So my dad called me this morning and told me he's going to have an angiogram tomorrow, to see if he has a blockage that's causing the chest pain.
At this point, I don't know if (1) the angiogram was the plan all along but Dad didn't tell me because he was confused; (2) the angiogram was the plan all along but Dad didn't tell me because he didn't actually know about it until today; (3) the doctor didn't decide until today that he should have an angiogram; or (4) some other inexplicable factor.
He hasn't seen a cardiologist all weekend, because "they don't come in on the weekends." So I don't know when and how the plan for the angiogram was cooked up. I'm guessing that #1 or #2, above, is the most likely thing. It was probably the plan all along, and Dad was either confused about what they told him, or they just didn't tell him until today. But I don't know when the cardiologist would have cooked up the plan, if they don't fucking work on the weekends. I am at a loss.
And I'm still agog at a hospital that looks at a 70-year-old man who's had 5 heart attacks and says, "Yeah, yeah, chest pain, okay, you need to wait 2 days before we'll cath you to find out why you're having the pain."
I'm going over to see him in a little bit, and I know there's not going to be anyone I can actually talk to to find out why this was considered to be a good idea (because, of course, the cardiologist doesn't work weekends, so *he* won't be there to talk to).
I'll find out what I can from the nurse, and maybe the nurse can shed some light on why the 2-day delay was considered okay. But I'd like to talk to the doctor who actually made the decision.
Bah. Shower now.
Steph, do you have a medical POA for your dad? Would that make things easier?
The hospital may have an ombudsman that you can speak with.
I do have a medical POA, but I didn't think that took effect unless he was incapacitated.
I'm also really annoyed that Tim is camping this weekend.
I say that knowing all of the following are true: (1) the camping trip was planned a month ago, obviously before there was any way to know any bad shit was going to go down; (2) Dad is basically fine and there is no earth-shattering crisis; (3) there's no need for Tim to be here; (4) he has his own life and can do his own shit; and (5) if he had asked me if I wanted him to stay, I would have told him to go camping.
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(6) And I am a grown-ass adult who has dealt with Dad being in the hospital by myself for 15 years before meeting Tim and I can obviously continue to do so.
All of those things are true, and I fully acknowledge them, and yet I'm still annoyed. I'm allowed to feel those contradictory things, right? Or am I the world's biggest selfish jackass who shouldn't even be in a relationship since I can't say "Yes, go camping" and then be cheerful and glad about it?
is it possible that they did an EKG/EEG and some blood tests and he didn't have the markers to get the tests right away?
God damn it. I would have stayed home if the situation were reversed. And if I'm horrible for saying that, well, then I'm horrible.
And that doesn't mean that Tim going camping is "wrong." It's all really bad timing, that's all. And I don't like dealing with it by myself. But I am a grown-ass adult and will deal with it by myself.
is it possible that they did an EKG/EEG and some blood tests and he didn't have the markers to get the tests right away?
Pretty much they said that cardiologists don't come in on the weekends. Trufax. Because apparently people are not so thoughtless as to have heart attacks on the weekends.
Teppy, you're not horrible. Really. It is possible to know logically that this is a situation that you can handle on your own and still emotionally want your partner there with you. I don't see anything wrong in that at all. Are you able to at least call Tim and talk with him or is he in an area with spotty cell reception.
