Outpatient Heart Procedure - Update Sunday June 3rd

[mrspunkysmom]

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and well wishes here and on Facebook.

I realized today that many are not on Face book, so I thought I would post here also. A lot of this will be direct from Facebook but I will add more.

This is in reverse order

Sunday, May 27th.

Feeling pretty good. Realized that inactivity over the last several weeks and some MRSA infections added to the fatigue. Same with yesterday and today, which I why I got out and about. Still annoyed but that is far better than being depressed.
Made some dinner last night. I washed dishes and did some laundry. I've been checking my blood pressure and pulse. The pulse is between 60 and 70 while sitting at the computer. The BP ranges from 130/70 to 160/90. The discharge papers did say it would be erratic for a while. I think it's high right now because I'm annoyed and focusing on the negative.

I still have 24 hours before the lifting restriction is removed. So I'm going to call a friend to clean the litter boxes, take out the garbage, and move a box of papers to the living room for me to shred.

I need AA batteries for my other wrist cuff, so I'm going to rebel and drive to a nearby grocery store. The versed has completely worn off.

I'm not sure if I am nervous or angry right now.


Another rant: You can skip this if you like to read my good update from yesterday.

I looked up the stats on the medications before I picked them up yesterday. Both are rarely used and hard to find. The anti-arrhythmia drug, Flecainide, is generic and has been around a while. I talked to the pharmacist and he seemed positive about it. No one know much about Xarelto, and anti-coagulant, which was only recently approved for used with cardiac ablations. Recently as in November of 2012. It is very dangerous and has a 5.1% mortality rate. It had to be ordered and until recently was only used in those undergoing hip and knee replacements. I am not happy with being a lab experiment.

I am annoyed that the doctor was not clear with me on the procedure and the aftermath during our consult. Speeding up the heart for sudden death was not the only goal. He did call it an EP study but was not clear on the procedure. I was in too much shock during the consult to think clearly. I trusted him. They also performed an ablation which is to put some scar tissue where the heart is having electrical trouble. This is to reduce the incidences of extra fast heart rate, which can reduce the heart's effectiveness as pumping blood. It can also lead to strokes but not from clotting.

He and the other heart doctors are convince that I fainted in February due to fast heart rate. Not at all. I actually felt good and not at all tight. That's because an anti-anginal drug I was on interacted with the Toprol and lowered the heart rate and BP. I had it checked later. I had been standing very still for several minutes and when I moved I fainted.

So the 90 day restriction against driving is because he is afraid I will faint again. (I have already gone more than 90 days since my one and only lifetime faint and have not fainted even with erratic heart rates.) There is also all of the risk factors. By BP really doesn't get that high, except when I'm annoyed. Regulating my diet has helped greatly. My diabetes is considered well controlled and the A1C is below 6.5 which is in the pre-diabetic range. I hope to drop it more. Diagnosing Celiac disease and removing wheat from the diet has help with the weight.

I am having difficulty following instructions from someone that does not believe me when I say I don't smoke and can't be honest with me before performing a surgery.



Update for today, May 26th Saturday. Copied from original post lost in the multitude of posts. Doing good.

Had fun today. Called a friend who had a friend come pick me up so I could get the medicine for arrhythmia. I then went to my friends gyms and walked SLOWLY on the treadmill. She got me a salad from Subway and I took my medicine. Other than a little warmth, I felt okay.

Her gyms closes at 2 PM on Saturday so I walked to the Bi-LO to pick up some fresh fruit and veggies. The Bi-Lo was having a fundraiser for a local childrens' home and I found a cup with Jane on it and a hardcover Warrior's book.

One of the asst managers was very nice to me. He asked if I was okay. I had gone in yesterday to see if the pharmacy had the meds. They didn't, but he was concerned because I was walking so slow. I was just being careful since I am a clutz and didn't need to bleed out on the floor. Nice people. Hardest working Bi-lo or grocery store around.

I went back to the gym and waited on her to finish cleaning. Wendy, who needs a pancreas kidney transplant came in and we chatted for a bit. She's had difficulty getting approved for the transplant although she is not overweight. Maybe 10 pounds.

It's been a good day and I didn't go stir crazy. Going to rest shortly!

Friday May 25th in the evening. My rant after I really read the release papers.

Now for the irritating part. The doc says I can't drive for 90 days but this won't keep me from going to work. So no disability, which I didn't want, but I live rurally.

Okay, I'm single. What gives? He's worried about fainting and strokes, yet he couldn't reproduce the super fast heart rate. I will be on a mild blood thinner and an arrhythmia drug for a while. Well I haven't fainted in over 90 days and I know that was a medication that I quit taking. The former doctor prescribed it. Slowed the heart rate and BP too much.

