Contemplating my navel
I saw Dr. Hendrix on Aug. 24th. He explained Pulmonary Hypertension to me more fully. It is when the arteries surrounding the lungs are constricted so that do not flow the way they are supposed to and pressure builds up and causes stress on the heart. There are two kinds of Pulmonary Hypertension (P.H.) Primary P.H. and Secondary P.H. ; secondary P.H. means that another condition is causing the pressure. They treat the condition and the P.H. goes away. They are unsure of what causes Primary P.H.
They have one more test to do on me; sleep apnea. If I don't have that... It's Primary P.H.
I don't see the lung specialist for another month! September 26.
Until then I'm supposed to go on with my life figuring nothing is wrong and life is beautiful.
Instead I keep falling apart emotionally. I've had two beautiful blessings given to me and I need to put my faith in them instead of wallowing in self pity. Because it only makes me cry when I think on the diagnosis I can do nothing about.
If people would just stop asking "How are you doing?" I would do sooo much better.
Because of the paralyzed vocal chord, when I cry, I constrict my airway and I can't breath.
I know.... DON'T CRY. BREATH BREATH
Lung Test
I get to V.V.H. (Valley View Hospital) only to be told that 1 of the 4 tests (3 breathing tests and 1 blood test) they want me to take that day I actually took 2 weeks ago when I was taking the tests prescribed by my Internist. (see July 31 posting) Then while chatting between the tests I mention some of the tests that I took while at D.R.M.C. (Dixie Regional Medical Center). Low and behold, the blood test (a nasty painful one) was done during my stay. Yeahhhhhhhh!
Then I get the appointment for the Lung doctor made and it's not for 1 month. I will be so much better by then, there won't be much for him to tell me. Oh well.
Something New
I learned something new today. I learned how to crochet edges on baby burp clothes and baby receiving blankets. They're quite pretty. The one I'm doing right now, will be given as a gift from the Ward to the next little boy born. Something new to do once in a while instead of hats. But I'm still doing those too, just not as many.
Cross your fingers....Tomorrow is the big lung test.
Health Update
Okay! Here we go.
I went to do the heart stress test on Wednesday morning. They did a baseline test and were about to induce stress on the heart chemically and the Doctor saw something irregular about the baseline and called it off, put me in the Emergency room for an hour and then had an ambulance pick me up and take me to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. I stayed there for 3 days. They catheterized my heart and found that the arteries are clear. The problem is actually my lungs. There is a blockage and it is causing stress on my heart. I've had CT scans, x-rays, TEE scopes (means they put a scope down my throat and looked at the heart from the outside), blood test, and oxygen level monitoring. Diagnosis: Pulmonary Hypertension. I have a test scheduled for Thursday that will find out what, where, why on my lungs. Until then ... I just sit at home putting no stress on my lungs/heart. Getting lots of crocheting done.
Some good news that has come from this: since I missed my ENT Doctor appointment on Wednesday, they sent one into me at the hospital. I have a paralyzed vocal chord. Presumably caused by a virus. Very similar to Bell's Palsy. Not much to do about it, except let it heal on it's own. Usually it takes 6-8 months to come back. I am in my 5 month. Soooooooo: No polyps, throat cancer or anything else that's a big deal. No pain involved, Just a raspy voice for a couple of months. I can live with that.
No, No, No
You know how when you're a kid and your parents tell you not to do something? Sometimes it's the farthest thing from your mind, but when they tell you you can't do it, it all of a sudden triggers something that says "I'm gonna do it anyway". .....I'm having a test done on my heart on Wednesday and the instructions say I can't have caffeine in ANY form. Cola, chocolate, energy drink. Not for the next 24 hours. How come I want to run out and down a six-pack of Pepsi and 3 Uno bars? It's not like me to crave cola. (chocolate sometimes) but as soon as I'm told "NO" I have this huge craving for Barqs Rootbeer. I feel like a teenager again. Scary.
Happy Anniversary R4 and Cassie
Hope you have a great evening. #5. Give those little boys a squeeze from Grandma, will you?
Happy Birthday Byron!
Byron is 43 today. Happy Birthday Bro!
Happy Birthday Jofes!
Joseph is 21 today! I called him to wish him a Happy Birthday, but he had strategically left his phone at home and he "went out with the boys". I can play stupid, but I do know what that means. And it hurts a little, but he's a man now and can do what he wants. I'm proud of him for living on his own and learning to fend for himself. He's always been independent and that's what makes him Joe!
Okay! Back to me....... one more test down. They did a 2 hour ultra-sound of my heart. It will take a week to get any results back from it. My next test is a stress test on August 9th at 7am. I then go to the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Doc that afternoon. Guess that's it about that.
