute hair bow I have to exfoliate my pores."

Shes trying to rationalize the situation so SHE doesnt freak out. Moms have to be the stability in a family. If mom loses it, EVERYONE loses it.

[lupo pazzesco]

If mom loses it, EVERYONE loses it.

Super truth.

Plus, well, she hates hospitals. And doctors as a general rule. Not so much hate, but tries to function without them for as long as humanly possible. The last time she was in a hospital this long was when an oven exploded on her and nearly melted her face off. Did melt her fingers off. She really had no choice there, what with 3rd degree burns on face, arms, hands and chest. Though I'm pretty sure if she could've gotten away with just a cold shower and ice pack, she would have.

Holy crap, Mama Lupo has an account here and when she sees this thread she's gonna kill me!

Love you, Mama!

Please dun hurt me, I'll give you a foot massage and make your favorite pork dish when I come home next, I promise!!

[Whiskey]

Holy crap, Mama Lupo has an account here and when she sees this thread she's gonna kill me!

Love you, Mama!

ME TOO DONT KILL ME ILU *cookies, hides*

[Amina516]

Hi! Im here.

Sounds like she had a diagnostic heart catheterization and they found some blockage(s). They either stented her atery(s) already (Im doubting it, since you didnt mention that), or she will need a stent to an artery, or she will be medically managed on cholesterol pills and anticoagulants. It depends which vessels and how blocked they are. Worst case scenario, Mama will need open heart. But none of this can be figured out until they get the results back from the heart cath and the echocardiogram she sounds like shes having tomorrow.

And yes..the whole internetz says Relax.. She just needs to take it all in and listen to what they (the health care workers ) are saying. Yes, this is serious, but its manageable. Good luck to her. Keep up updated.

Because I value my life and limbs, I carefully did not point out that taking care of yourself fine =/= sitting in hospital bed waiting for tests to be run.

I'm smarter than that.

SMRT GURL!

She sounds like my mom. Lol.

[lupo pazzesco]

Well, the cathetar whatcha madoo mentioned earlier reveals there may not in fact be a blockage, which is why Mama is still in the hospital, and will be undergoing more tests. Whatever you said Amina, probably.

Lots of words, big words. Scary. I understood ultrasound. That's about it. about to call her for a few minutes, check in and see how she's doing. See if she's any less doped up. Will update in a bit before I go to bed.

[Amina516]

Well, the cathetar whatcha madoo mentioned earlier reveals there may not in fact be a blockage,

Well hell! Thats even better!!! . She'd be in the hospital usually at least over night after a heart cath anyways...and esp with a low BP like that, itll be nice for them to monitor her overnight.

[crazyofficeclerk]

I understand what you are going through. To make a long story short, my mom was ill last winter, several tests later we are on our way to Toledo for a heart cath where we found out that about 6 months earlier she had had a major heart attack and a large portion of her heart "dead". Her heart was functioning at less than 20%. After 7 weeks or so on medicine it has gone up to 25-30%. So even though it is very worrisome for you being far away know that everyone is doing what they need to.

[lupo pazzesco]

On the phone with Mama Lupo. She's not happy with the scar in groin from catheter bit. She's explaining that she's in pain, and yes Amina, it is an echocardiogram she's slated for tomorrow. also, this is a teaching hospital, so she's got student doctors answering questions about what to look for with her tests and whatnot.

She's apparently been laying flat on her back after being sedated 2 hours after the catheter. Then she had to lie down for another 2 hours before she was allowed to be elevated slightly. She has a bad back so after all this her back is really hurting. Doctor comes in and starts offering to get her a small dose of morphine, or some food since she'd been on a no food restriction while they were running all sorts of tests. She asked if she could just sit up and was told no.

They gave her morphine. Mama is fun and babbly on morphine. She's waxing poetic about this awesome wonderful fantastic chair they brought in for her that she's allowed to sit in now. And she's also talking about how painful it is to have the incision in her groin. she wants nothing more than to curl up, but she's not allowed to curl up.

The echocardiogram is being done because the blockage they found when they ran dye and then the catheter through her...isn't a blockage. So, Amina they did not have to put a stint in (stent?)

The stress test results were interesting too. They put her on a treadmill trying to raise her blood pressure...and it dropped instead. In fact it never got over 96/65-ish the entire time. Thus the echocardiogram tomorrow to try and figure out what the hell is going on.

She sent stepdad home because he was falling asleep in the chair, and that's everything that they've found out so far.

Mama says thank you to everybody for the positive thoughts and prayers.

And she's now babbling something about having so many holes in her body, and her arms really hurt. And she's listing all the colored wires she has coming out of her. This is my mom on only 2 mg of morphine. She's a bit of a lightweight.

LOVE YOU MAMA!! (Please dun hurt me...)



ETA: Oh, and whatever this is, it wasn't a heart attack, at least. Yay

[ApolloSZ]

In an effort to help keep you happy, I shall channel Mr House
"It's not Lupus"

Add me to the list of well wishers Lupo.