Admission 10-24 through 10-27 2011

 Monday- I woke up all ready for my appointments and excited to see what my pressures were cause I had been doing so well at home. I got through my labs, EKG and up to my cardiology appointment when my chest started hurting and I started getting some "hard" heart beats again. I had been having them the past few days and actually had them on the plane ride to Cleveland which was not fun at all. The doctor canceled all my other appointments and took a look at me. She said she was almost positive I was retaining fluid and my pressures were high. She sent me to the hotel to rest until my heart cath at 2pm. At 2 we went over to the hospital and went back to pre-op where the dressed me and started my i.v. Shorty after they took me back and got started. Thank God I had an Ativan earlier before because they doctor who was doing my procedure was saying it was going to hurt when he pushed the cath in because of all the scar tissue. He began and I was pissed instantly. He tried to numb the site with Lidocaine but he had to literally put all his weight on the site to push the cath through. After crying and yelling for a few minutes I noticed he was half way done and the nurse was shaking his head, which I knew was bad news. The doctor then came around to look at me and said my pressures were higher than the last time and they were going to admit me in the ICU. All I remember after that was crying and wanting to see Dewon. They then stitched where my cath had been placed and took me up to the ICU where Dewon met me. The doctors and nurses came to tell me they would be starting me on Nipride, Lasix and Potassium  drips. The doctor informed us that they were going to see how I did on the Nipride over night and see if it brought my pressures down. And of course the Lasix would make me use the bathroom a lot to get rid of the fluid and Potassium because mine was low when I came in to the hospital. I went to bed that night very upset and praying things would get better.


Tuesday- The doctors said my pressures had come down some but not enough and they were questioning whether to put me on another medication through my cath that would bump me up on the transplant list meaning I could get a heart a lot sooner. Maybe even later that day... This of course sent me into panic mode. I thought about everything at home, especially my puppies, how my parents were not there and the fact that Dewon and I were not prepared or ready for this. I thought I was doing so well that this check up should have been a breeze. The emotions got to me and all I could do was pray and look at Dewon wondering what was going to happen. I had never been more scared in my life.  That night I didn't sleep well and just kept thinking about all the what if's.


Wednesday- The doctors came in and said my pressures had come down more and that they were going to take my cath out. They also decided to try and put me back on Isordil to lower my pressures while at home.  I think I finally breathed again and was so relieved and just hoping I could tolerate it. They also tested my pacemaker and tried to do some adjustments to help with my "hard" heart beats but couldn't fix it without making me uncomfortable. Later that morning the nurse took my cath out which is a uncomfortable process and she made it worse by ripping my skin off when she removed the adhesive holding it down. That night I did have a major headache and some chest pain so they knocked the dosage back to the smallest amount possible and I seemed to tolerate that a lot better. The docs talked about discharge in 24 hours if I did well that night. That night was pretty calm. The hubby and I just watched movies all night and I finally got some sleep.


Thursday- The doctors were happy with my pressures and how I was handling the medication and decided to let me go home as long as my labs came back normal. We waited all afternoon for them to finally come back with lots of scripts and discharge papers which made me very happy. I get to get out of the hospital, eat real food and be home for Halloween. We were packed up and out of there in like 2 minutes, record timing :) and went to the hotel where we are at now just relaxing and eating good food that has taste.


I want to just thank everyone for their prayer, thoughts and love. I believe that my support system gets me through every hospital stay. And we now know to be ready and realized how real this is and will be ready for when the time comes for me to get a new heart and begin my new life. Thank you all. I love you!!!

10/20/2011

I had a doctors appointment yesterday and they told me I have about four pounds of fluid on my lungs. So they started me on Metolazone to help the Lasix get the fluid off. Today I have already lost two pounds so I am on the right track. I have also had really bad allergies this week and it sucks I can't really take anything so I am hoping that clears up soon too. 
I fly out to Cleveland on Sunday for my appointments on Monday the 24th. They will be doing a right heart cath, the usual tests like labs and echo and then I will see the genetics people. I will also meet with the transplant team so they can tell me if my heart and lung functions are better or worse than the last time. Lastly I will be meeting with doctors to find out if I can get my tubes tied or ablated so that I can't get pregnant but still give eggs later for a surrogate. Praying all goes well I will be back in a few days. Until then lots of lasix, vapor rub and spending time with my little family.....