The next irritating issue. He checked on the discharge papers that I need to enter a stop smoking program. I don't smoke; never have. Grew up with it but that's been years. I take care to avoid second hand smoke. These are fighting words. I had to declare that I was smoke free to get a discount on my insurance.

Also, he said if I could reduce some of the risk factors like diabetes, weight, and HBP, he might amend his orders. ARGHHHHHH!!!!!!

I think what he said was atrial fibrillation. And Syncope (fainting) I have to go 90 days without fainting. Already been there. EWww I'm mad.

How the hell am I supposed to look for a job if I can't drive?

[Catty1]

I saw your post in Kirsten's thread and thought YAAY! She made it!

I guess there's no one who could drive you to work? Would one of your friends be willing to be a "check-in"? You phone them before you leave for work and give them a quick call when you get there.

As for being single, I think that translates as 'living alone' - though the doc could have phrased it better - the concern being that if something DID happen to you there is no one there to dial 911.

If you do have atrial fibrillation, thank God you are getting it looked at. A 48 year old guy here in town was majorly into fitness, doing marathons, biking everywhere and he had AF. He did sit a few things out if he felt unwell. Being a man, he put off seeing a cardiologist. He finally made an appointment. Two weeks before the appointment he fell off his bicycle and was dead before he hit the ground.

I am NOT trying to scare you, really - just underscoring that the discharge instructions aren't made strict just so the doctors can power trip.

Hope you feel better soon!

[mrspunkysmom]

I saw your post in Kirsten's thread and thought YAAY! She made it!

Thank you. Yeah, I'm doing okay.

I guess there's no one who could drive you to work? Would one of your friends be willing to be a "check-in"? You phone them before you leave for work and give them a quick call when you get there.

That might work. My boss is okay with me being out. He has a math teacher in there and this is exam time. I think they prefer continuity so insure stability. Our kids are easily upset. I teach at an alternative school so behavior and maturity is a big issue.

I am thinking of letting people take me to interviews if it is a long drive. Right now, I can tell you that my blood sugar levels are more of a danger than me fainting. I just checked it because I felt dizzy, tired, nervous, and it was 82. That is low for me. My eating schedule is off today.

I am getting ready to go out just for a short trip. I am driving.

As for being single, I think that translates as 'living alone' - though the doc could have phrased it better - the concern being that if something DID happen to you there is no one there to dial 911.

He wasn't stressed out over me being single. I was. Family is elsewhere and we are rural here. No public transportation.

FYI, neither the doctor's office or the hospital has called to see how I am doing since I was discharged. My really horrible former GP was more attentive.

If you do have atrial fibrillation, thank God you are getting it looked at. A 48 year old guy here in town was majorly into fitness, doing marathons, biking everywhere and he had AF. He did sit a few things out if he felt unwell. Being a man, he put off seeing a cardiologist. He finally made an appointment. Two weeks before the appointment he fell off his bicycle and was dead before he hit the ground.

That's why I went ahead and scheduled the procedure. I'm mad at the doctor for not being honest, but I've known for years that I had a problem. The problem is that the doctors kept checking cholesterol levels and artery blockage and my numbers are good. When tested years ago for electrical issues, none showed up.

I think most of this damage happened recently when I was suffering from allergies, taking loads of antihistamines so my BP soared, and my doctors were messing with my thyroid levels (which probably set off the allergies). I found out that damage can occur if you ahve an accident or from blunt force trauma to the chest. The heart bruises and develops scar tissue.

I am NOT trying to scare you, really - just underscoring that the discharge instructions aren't made strict just so the doctors can power trip.

Hope you feel better soon!

I know you aren't. Thank you so much for responding!

Oh I do believe he is on a power trip. He's an A$$, but did respond "if you do drive, I don't want to know about it." Covering his bases? It's been more than 90 days since my one and only fainting spell in my life. And Candace, I am a very careful person. If my doctor changes some meds, I take the first dose at work. When I had the female surgery 12 years back, I was allowed to drive at 3 weeks; I waited another week.

I'm so careful that I will probably not take the blood thinner. It's too new and sounds very dangerous. I also get kidney stones and I don't need to bleed to death from even a small stone. I probably shouldn't take any blood thinner and I'm allergic to Ibuprofen so I can't take aspirin either.

Thanks again for responding.

[Karen]

Are there devices now that you can use to check blood sugar without jabbing yourself? If so, maybe you should keep one with you as a matter of course, and but some simple hard candies to keep on hand incase you find your blood sugar dipping too low. Do you have a blood pressure cuff you can use at home? We actually have two, I think, as Paul has to regularly report his BP to one of his doctors as of course everything is all linked, and when they are changing his medication for one thing, he meeds to make sure his BP doesn't end up being affected in either direction too much.

