H-Day! Or Heart Day! Good News Wooo-Hoooo!

[mrspunkysmom]

I'll let you know. That heart procedure was in the nick of time. I feel so much better than I did 2 weeks back. I get some setbacks, but I'm still better. I actually carried 4 8-paks of soda at the same time from the car today. I couldn't do that 2 weeks back.

Wooo-hooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Karen]

Glad you are feeling so much better and stronger!

[Catty1]

YAAAAAYYYY! But you do know to NOT overdo it, right?

[Felicia's Mom]

Glad you're feeling better Anne!

[phesina]

WONDERFUL news, Anne!

[mrspunkysmom]

YAAAAAYYYY! But you do know to NOT overdo it, right?

Yup I do now.

Carrying 4 packs of sodas is a one time event. Today was a long day. Big difference.

An appt at the rheumatologist. His nurse took like 5 or 6 vials of blood. Five or Six! He said there was definitely something going on and prescribed the same medicine a family doctor had prescribed in the mid 90s and I was on for about 12 years, but double the dose. I do need to have the eyes examined every 6 months at this dosage. It's plaquenil or hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, which does suppress the immune system some. Even as a generic it's still very expensive. I felt much better on it years back.

Visit to the former cardiologist to get my INR level checked. It was normal because I was only taking half of it. Warfarin is scary because the levels are so variable and are affected by what you eat. Managed to get an excuse note from them. This was a matter of honor. I also told them what I thought. He did great surgery but is so into the numbers he didn't look at me and consider how tired I was. He also doesn't communicate well.

Called the new cardiologist's office to set the appt up. Something must have happened. The secretary from the Internist's office forgot to send the referral yesterday although the computer entry indicated that it happened. hmmmph. Got the appt anyway. Will see if paperwork is there tomorrow. It's okay if mistakes are made or if something slips by, but own up to it.

Visit to the district office to do my COBRA paperwork. And the district will pay the first two months of the Cobra amount. Apparently it was an oversight and although past deadline since I was out the last two weeks, they let me do the paperwork.

Quick visit to the gym. Nine minutes on treadmill at 1.7 mph and a few arm exercises.

Friend came over to take garbage to curb and do some simple cleaning of litter boxes. I was/am too beat.

Now I am tired and chest is a little tight. Getting ready to rest on the couch. Just waiting to take my heart meds for the evening.

But I am breathing so much easier. I have a pulmonary function test next week that I might delay since I now know the reason behind the breathing difficulty. This was scheduled by the same Internist that is acting as my advocate.

So all in all, it was a fantastic day!

[robinh]

So glad to hear you had a good day. So many of them lately have been awful.

[moosmom]

SO glad you're feeling better, girl!! Take care of yourself!!

[Pinot's Mom]

So glad you're feeling better! Keep up the good reports!

[Karen]

I told K9Karen your news, and she's very happy for you as well!

[mrspunkysmom]

So glad you're feeling better! Keep up the good reports!

Thank you all for your positive thoughts. I am feeling better and the EP study and whatever else was done including medicine has helped. I know I was tired and sluggish.

I do have a stent next week. Not what I was expecting.

I am having some trouble breathing, but I think it is some panic attack and stress. I tend to hold my breath sometimes and I've never been able to correct that idiosyncrasy. I've fot a little bit of chest pain, but that might also be stress and nerves over the new doctor, insurance issues, dealing with a doctor that won't communicate, yada yada, etc.

Anyway, I know going in for the second heart cath is the right move, since the original issues that were glossed over should have been explored.

Rest of Original Post deleted

[mrspunkysmom]

So glad to hear you had a good day. So many of them lately have been awful.

yeah, Wednesday was awful, too. Been crying on and off since Wednesday. have to keep my brain occupied or I'm in my own head too much. Have to stay positive.

[pomtzu]

Good luck Anne - we'll be praying that all goes well. I can't believe that the original doc fell down on his job. It must not give you a very warm and fuzzy feeling at all.

My brother (the old bird is 78 ), had a stent put in about 5 or so years ago thru a special and experimental program at the Cleveland Clinic in Miami. His carotid artery was blocked by 80% and very high up, which made it a very dangerous and risky procedure. He came thru with flying colors and is still chugging along. He now lives in NC and goes back to FL once each year for a good going over. He was just back last month and drove back home with a clean bill of health in that department. He'll probably outlive me!

[mrspunkysmom]

Good luck Anne - we'll be praying that all goes well. I can't believe that the original doc fell down on his job. It must not give you a very warm and fuzzy feeling at all.

My brother (the old bird is 78 ), had a stent put in about 5 or so years ago thru a special and experimental program at the Cleveland Clinic in Miami. His carotid artery was blocked by 80% and very high up, which made it a very dangerous and risky procedure. He came thru with flying colors and is still chugging along. He now lives in NC and goes back to FL once each year for a good going over. He was just back last month and drove back home with a clean bill of health in that department. He'll probably outlive me!

Thank you for replying.

A very warm feeling, but definitely not fuzzy. It will take me a while to move beyond my emotions over this series of events. I'm not stressing over it, but I will feel bothered for a while.

I'm glad to hear your brother is still going strong.It gives me hope.

[Catty1]

Installing stents in a heart artery is a fairly common procedure, and the outcomes I have heard of are all positive. This includes a good friend of mine who has about 20% heart function after several heart attacks over about 7 years - and she is only 47! And she is "chugging along" just fine! She jokingly calls the stents "chicken wire" - I guess the stuff looks like it!

I think you may enjoy even more of an upswing in health after this.

Sending good thoughts and prayers!