OK — Sounds like a plan to me.Okay, so I'll try to explain all that's gone on.
I went for the anesthesia consult. He told me all was good assuming the results of the follow up x-Ray of my chest post pneumonia where okay. He also said my lungs sounded clear.
Got the x-ray.
I then got a call from my nurse saying the radiologist recommends a chest cat scan because I have fluid in my lungs or it could be near the heart or it could just be scar tissue from the fungus I had while in the Persian gulf.
The cat scan was scheduled after my pre surgical consult which of course wouldn't allow the anesthesia guy to approve me before the surgeon saw me, so, they wanted to cancel the pre surgery consult and after the cat scan results where in start the process all over.
I called the radiology department and sweet talked them into an earlier cat scan and everything appeared to be back on track.
While purchasing the new ultra, I get a call from my nurse saying the cat scan revealed that my lap band (a weight loss tool) was too tight and was causing fluid to be "held" above the band in the esophagus. And that until the band was loosened, no surgery.
I called the lap band doc and got an appointment to loosen the band on 2/12/18. His feeling is that while I had pneumonia, the coughing caused the area around the band on my stomach to become inflamed and swell, causing the band to become tight. The plan is to loosen the band and allow the stomach to "calm down" then readjust it to a little less tight than it was before the pneumonia.
The good news is that the lap band is adjustable by simply injecting saline solution into or out of a port that is just above the band under the skin. This is a five minute procedure and doesn't hurt, but, is kind funky when they do it. The real good news is that it is nothing serious and easily fixed.
So what does all this mean? Basically after the band is loosened, it takes a couple weeks of "modified diet", basically clear warm liquids to get the stomach to calm down. Then the band can be readjusted.
Until that happens all plans for the left knee replacement are on hold. I could possibly get the knee done in July, after I open all the swimming pools, but, this would seriously cut into the riding season, and put my business in a bad place. If a customer had an issue while I was recovering, they would have to take their business somewhere else and I'd loose them. I'm not sure I'm willing to do that just yet.
Since the left knee is in far better shape than the right was, I think I will opt to move a little slower, let the lap band issues work themselves out and enjoy the summer, then start this process over shooting for a late October or Early November left knee replacement.
Fun getting to know Alan and his medical issues huh? LOL.