Yesterday was procedure day, or should I say one of the longer days of my life. My instructions were to arrive at 5:30 AM., meaning I had to get up at 4:30 AM. I've hardly had half a night's sleep at that point. Robin picked me up at 5:15. It was very quiet; a few misguided birds were singing; a few cars were on the road; someone was jogging and another person walking. Along with time I was given instructions about where to park, which elevator to take, then where to go. A nurse in the elevator didn't have to ask where we were going–knew everything. Who else gets there at that ungodly hour.

They took about 45 minutes to "prep" me, meaning asking lots of questions. Then I saw Robin, very briefly, as they rode me down a long corridor on a gurney. I felt very disoriented. They hadn't given me anything mind altering; it was just the size of the hospital and my inability to figure out where I was. That feeling remained with me until I left this morning when I was finally able to see what part of the hospital I was in.

The real prepping began after I got to the cath lab; also a bit disorienting. Dino, wearing what looked like hunting/camouflage clothing but was really lead padding to protect him from the x-rays they would take, talked to me, shaved my groin (good thing I no longer have any shame), told me when each part of the procedure would take place. They gave me some kind of sedative, although I was not asleep, nor was there any pain. I don't remember much; just lights going on and off. There were four monitors to the side of the table. Were they examining the x-rays? I don't know.

When I returned to the room I slept, most of the rest of the morning and afternoon. I knew they had found something and put in the stent. During the procedure they spoke about the balloon. That's used to put the stent in place. Sometime during the day I learned my left anterior descending branch (LAD) was 90% blocked. Whether that accounts for my tiredness remains to be seen.

I was awake most of the evening. About 8pm, I was blessed with a roommate who spent the entire night sleeping (as much as you can in a hospital) with the TV on and flickering. I slept in spite of it. I'm home now, feeling good. They don't want me to be alone tonight so Robin will pick me up and I'll stay there. Tomorrow I'm told I can do anything I want.