The Day After the Heart Cath

I woke up at my usual time, 4:15 a.m., for dialysis. The effects of the Versed and fentanyl from yesterday’s heart catheterization were still with me. I felt groggy and out of it—what I describe as feeling “drunk.”

Because of the wound in my groin where the catheter was inserted, I didn’t receive heparin during dialysis. The team wanted to avoid disturbing the site or causing bleeding. I let the nurse and tech know how I was feeling. They told me I might feel less of the medication’s effects after dialysis.

That wasn’t what happened for me. I still felt the drugs afterward, so when I got home, I went to sleep.

I was so tired that my only food was a venti black iced tea and a cheese danish from Starbucks. I skipped lunch and spent the day in bed. When it was time, I got up, went out into the rain, and made it to a meeting.

As I write this, the medication has finally cleared from my system. It was a long, exhausting day, and I’m grateful to be feeling more like myself.