Based on the stops we have tomorrow, we won’t have time to do a post, especially when we’re leaving the house at 8:30 am, most likely not returning until the late afternoon, leaving little time to start a new post. Here’s what we plan to do:
- 10:00 am: Cardiologist appointment
- 11:00 am: Stop at the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions
- 12:00 pm: Return the rental car for another, with a different company
- 1:00 pm: Grocery shop at MegaMaxi, at the shopping mall on the outskirts of town
- 3:00 pm: Begin the return drive to Mirador San Jose
- 4:15 pm: Arrive back at Mirador San Jose – unload groceries
- 5:00 pm: Head to Kokomo for dinner
As you can see, these tasks take up the entire day. It will be the first time since we arrived almost a month ago that I will have such a full day out and about, and I am hoping I don’t have an Afib event since they tend to almost paralyze me. Right now, the drugs I changed back to and increased the dose seem to be working, but I am tentatively optimistic.
It seems as if I move around too much or walk too far, the Afib kicks back in, so I am limiting the amount and how fast I walk right now but making sure I do some each day. I am a little concerned about shopping in the Costco-like MegaMaxi, but I will use the trolley for support as we wander through the vast store.
Sometimes, I feel like an old woman, as much as I try not to be. As I muddle my way through this process of discovering what works and doesn’t work to avoid Afib, it’s challenging. Some people never find out their triggers, but one by one, I am figuring out mine.
Tomorrow, the doctor will tell me if I need surgery or not. If I don’t, I will jump for joy since I am not ready for another open heart surgery. If I was able to have the robotic, minimally invasive surgery, it still required a massive incision in the right chest and cutting through ribs, which takes months to heal.
After the nightmarish recovery from open heart surgery in South Africa in 2019, I am not looking forward to going through that again. We shall see what transpires tomorrow. I am trying hard not to worry and doing well, staying hopeful and optimistic.
Over the past several days, I’ve put together a comprehensive grocery list on the online app on my phone, which doesn’t require an internet connection. This app has served me well over the years, and a simple one-click knocks items off the list or saves them for later if the item is not found. The app is called “Bring” and can be found here at this link.
Since most of us take our phones with us when shopping, it’s a lot easier to go through an easy list on the phone than using a pen while shopping to check off found items while shopping. Plus, I often think of an item I want to add while shopping that may be in another aisle. It’s so easy to add an item to the list.
I have been using this app before we left Minnesota in 2012. It’s free, fun, and easy to use. During the week, when I notice I am out of something, I pick up my phone and add the item(s) I need.
That’s it for today, folks. For those in the US, we’ll be back on Thanksgiving day, most likely long before you tackle your first piece of pumpkin pie.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, November 21, 2013:
Hi Jess!
Maybe the MegaMaxi will have one of the motorized carts that you can ride on whilst shopping for groceries. Hoping the cardiologist will give you encouraging advice.
Kind regards,
Pam from Houston, Texas
Pam, you read my mind. I don’t know if they’ll have one but if they do, I might use it. I’m a lousy driver, though and might not be safe around other people. We’ll see how it goes and I will report back in tomorrow’s post. Thanks for writing and reading our posts!
Warmst regards,
Jess & Tom
LOL! Well if that’s the case then just get in the grocery trolley and have Tom push you around the store! Weee!
Thanks, Pam, that’s what we did but I drove myself and didn’t run into anyone. It worked out well although we had little time to shop, we managed to get to the doctor appointment only two minute late.
Warmest regards,
Jess & Tom