Thursday, April 14, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A good cry...
Did I forget I was sick?
I'm going to have a good ugly cry.. I went to Giant, I bought one (recycle bag) full of groceries. I should have divided them into two to begin with but that's not what I'm crying about. It's because that was the hardest task I have done in the past 4 years.
I thought I was supposed to feel better with this medication. This poison (milrinone) that I can't say no to. I KNOW I did too much. I am ashamed at myself for not allowing Tom to help out & saddened that I need him to function in every capacity that gets us through the day. While he graciously offers I can not give him so much of my labor, it only serves to make me feel that much sorrier for myself. I don't know what to do anymore.
I was able to thumb my nose at this disease up until about 4 months ago, steady decline in my health informed me of my arrogance & the need to stop playing the martyr role & allow ppl to help me out.
It's a natural instinct to try, I guess.
I need to honor my bodies shortcomings & respect where I am in this process. I simply can't do it anymore. I am my disease today. It has chewed me up and spit me out into a blubbering mess of self loathing tears. Frustration only scratches the surface of today's attempt at some sort of normal behavior. I was told to live while waiting for my call that a heart is there for me. I don't call this living.
What a sad entry, I'm hopeful you can understand even a wee bit & forgive me for the raw reality that is my life today..
How do I handle the progressive disease of my heart while awaiting a transplant?
I thought I was supposed to feel better with this medication. This poison (milrinone) that I can't say no to. I KNOW I did too much. I am ashamed at myself for not allowing Tom to help out & saddened that I need him to function in every capacity that gets us through the day. While he graciously offers I can not give him so much of my labor, it only serves to make me feel that much sorrier for myself. I don't know what to do anymore.
I was able to thumb my nose at this disease up until about 4 months ago, steady decline in my health informed me of my arrogance & the need to stop playing the martyr role & allow ppl to help me out.
It's a natural instinct to try, I guess.
I need to honor my bodies shortcomings & respect where I am in this process. I simply can't do it anymore. I am my disease today. It has chewed me up and spit me out into a blubbering mess of self loathing tears. Frustration only scratches the surface of today's attempt at some sort of normal behavior. I was told to live while waiting for my call that a heart is there for me. I don't call this living.
What a sad entry, I'm hopeful you can understand even a wee bit & forgive me for the raw reality that is my life today..
How do I handle the progressive disease of my heart while awaiting a transplant?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Transplant 1B
Saturday the 2nd was like any other day once you are dx w/ HD. No plans of a marathon race or even cleaning the whole house, let alone an entire room, one knows that's not even an option.. The entire day I was off & on the "throne" w/ what are called clay floaters (hope that's not too graphic just needs to be said). Plus I felt nauseated all day long, I took the prescribed amount of Zofran and each dose only lasted 1/2 hour, one dose can usually take nausea away for the day. I had Tom take me to a local Hospital, got into the ER found out I had liver inflammation. Painful & sickening. The events at this facility were minor but still I will mention them. A Foley cath was inserted, because the dr wanted to hydrate me, so an accurate I&O (intake/output) was vital. Nurse inserted the cath into my va jay jay, yes I said VJJ, I knew it felt wrong mentioned it and was told to relax, 6 hours later I awoke with a still empty bag & a full bladder. The still inflated balloon was found half protruding from my privates & the situation was corrected by the night nurse. (always eventful).
Next AM I contacted the heart doc in Philly, transportation was arranged and I was admitted to CCU. A Right hearted cath was done the next day, and the swan was left in place, I was then placed on milrinone that ups my standing to 1B w/ the UNOS procurement center. Seems my heart is worsening as I was feeling slow & steady. I never want to cry wolf for fear of not being believed at another time, which plays havoc with me daily.
I am now home and I must wear a pump, with continuous infusion of this deadly medication that helps temporarily but can shorten your life significantly, my mind wonders how much shorter can my future get?? The home health nurse was here yesterday & I will change my own bag today, she will return on Monday for labwork, cross check my PT INR machine against the actual lab values, change my dressing and get a few questions we came up with Sat answered by my Doc.
I can no longer take a long hot shower like I used to. I find that disturbing, we are thinking creatively for ways to work around this. I can't walk away from the pack ever, it is like carrying a purse 24/7.
I am emotionally drained. Scared to death & feel more vulnerable now than ever before, imagine the very medicine meant to keep you alive while awaiting a heart can actually weaken an already weakened heart. Scared barely scratches the surface, but I put on a good face for my husband, somehow that has not been working out as in the past, break through tears flow like a light summer shower.
He holds me close & then the world feels right again if only for those few moments. I live for those moments...
