And another one….

Another visit to the ER. Well what did I say? Ready to rush him in at ANY sign of trouble right? James has been de-sating down to about 89% oxygenation at night prompting me to force him to do breathing treatments ( which he hates because it makes his heart race) figuring out thru trial and error that an Ativan immediately following can remedy that for the most part, we continue. Days go by and I realize these are likely beginning CHF symptoms. This is all related to his valve functioning at only 60%, or less now. All my medical training and experience in the ER and I still can’t believe this is happening to the man I love. Everyday I remain on high alert.

Today was no different. James has been complaining of a sore throat and now just prior to our arrival at Lowe’s for more paint supplies, abdominal/chest area pain. I can deal with either solely but considering his issue is between the two, I’m far from ok at this point. Its time to visit the emergency dept…again. Thankfully James agrees to go in (without being the stubborn man I know he is when it comes to Drs and hospitals) we walk away from our shopping cart and head to the nearest ER.

We arrive at the ER and see only one Ambulance in the bay, crossing our fingers that they aren’t too busy. I remind him that his situation is precarious and we shouldn’t be made to wait anyway, given his diagnosis. We walk thru the doors and see 3 people waiting in chairs and no line. This is very reassuring, or so we think. Vitals are done and we are sent to the waiting area. We continue to watch people check in and be called back before us. I become more perplexed with this as the minutes turn into an hour. James gets called back to have his blood drawn, and sent back to waiting area. Its now an hour and half in and they take him back for chest xray…then back to waiting area. I’m growing increasingly angry. Working in the ER, I know how serious this situation is and cant believe he is being made to wait in this condition. After receiving the within normal range results of the X-ray and labs, we opt to leave without being seen by a physician. Should James ever have to return to this ER, it will be by ambulance, code 3 and handled accordingly.

We return home eat dinner, feed kids and animals and go to bed early. Two weeks out now, it’s all so surreal. We will get there, one way or another… together.