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As you can see Walter likes all the hounds and dogs he lives with. Last night Watson thought he could climb on the couch, fit on one cushion and squeeze between me and Walter. Of course he barely fit and was sitting on Walter's feet and head waiting for him to move. Walter decide that was fine, raised his head and went back to sleep, using Watson has a warm pillow.

Only two photos tonight as this is more of an informative blog post about the side bar. If you scroll on the side past the photos you will see a list of some old time favorite blogs that use to be there plus some blogs or websites you might find interesting. Check them out and see what you think.

For almost 30 years no matter how far I have to drive to get there, I ALWAYS finished my Costco shopping with their famous $1.50 hotdog that comes with a soda. Instead of a soda I like the Coke Raspberry Tea.

Now some of you might think or know, that what a terrible thing to eat. It probably is for health reasons but it's not like I eat them weekly or even monthly. Buying Costco products that are noted for large quantities, purchases last longer than a month for someone that lives single, not counting the hounds and dogs. When I do eat them, they are great and still $1.50 with a drink. 

But the icing on the cake of that picture ... 30 minutes earlier I had just left my VA Cardiologist appointment. The words hot dog and cardiologist don't seem to sound right when mentioned together. Most likely it isn't. 

It was my 6 month follow up for the heart work done in June. I had also had a recent echocardiogram just for this appointment, on November 20th. When I filled my spreadsheet in with the updated echocardiogram, and then compared the data from it to the one I did in July after the surgeries ... the two were almost identical in data. That is a key point of the appointment and my story. 

What more could she say? Same data, same blood pressure, temperature, blood oxygen, same weight and height ... what would this be about?

If I could have placed a bet I would have bet every last dollar I had that she would prescribe new and different medications. No doubt in my mind. I planned on remaining calm but I never planned on taking them.

The theme was ... "you are in great shape, great echo numbers, the valve has seated well and everything inside your heart is working great" ... but you have heart failure. Those same words I had in June when we spoke. Even with all the new hardware that was installed, with an artery opened 100% and an aortic valve open over an inch wide ... the blood is flowing stronger with great circulation.

It's just that heart is not pumping efficiently based on the percentage listed.

We talked medications, all the new ones she wanted to prescribe. She had not even got the word "statins" out of her mouth when I interrupted her to say "Like I told the cardiologist back in 2019 in Arizona, I'll die first before taking them".

If the data is the same as the echocardiogram I took in July, why didn't she mention them then when we talked in August?

So she moved to, "I need to lower your LDL to 55" ... so there will be a couple of meds that I am going to prescribe for you to take".

She was right on schedule with my prediction to myself before I showed up.

"I am not taking any meds for my cholesterol because everything is in range" ... she says ... "well those are good ranges for normal people but you have heart failure".

Me --- well just a few minutes ago you said I was in great shape and everything was working great ... so which am I ... in great shape or near death due to heart failure?"

If the data is the same as the echocardiogram I took in July, why didn't she mention them then when we talked in August?

Yes I am repeating myself ... seems like two valid questions.

So great shape or needing meds for heart failure and normal cholesterol? In her report she said "he became agitated when we talked about required medication". I was kinda proud of that ... that will probably move me to the top of her list of noncompliant patients.

I ended up by asking her if I could ask three questions?

1. How cold can it be outside before I cannot walk for 30 minutes?

--- "oh you can do anything, your heart has the new valve, stent pacemaker ... you can do anything you want in any temperature" Even at 5°???? .... "Yes". 

2. Am I allowed to shovel snow off my driveway when we have our next snow storm?

--- She actually gasps ... "you can't do that, you have heart failure !!!"

Me --- so I can walk me or my dogs for 30 minutes in any temperature, even below zero but I can't shovel snow in 30° with the sun out?

As you can see I am probably her most favorite patient.  LOL

3. How long do I have to take these blood thinners? ... that was a loaded question and I already knew the answer from the surgeon that did the surgery, Harvard Medical Journal and The Mayo Clinic.

--- "Well you will have to take those the rest of your life"

Wrong answer ....

As we left we were laughing, smiling and talking about making pizza dough out of shredded chicken, eggs and cottage cheese. My friend had passed that recipe to me last month and the doctor said she actually made that and it tasted great. 

I am to see her in July 2026 ... should be a lot of fun.

PNW weather today ... cold and rainy ... temperatures have dropped and we will have cold weather for one day just to get me readying for the first round of the College Football Playoffs, this weekend that starts on Friday night.  

For the Anonymous person that made a comment about my sports talk the other day ... don't reply to what I said here on this post tonight about sports or anything else, because I will just delete anything you say. If I could I would block you from seeing the blog but Google Blogger will not let me.

Anyway, it's getting late, the hounds and dogs have been asleep for a couple of hours at least and it's been another great day here in "the tropics" of Southern Indiana.