I ran into Nurse Hatchet at the hosp, requested not to have her again, I had to spend 12 hours with a woman that would share no small talk & her reputation was known by other departments, she transported me the day of the cath. I could see the sneers & eye rolls of the cath lab staff which opened the door for me to confirm my findings.
That night my fav former Peace Corp nurse was in charge of me and the next days schedule, I got a great replacement the next AM & will most likely not get that nurse again unless it is absolutely necessary. BTW this nurse is well skilled but lacks social skills & compassion (IMO).
The last paragraph was a diversion tactic on my part to help me rid myself of the minor trauma that might have originated from the milrinone but was delivered by a person that did not even tell me she was hanging it. OK I'm still mad her... diversion or no diversion the lady needs to be human..
So here I am.. happy to be home, sad I can't shower, sad I have this weight around my neck, figuratively & literally.. glad to have ppl to share it with that understand..& hopeful that each day is full of wonder (as my buddy Annette & I seek daily).
I feel this entry lacks a little of my personality, I am struggling to find that comfort zone, here's hoping it's around the corner or sitting right in front of me..
Next AM I contacted the heart doc in Philly, transportation was arranged and I was admitted to CCU. A Right hearted cath was done the next day, and the swan was left in place, I was then placed on milrinone that ups my standing to 1B w/ the UNOS procurement center. Seems my heart is worsening as I was feeling slow & steady. I never want to cry wolf for fear of not being believed at another time, which plays havoc with me daily.
I am now home and I must wear a pump, with continuous infusion of this deadly medication that helps temporarily but can shorten your life significantly, my mind wonders how much shorter can my future get?? The home health nurse was here yesterday & I will change my own bag today, she will return on Monday for labwork, cross check my PT INR machine against the actual lab values, change my dressing and get a few questions we came up with Sat answered by my Doc.
I can no longer take a long hot shower like I used to. I find that disturbing, we are thinking creatively for ways to work around this. I can't walk away from the pack ever, it is like carrying a purse 24/7.
I am emotionally drained. Scared to death & feel more vulnerable now than ever before, imagine the very medicine meant to keep you alive while awaiting a heart can actually weaken an already weakened heart. Scared barely scratches the surface, but I put on a good face for my husband, somehow that has not been working out as in the past, break through tears flow like a light summer shower.
He holds me close & then the world feels right again if only for those few moments. I live for those moments...
I ran into Nurse Hatchet at the hosp, requested not to have her again, I had to spend 12 hours with a woman that would share no small talk & her reputation was known by other departments, she transported me the day of the cath. I could see the sneers & eye rolls of the cath lab staff which opened the door for me to confirm my findings.
That night my fav former Peace Corp nurse was in charge of me and the next days schedule, I got a great replacement the next AM & will most likely not get that nurse again unless it is absolutely necessary. BTW this nurse is well skilled but lacks social skills & compassion (IMO).
The last paragraph was a diversion tactic on my part to help me rid myself of the minor trauma that might have originated from the milrinone but was delivered by a person that did not even tell me she was hanging it. OK I'm still mad her... diversion or no diversion the lady needs to be human..
So here I am.. happy to be home, sad I can't shower, sad I have this weight around my neck, figuratively & literally.. glad to have ppl to share it with that understand..& hopeful that each day is full of wonder (as my buddy Annette & I seek daily).
I feel this entry lacks a little of my personality, I am struggling to find that comfort zone, here's hoping it's around the corner or sitting right in front of me..
Transplant 2
Tues I had an appt with the great Dr E, we traveled the mandatory 2 hour drive one-way in bottlenecked traffic to arrive at 8AM, I had vitals done, labs drawn, EKG, screened by the transplant nurse, then seen by the DR. He looked me over and after a couple of questions said you can send Tom home if you want, you are staying with us.
6 hours later I am in my room, yes 6 hours.. luckily it was the monthly meeting of heart transplant survivors & I was asked to sit in with the group, I gained 2 business cards, half of a turkey sandwich, some fresh fruit and water, the best choices from what most seemed like a dichotomy in a luncheon spread for heart patients. I also learned that many people gain (on average 9-11) years of what was once a normal life minutes after the transplant takes place. Each of them said you awake feeling like you did before you had your first indication of CHF/DCM, It was reassuring & gave me hope.. & filled my growling tummy.
The next day the heart cath was done. My PT INR was not at the right point, so I was given a heparin drip to help. I waited till 4 in the afternoon NPO, this visit was not going well.. I got down to the cath lab & the fluoroscopy machine that directs the threading of the catheter was on the fritz, so lying flat for all that time with no sedation was giving me more anxiety. They borrowed a machine from the OR, and off we went, 7 attempts at the neck were unsuccessful, one reason I head was maybe she has a clot. The rude & weary doctor finally decided to do the procedure in my groin. I was prepped & the lumen slipped in like butter.. YEAH!!
