December 26, 2014

Little Manatee River State Park
Wimauma, FL

Both Monte and I slept great. 

When we dropped off the prescriptions at Walmart the total prior to submitting the coupons came to $64.  After the coupons were applied the total came down to $30.  That is manageable.

Summary of medications:

Baby aspirin (81 mg) daily –indefinitely.  Aspirin interferes with the blood’s clotting action.  When we bleed, our blood’s clotting cells (called platelets) build up at the site of the wound.  The platelets help form a plug that seals the opening in the blood vessels to stop bleeding.  But this clotting can also happen within the vessels that supply the heart with blood.  If the blood vessels are already narrowed from atherosclerosis (the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries) a fatty deposit in the vessel lining can burst.  Then, a blood clot can quickly form and block the artery-which might result in a heart attack.

Atorvastatin (Lipitor) 20 mg- daily-until numbers improve.  Member of the drug class known as statins, which are used primarily for lowering blood cholesterol.  It works by inhibiting an enzyme found in liver tissue that plays a key role in production of cholesterol in the body.

Clopidogrel (Plavix) 75 mg- daily for up to a year.  This drug is used to inhibit blood clots and to prevent heart attacks.  It is also used, along with aspirin, for the prevention of thrombosis (the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system) after placement of a coronary stent.  It has been stressed over and over again by the nurses and the cardiologist that not even one dose of this medication can be missed.

If missed, it could result in a major heart attack.

Metoprolol Tartrate (Lopressor) 25 mg-twice daily-undetermined how long he will be one this medication.  This medicine is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent used to treat high blood pressure. 

 

 

Monte has officially become a member of the weekly pill maintenance container club. 

 

 

 

 

Back home we opened up gifts. 

 

 

 

 

 

As Monte revealed each package I threatened to return them all.  He has got to watch his sugar and salt intake.  He promised to eat the candy in moderation.  AH HA. 

 

 

I was happy to find a new pair of slippers. 

 I also got a particular type of spatula I wanted. 

One gift Monte bought me, a set of two new sauté pans is going back to the store. I really like my pots and pans and don’t have an issue with them.  A while back, Monte decided to make eggs (the first time in years) and the eggs stuck to the pan because he used margarine.  I usually use a little Pam spray.   So ever since then he decided I needed new pans.  Sorry Sweetie- it’s the thought that counts.  And besides-the best Christmas gift I received this year was more time with you.

Another routine Monte has to get used to is to check his blood pressure twice a day.  I downloaded and printed a blood pressure log.

As a result of Monte’s condition, a lot of things are going to change for us including our lifestyle, diet and outlook.  I am grateful that we have been given this opportunity for change and look forward to many more years of togetherness, loving and nurturing each other.

Monte had such great treatment from the staff at both South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center and Brandon Regional Hospital.  Every person we encountered from the nurses, to the orderlies, the technicians, the doctors, the ambulance team from Hillsborough Fire Rescue and the dietary staff delivering meal trays was friendly.  Their genuine concern and kindness made a frightfully stressful, scary ordeal just a little bit less stressful and scary.