[mrspunkysmom]

Are there devices now that you can use to check blood sugar without jabbing yourself? If so, maybe you should keep one with you as a matter of course, and but some simple hard candies to keep on hand incase you find your blood sugar dipping too low. Do you have a blood pressure cuff you can use at home? We actually have two, I think, as Paul has to regularly report his BP to one of his doctors as of course everything is all linked, and when they are changing his medication for one thing, he meeds to make sure his BP doesn't end up being affected in either direction too much.

don't know about the blood sugar test jabbing thing (embarrassed to admit I didn't think of that.) I keep good snacks with me. I got off schedule and in an attempt to limit my fat intake, I didn't eat any protein this morning. Dumb mistake. I have two wrist cuffs that do pretty good.

One thing I will admit: I can now take my pulse again on my wrist. It's been several months since I've been able to feel my pulse.

I've had metabolic issues since my 20s but it wasn't severe enough to be caught back then and I used diet until it didn't work anymore.


Thanks Karen

[kaycountrygal]

Hi, I just read the entire thread. I'm so glad you got through the procedure. Dont overdo and Good Luck in the future.

[mrspunkysmom]

Hi, I just read the entire thread. I'm so glad you got through the procedure. Dont overdo and Good Luck in the future.

Thank you, Kay. I won't overdo it. Promise. I have goals.

[mrspunkysmom]

Sorry about posting late. I was too sick with that danged virus to think straight.

I went to see my Internist Friday. I got to see one of his partners. I wrote a long letter the night before explaining why I needed his help with my ongoing heart problems. I hadn't had a chance to let him know about the procedure. I was too tired to think that far ahead. The arrhythmia specialist hasn't told me anything about the procedure. I have not been told what the actual diagnosis is. What I know was from listening in to their conversations while I was doped up. My discharge papers said syncope. Duh. Fainting? I looked up the medication and found out it was prescribed for arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation. I kept hearing the word ablation. And none of this was discussed before the EP study / ablation. I found out there was not pooling or clotting in the lower chambers from my friend on Tuesday. She has enough problems so I didn't want to stress her out by grilling her.

When I picked up the heart monitor on Tuesday, I was able to get some info from the nurse/tech. I really had to press my point on why I needed some medications. I'm just told to take this medicine and do such or don't do such. I really felt left out of my own health decisions.

I later found out another co-worker had an ablation a few years back and was given two weeks sick leave. I was given three days. My bosses gave me more. I was exhausted and needed it.

So I didn't expect to see my doctor but he was there and I gave him the letter. (He was getting ready to go on vacation or something.) I asked him to be my advocate. I got to see his partner and got some meds for the sinus infection so my nose doesn't start bleeding.

He called me about two hours later (not expected) and said that before he left for his trip, he was going to put some things in place. My need for a doctor that would speak to me was immediate, especially concerning my heart. He's referred me to another cardiology group. He is also setting me up with a nurse that is a diabetic specialist to help me understand my diabetes. My former GP just gave me medicine and said not to use it as an excuse to eat more sugar. His partner will be following through so that the group calls me for an appt hopefully next week. Hopefully there will be a change in blood thinners.

Hope this wasn't confusing but it is late and I was trying to keep it short. Shorter than that 2 page narrative I wrote.

[Karen]

Hopefully the new group will clear things up for you - it is good that your doctor happened to be there, and could help!

[mrspunkysmom]

Sorry I didn't check in earlier, folks. Been sick with a virus, food poisoning, or both. and YECH for a few hours! And a sinus infection brought about by that allergic reaction because the sinuses are stuffy. Sleeping a lot. don't worry. This is just life, but I really didn't need it now. I'm going to take it easy for a few days, but I so need to do some cleaning, as in putting away garbage and picking up empty water bottles.

This is the one step backwards. Don't worry. More sleep and easy food, I'll be as good as new.

I think it was a virus. I had a headache Friday evening that wouldn't go. I thought I might have done too much Friday. It was a good day.

I have lots to tell you, but for right now this is enough. I will say that my Internist is fantastic!

[mrspunkysmom]

My BP is 122/63 and pulse is 63. Earlier the BP was 110/58 and the pulse was 51. Woo-Hooo. The BP hasn't been that low in years.

My chest hurts a bit, which is why I was checking it. hmmmm. Just stress? A bit tired and sleepy, too, but yesterday was a long day. Slow but steady progress.

Lost a day. Thought it was Wednesday. I'll blame it on the three day weekend.

Still the BP is lower. YEAH!!!!! :d :d

[Catty1]

Right on!

[mrspunkysmom]

Right on!

Thank you. I've gotten used to Facebook and I keep trying to "like" comments that I LIKE.

I like your comment!