Back to my room, leg remains flat till the "wires" come out.. so it was bedpan city.. luckily I was not on diuretics, and had been NPO for hours before the testing.However the HIGH pulmonary pressures they got in the cath lab were soon replaced by more stable numbers in CCU. I was sad & glad at the same time, wishing I could be moved up on the transplant list but glad I would not have to live with a fanny pack & picc line this early in my wait for the heart. Thursday marks one month on that list, it seems like 6 from this end but it's only been a month.
While I was there it was determined that my morphine pump should come out, I was only too glad to get rid of it, I get 5mg per 24 hours but with chronic pancreatitis behind me and just an occ, bout of it, I am ready to let it go, surgery said yes, then pain management arrived and said we can't just pull this out suddenly I may need titration & support afterwards, it was determined that my home doc that put it in could be responsible for this action. I am lucky to have an appt on Fri. It was already scheduled so I will address it then, we can start the progressive decreasing of the meds, it's morphine/baclofen. Hope this goes smoothly.. nothing else is at this point..
Next my blood pressure. It's low. My blood pressure is VERY low. So low that you will not believe this but I'm down to 3.125mg of coreg (2x day) & 5 enalapril at bedtime. I can't help but wonder if they are trying to raise my blood pressure in an attempt to 1) help me feel better & give me a better quality of life in the time I do have remaining & 2) (at tad more optimistic) help me get a blood pressure so they can treat me with inotropes at a future date, during the bridge to transplant with LVAD being the stronger bridge after the inotropes stop working.
So for as much that seemed to happen last week, not much has happened. Time ticks away slowly when you are on a list like I am. Each minute seems like an hour. Keeping the faith is hard. Staying positive is a fake smile & a reply of thanks when you hear "but you look great".
6 hours later I am in my room, yes 6 hours.. luckily it was the monthly meeting of heart transplant survivors & I was asked to sit in with the group, I gained 2 business cards, half of a turkey sandwich, some fresh fruit and water, the best choices from what most seemed like a dichotomy in a luncheon spread for heart patients. I also learned that many people gain (on average 9-11) years of what was once a normal life minutes after the transplant takes place. Each of them said you awake feeling like you did before you had your first indication of CHF/DCM, It was reassuring & gave me hope.. & filled my growling tummy.
The next day the heart cath was done. My PT INR was not at the right point, so I was given a heparin drip to help. I waited till 4 in the afternoon NPO, this visit was not going well.. I got down to the cath lab & the fluoroscopy machine that directs the threading of the catheter was on the fritz, so lying flat for all that time with no sedation was giving me more anxiety. They borrowed a machine from the OR, and off we went, 7 attempts at the neck were unsuccessful, one reason I head was maybe she has a clot. The rude & weary doctor finally decided to do the procedure in my groin. I was prepped & the lumen slipped in like butter.. YEAH!!
Back to my room, leg remains flat till the "wires" come out.. so it was bedpan city.. luckily I was not on diuretics, and had been NPO for hours before the testing.However the HIGH pulmonary pressures they got in the cath lab were soon replaced by more stable numbers in CCU. I was sad & glad at the same time, wishing I could be moved up on the transplant list but glad I would not have to live with a fanny pack & picc line this early in my wait for the heart. Thursday marks one month on that list, it seems like 6 from this end but it's only been a month.
While I was there it was determined that my morphine pump should come out, I was only too glad to get rid of it, I get 5mg per 24 hours but with chronic pancreatitis behind me and just an occ, bout of it, I am ready to let it go, surgery said yes, then pain management arrived and said we can't just pull this out suddenly I may need titration & support afterwards, it was determined that my home doc that put it in could be responsible for this action. I am lucky to have an appt on Fri. It was already scheduled so I will address it then, we can start the progressive decreasing of the meds, it's morphine/baclofen. Hope this goes smoothly.. nothing else is at this point..
Next my blood pressure. It's low. My blood pressure is VERY low. So low that you will not believe this but I'm down to 3.125mg of coreg (2x day) & 5 enalapril at bedtime. I can't help but wonder if they are trying to raise my blood pressure in an attempt to 1) help me feel better & give me a better quality of life in the time I do have remaining & 2) (at tad more optimistic) help me get a blood pressure so they can treat me with inotropes at a future date, during the bridge to transplant with LVAD being the stronger bridge after the inotropes stop working.
