New Heart Valve!

Sorry I have not posted here sooner! Things have been crazy the last two weeks!

It was two week ago today (March 3rd) that I checked into the University of Colorado Hospital to spend the night to be there for the TAVR the next day. I would be one of three Patients that day to get the TAVR operation.

The night before the operation three doctors/surgeons came in to talk with me. The lead doctor, Dr Carroll asked me, “Well Robert, what if tomorrow during the operation the shit hits the fan?” I looked them straight in the eyes and said, “Then pull the plug!” was my reply.

The next day I was wheeled into the OR and was back out in less than three hours! One hour later in the ICU I was wide awake and excited! I could already feel that I was better. After getting out of the OR I received no more pain meds and did not take anymore until after I got home!

I was in the ICU for about 13 hours and then moved to post/op and was there but about another 13 hours before being released from the hospital! It is all very amazing as I never had any indication that I just had heart surgery as there was no pain or anything above my waist.

They did however go through both sides of my groin and that was sore for a while and two weeks later I am getting over most of that problem and everything is healing well.

Now I am doing my cardio PT, which is mostly walking for now. Walked two miles earlier today and was on the treadmill at the hospital yesterday for 30 minutes.

So that part is done now and I got to get some work/income to pay all the bills that have to be paid. I am a couple months behind on rent now!

Updating Norman Goldman on his call in show

This evening I called into the Norman Goldman Show to update him about getting the TAVR procedure next week.

Big News!

Well, it has been a while since I have last posted here. It’s just been too crazy lately and me too depressed about things.

It is Friday, February 27th, 2015 and my bovine aortic heart valve has been kicking now longer than almost anyone else’s that have been installed ever. They are almost always replaced well before they are 15 years ago. Today mine is 15 years, three months and ten days old!

The last two months I have been going to the CU Medical Center in Aurora, CO for testing procedures to see if I was a true candidate for this quite bizarre operation where they will replace the aortic heart valve WITHOUT open heart surgery! Yes, without opening my chest!

The procedure they decided I shall have is the Transfemoral one above on the left. There will also be a wire that will go through my right wrist and into one of the heart chambers, as well they will be going in through my neck and IV in my arm. That’s all freaky enough! 

I’ve been trying my best to prepare myself mentally for this procedure and it is difficult not to just wish this was all just a dream and I’ve not woken up yet. 

As far as my daily life, I’m now in DIRE STRAITS as I have not paid but $200.00 towards my rent for January, nothing towards February and it is almost March. My internet will be turned off soon and I’m locked out of my storage unit as of yesterday! 

I have no idea how I am going to make it through all of this trying to recover. I’m never going to be able to go back into the electrical trade as my hands, wrists, elbows, knees and shoulders are shot after four decades of construction work and skiing accidents. 

One month ago I was told that my medical condition is severe enough that I qualify for the operation. Then I was told that the research company (the makers of this special valve) would NOT pay for the procedure because I did not meet their administrative protocols! Bummer! 

Then I was told a week later that the CU surgeons were turned down my Medicaid to pay for this. So the operation was not going to happen they told me on the phone. Three hours later they called back to say that the doctors were going to try to do a “peer to peer” to get this approved my Medicaid.

The following week I got the phone call that Medicaid will cover this procedure! This is not yet FDA approved, so it took special paperwork.

Folks! This would have NEVER happened if not for OBAMACARE! 

The doctors/surgeons are surprised that the rest of me is doing as well as it has been for my heart being in such a critical condition. They say that I should be considerably swelled up at this point in time.

My ankles are expected to be twice the normal size, as well as swelling with the rest of my limbs. I should be in more pain and less mobile and the doctors do not know why I am like this. But I think I know what the answer is here: 

My specialized cannabis treatment is what is helping me maintain and stay as “normal” as possible. CBD cannabinoids fight inflammation 20 times more than aspirin! My CBD/CBN medication stops the nuero pain that I have from the scar tissue damage that was done to the nerves around my heart during the original operation. The THC medication helps to stop the other pains I have to endure.

Plus the Cannabis Meds are keeping me in a “healthier” condition than I would certainly otherwise be! I am now primarily taking the United Cannabis/River Rock Prana products. Recently I started using the P3 and P4 drops. These are AMAZING! I only use two drops from an eyedropper of both the P3 and P4 two to three times daily! Big Pharma has nothing like this, nothing that works this well in the pharmacies and once home I won’t be taking any opiates for pain. 

http://www.unitedcannabis.us/actnow/

If there is anyone out there that can help my financial situation, I could sure use the help! The best way to donate, so that there are no transfer fees is via Square.com/cash all you need is a debit card to use this service and just use my email address of r@rgator.com and the funds will go directly and automatically into my credit union checking account. 

If you do not have a debit card, then please use my PayPal link:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ACXDKKNE2KC8J  

This sure has been a crazy roller coaster ride! Both emotionally, physically and financially!