FINALLY! ANSWERS! (and more)

Cardiac:
So yeah, had a pacemaker check, electrophysiologist & cardiologist today.
next 2 pacemaker checks are oct 30th & january...4th? lol I forget.

also, epic, EPIC news.
for 7 years I've had a "mystery" heart issue that doctors couldnt quite figure out that has kept me from exerting much energy. my mom & I had begun to accept that this was as good as it was going to get. but guess what. THEY FINALLY FOUND IT!
along with the Afib which we already knew I had, the also found PVC (Premature ventricular contraction) (also know as Premature Ventricular Complex or Premature Ventricular Beat)
and to make things better. It can most likely be treated!
I start medication tomorrow, at a small dose 4xs a day. With a follow up appointment September 5th. If I'm responding well to the meds they will increase the dose until I get stabilized.
I was so excited. I cried. I can't believe they finally found it!
it was such great timing too, since I brought my cardiologist a present today, and today, she deserved it 100 times over! I freakin love her <3

Cardiac love:
Also on a side note, one of my best friends, Ann, who I have known for 7-8yrs is finally coming up from Virginia to visit. She is a heart patient as well, my #1 CHD sister! I'm going to be a brides maid in her wedding and this is the first time we're meeting in person. its true love right here.

Anxiety:
I didn't really get any good news as far as anxiety. It has been really bad lately but I can only take low dose Ativan. Unfortunately due to all my heart issues, I can't take anything else. not happy about that, but ya win some ya lose some I guess...


(GIRLS ONLY)
I also got the clear from the cardiologist to take birth control, as long as its estrogen only. Gyno is hoping this will ease my back pain. which would be totally awesome. She did find some other abnormalities, so I'll see her again in a month. *Fingers Crossed*

more pacemaker drama & vacation

So as you all know, my pacemaker is dying, and I've been fighting with the docs/insurance companies to get it changed.
the insurance companies like to wait until the last min (when the pacer goes into safe mode)

well I had a pacemaker check scheduled for June 19th. and my genius ass missed the appt. so I called them later that day to reschedule. we ended up rescheduling for yesterday. and (as I suspected) they decided to tell me its time for surgery, the battery needs to be replaced. well of course they tell me that then. because I was scheduled to leave for FL this morning.

anyway, these are my posts from yesterday:


"I KNEW this was going to happen!!!!!!!!!
the but NO! they wouldn't listen to me! 
pacemaker people said I need the battery replaced! 
and of course I leave for FL tomorrow morning. or at least I'm supposed to! 
UGGGGGH! they're gonna call me back in a few mins to let me know if I can still go!"


&

"UPDATE:
I officially CAN go to FL, however,
no matter what I do (in her words) "you could run a marathon and your heart rate wont get over 65"

so basically I'm not allowed to do ANYTHING remotely strenuous. wheelchair in airport. no beach walking. no kayaking, no swimming. nothing =\ which kinda sucks. but at least I can go!"

Recap: battery is in safe mode, meaning HR wont get over 65, and it is only pacing the ventricles (usually mine paces the atria as well) 

I can't really do anything physical 

my appointment with my electrophysiologist is scheduled for the 17th. and he'll probably schedule the surgery for the next day. I also still have my heart monitor on 24hrs a day for 2 more weeks due to the A-fib. 

but I'm here in FL now. so I'm a happy duck!

Cardiac Update

So today I had a cardiologist appointment.
Found out quite a few things,
1. my atrial wire is NOT shot!
2. still cant change pacemaker.
3. I'm having major A-fib.
4. med changes are needed.
5. surgery will be same day :)

So we are setting me up with a heart monitor, and starting a few new meds. one of the meds (anti-arrythmic) I need to be hospitalized for a few days to start so we'll plan that.
another med is baby asprin, which even though its a tiny, tiny dose, I'm still nervous about because as some of you may remember, I had quite a problem with asprin once before.
ambulance, liver failure, kidney failure, lost my hearing, landed myself in ICU for a few days. but I think it will be fine. I'm just nervous.
I will also be starting another medication to maintain an even pulse.

in order to start the first one, I need to come off my mood stablizer. so I started decreasing that today, and will stop it on tuseday. Not sure what they'll put me on in place of that. but I suppose we'll figure something out.

I see my cardiologist & electrophysiologist on the same day, in 6wks. after my 30 day heart monitor. so hopefully by then we'll have figured out what meds I'll be taking.

June is a busy month for me, and I need to be feeling my best. so fingers crossed everything gets fixed! lol

the endddddddd.

More stuff from my brain

I just have a few things on my mind.

figured I'd write them somewhere.

first off. Mebsie is here, for my birthday. On Monday we went up to Conneticut again, to see Melissa & Emily. I know I had said that I wasn't going to go back up, however Melissa had to be moved to a facility because the home care nurses were unable to control her pain. The facility is much closer to me (1 1/2hrs) and its also about 10mins from Emily. So we had a nice day.

yesterday was my 23rd birthday, meaning I am now 21yrs past expiration date, lol. (I was not supposed to live to see 2) I had a pacemaker check in the morning, battery has 1-8 months left on it. The rest of the day I spent in bed. I was super cranky, and not feeling well. I did get a bunch of camera accessories & a gift card for a massage, which is awesome.

I leave for the condo on April 3rd, I'm excited to get out of here again. I'm really wanting to go on a road trip but right now my mom doesn't want me to go. I'm frustrated. I hate not doing anything with my life, but I've been told I'm not mentally stable enough to survive in the real world yet.


there is more, which I'll get back to later....

Cardiac Update

Just got home from having my pacemaker checked.
They say my battery has another year on it, but then again, last time they told me that, I was on the table 2wks later!
they Also saw an increase in arrhythmias, I've had 13 since the 28th of feb.
and although they dont last long (usually about 2mins), they're actually affecting me. I'm always tired lately.
my pacemaker has been switching modes more often too.
(10 times, in the past 3 days) this happens when my heart rate goes up to 155+
(which it should never do) so yeah, they had me in the chair for over an hour,
called in the doctor who was there. who proceeded to call my doctor.
and suggested a holter monitor. yet again. I also may be switching hospitals!
which is exciting. *claps* anyway. thats about it