So for as much that seemed to happen last week, not much has happened. Time ticks away slowly when you are on a list like I am. Each minute seems like an hour. Keeping the faith is hard. Staying positive is a fake smile & a reply of thanks when you hear "but you look great".
Transplant in my future..
Bear with me this is long & at times complicated. I have had NIDCM for 4 yrs with an EF of 20. I was placed on Coreg but could not increase past 6.50 twice a day due to low BP & body weight. I spent years with a doc that seemed caring & adequate & sought 2 outside opinions. I have an AICD due to the chroninc Afib & am now on Sotalol. Dig, Enalapril, coumadin & a couple nutrients round out my daily regime with Lasix & K tabs as needed. In fall of this year I went in for an echo. The results were still 20. I was sent to a HF specialist at this point because I felt awful.
There are plenty more stories about this Dr Howard Eisen one which involves Mark Meade as a transplant recipient. Google Dr Howard Eisen
Mark Meade & his wife Terry became "ebay friends at one point during my involvement with eBays focus group called VOICES. Last month Terry Meads husband was doing so well that he took Dr Eisen to a Giants game. As Terry (his wife) and I chatted online her suggestion to send a brief medical history to her to show Dr E resulted in a personal phone call from him & a follow up appt along with a bilateral heart cath..No blockages, but my EF is now 5-10. My VO2 max is 9, transplants are done at 12.
I am currently at home attempting to finish all out patient testing so that next thursday I will be presented as a case to be officially listed & get my beeper...
Throw my abd problems into the mix & that necessitates a virtual colonoscopy, as well as a CT scan of pelvis & pancreas. Sadly snow is inundating us causing the one day prep to turn into 2. I would love to hear from other transplant patients & chat with them if we have any on board..
Am I scared you bet, has the moral aspect of what has to happen for me to live entered my heart & soul, you bet. This was NOT what I expected from the disease process, but as I began to decline last few months I urge you all to listen to your bodies, never settle for a diagnoses that feels wrong, Speak up when things are NOT progressing. I will be here as much as possible & pray I can help others or that others can help me.. This has been a safe haven most of the time & I can only hope that it will be again since I have no where else to turn living in the sticks..
There are plenty more stories about this Dr Howard Eisen one which involves Mark Meade as a transplant recipient. Google Dr Howard Eisen
Mark Meade & his wife Terry became "ebay friends at one point during my involvement with eBays focus group called VOICES. Last month Terry Meads husband was doing so well that he took Dr Eisen to a Giants game. As Terry (his wife) and I chatted online her suggestion to send a brief medical history to her to show Dr E resulted in a personal phone call from him & a follow up appt along with a bilateral heart cath..No blockages, but my EF is now 5-10. My VO2 max is 9, transplants are done at 12.
I am currently at home attempting to finish all out patient testing so that next thursday I will be presented as a case to be officially listed & get my beeper...
Throw my abd problems into the mix & that necessitates a virtual colonoscopy, as well as a CT scan of pelvis & pancreas. Sadly snow is inundating us causing the one day prep to turn into 2. I would love to hear from other transplant patients & chat with them if we have any on board..
Am I scared you bet, has the moral aspect of what has to happen for me to live entered my heart & soul, you bet. This was NOT what I expected from the disease process, but as I began to decline last few months I urge you all to listen to your bodies, never settle for a diagnoses that feels wrong, Speak up when things are NOT progressing. I will be here as much as possible & pray I can help others or that others can help me.. This has been a safe haven most of the time & I can only hope that it will be again since I have no where else to turn living in the sticks..
In the beginning....
Just a few years ago I was living a somewhat normal life. I was living comfortably with my husband in our dream home, a modest 2 BR partially secluded piece of heaven. Life was good.
In Nov of 2007 after returning from a trip to CO to visit my sis I woke to a gurgling sound that was coming from me. It got louder & harder to breath on the way to the ER. Upon admission to the local ER I learned that I was in CHF: Congestive Heart Failure / DCM: Dilated Cardiomyopathy . I was emergently given a (pacemaker) AICD after my EF: Ejection Fraction came up at 20.
Life as I knew it would never be the same, but this was just the beginning...
In Nov of 2007 after returning from a trip to CO to visit my sis I woke to a gurgling sound that was coming from me. It got louder & harder to breath on the way to the ER. Upon admission to the local ER I learned that I was in CHF: Congestive Heart Failure / DCM: Dilated Cardiomyopathy . I was emergently given a (pacemaker) AICD after my EF: Ejection Fraction came up at 20.
Life as I knew it would never be the same, but this was just the beginning...
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