I reported to Ambulatory care at 11 a.m. and checked in.  I Had to fill out a bunch of forms and then they stuck me and took some blood to see if my blood would coagulate okay.  Then they took me to a little room with a short bed and took my temp, blood pressure, started an IV of Saline Solution (more about that salt-water later) and the doctor (Dr. McCann) came in and explained the procedure.  While waiting Dr. Steve  (as in Alexander) came by we chatted for a while. He also told me of some other benefits I would receive from increased blood flow to my lower extremities. While he was there Dr. McCann came in and Steve told him to use the good stuff on me cause he know me and I was of high moral fiber.  (It's good to know people)

Then they wheeled me down the hallway to "the room".  It was about 50 degrees in there and they asked if I was cold natured.  I told the nurse I would be very comfortable in that environment that cold is what I like.  Then they put me on this metal table that was about a foot wide and told me to put my arms at my side.  The table was hard and the small of my back hurt the whole time.  The table was some sort of special metal that reflected the x-rays better.  They started the la la land medicine and then I felt a little stick in my left groin.  I said hey this isn't too bad.  Then I felt a large puncture and made a guttural moan so they turned up the la la stuff.  It really wasn't that bad just unexpected.  Shortly after that I felt a warm feeling flowing around my lower extremities, the lights went off and I guess the picture taking started.  Dr. McCann then told me it was blocked on my right iliac and he would try to clear it going through my left iliac then up and around.  This didn't work so he punched my right artery.  He also advised me that if he couldn't clear it this way it would be knife city and plastic pipes.  At that time I was on Cloud 9 and didn't really understand the implications.  Luckily for me he was able to clear it and put two metal stints (these stints are $1000 apiece) in the artery to keep it open.  He also cleared the partial blockage in my left iliac.  Then they shot the dye in me again to see the results and as you can see in the after photo there was a dramatic improvement.

(these are thumbnails, click on image for full view)

2:00 p.m. They shot the dye in me and here is what I looked like.  As you  can see my right iliac artery wasn't even visible, completely blocked and my left one about a quarter of the way down is pretty restricted.

3:21 p.m. An hour and 20 minutes later after applying the roto rooter and installing 2 stints things have cleared up considerably the procedure is called an angioplasty.

After he was finished two orderlies had to keep pressure on the holes he had poked in me.  They had to hold them for about 15 minutes.  The worst part of this whole ordeal was the post-op because I had to lie still for 6 hours and remember that Saline solution?  I got about 2 gallons of it and I don't think I sweated any of it out in that room or the hospital room later.  I peed every 2 hours for the next 24 hours.

The results of this procedure are amazing.  My right hip doesn't even bother me anymore and although I have presented this in a lighthearted manner it is pretty serious.  I obviously need to change my health habits (particularly smoking) and take better care of my self. I'm workin' on it.

John