Day nine. I am reading a Stephen Booth, Dying To Sin, on the Kindle. Bob and I have been reading his Detective Cooper series since he published the first book in the series in 2000. Then after we read the 2006 book the library stopped getting them. Again, another British author that became hard to find in the US. Finally Bob found the next four books in the series bringing us up to date with what is out.
I had a minor setback in my forward progress today. I have a new physical therapist which I really like. He came this morning, sometime after 10am. We were working on a new exercise using the kitchen counter when I became dizzy. I immediately told him I needed to sit down which he carefully did walking me over to the bench. Rather than get better I eventually passed out for about 10 seconds. He was right there with me talking to me, getting me water, and putting a cold compress on my neck. He called Bob into the kitchen to let him know what had happened. He had Bob get his blood pressure cuff and continued to kneel very close to me keeping me focused on him. My BP had dropped way down. We sat talking for a long time while things went back to normal feeling for me. My BP sent back up. He made me use the walker to go from the kitchen to the den where he made me lie down on the couch and put me feet up. Bob brought me a cold drink while he made phone calls to my ortho and regular doctor to let them know of the episode.
What I think happened is I usually have PT in the afternoon roughly 6 to 8 hours after I give myself the Lovonox shot around 8am. I hate that damn blood thinner. Thankfully tomorrow is my last shot. I am sure it caused my BP to drop. That plus my hemoglobin was pretty low last Sunday when I left the hospital. It was 8.2, well below the 12 or so it should be. I asked them not to give me a transfusion but instead to let it build back on its on. Since I am pretty healthy and young they agreed. That, with my BP tanking is more than likely what caused the episode.
By the way, if you are about to faint what better person to be standing by your side than a 6’8″ 320lb physical therapist. Big guy and really, really nice. So, I am back on the walker in the house for a day or so just to make sure all is well. I have felt fine the rest of the day, eating and drinking lots of fluids. Of course it cut the PT session short but we will continue on Thursday. For me, it was more of a mental blow than a physical one to have that happen.