harpertjh

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I have put a lot of stress behind me now. I had my visit with the Cardiologist who set up my cath. Well I started having shortness of breath 5 days before the scheduled Cath. They decided to admit me and do the cath sooner. I had the whole treatment of a cardiac patient. including the injections of blood thinners into the abdomen. This really wasn't so bad except that a really bad mistake was made by the nursing staff. This was an RN in training. She gave me the shot the morning before the Cath. In fact 1 hour before.  When I got to the Cath lab they asked me if I had gotten it that morning and I said yes. I could tell by their faces that that wasn't the answer they wanted to hear.  I asked if we would have to postpone the procedure and they said no, they would just have to leave the tube in my leg. The nurse in the cath lab said she was going to make me sleepy now. I was under the impression that I would remain in a twilight sleep but when I woke up I was being taken to CICU and told that their was no blockage found.  The next 12 hours will not be forgotten any time soon.  Since I had the shot of blood thinner I had to lay with the leg unmoved  for 6 hours before they could even take the tube out. This became extremely painful as my lower back started to spasm.  I was told that after the tube was removed I could return to my room for the remainder of the time that I would need to keep my leg still. What a nightmare!  They kept me heavily sedated during this time because the back pain was so bad. After the six hours are up and they prepare to remove the tube they tell my husband who they only let in to see me in 30 min. periods. That if he would go up to my regular room they would bring me up in 30 min.  They lied... Then someone else tells me that I have to remain in ICU until the next 6 hours is up too. No one bothers to tell my husband this. NO one knows anything.  My husband went out to smoke and got locked out of the hospital.  He then decided to go to the hotel and get some rest. He continues to call the hospital who had no Idea where I was.  Now this is one of the best heart hospitals in the country.  To bad . What a lousy experience. But the lord was with me in that there was no blockage or narrowing. Now I have Cardiac Clearance

After finally tracking someone down who could tell me what the stress test said. I find out it wasn't good news. This is what Kim from Dr. Nease' office told me:" A Moderate size area of reversible Ischemia, Involving the low lateral Left ventricular wall"
  She wasn't able to tell me what that meant but Tabitha, the  nurse called me and said i would need to see a cardiologist to get clearance. I choose to have my PCP make the arrangements She recommended Mon. General in Morgantown.WV. So off I go Tuesday. Jan.20 to Morgantown. I did find out with the help of Jen, an OH member that it isn't uncommon for large breasted women to have false positive results. That is what I'm praying for. I still have the Feb. 5th appt. in Huntington for the Nutrition class. If all goes well I will still attend. 
             

01/18/2007
Well OK, When Dr. Nease said stress test the thing that came to mind was Tread Mill. I talked to scheduling at our local hospital in Elkins where I'll be going for the test since it is so much closer.The lady making the appt. tells me not to have anything to eat or drink after midnight and no caffeine for 18 hours before the test. Also don't take my morning meds.  I'm thinking hummm!
 But OK, Yesterday I get a call from Nuclear Medicine. They wanted to go over my instructions for the test . She went over every thing above and informed me that I wasn't having a regular stress test. I was having a Chemically induced stress test.  I was thinking  this would be better than having to walk a tread mill. Well I was wrong. I arrived at the hospital at 7:15. They took me back and started an IV. I got a shot of something in the IV and was told to have a seat for 30 min. After 30 min. had passed they take me to a room and have me lay on a table. I must lay with my arms above my head. This machine resembles an MRI machine. I seriously worried that it might be a tight fit, but it wasn't. I had to lay in that position for 30 min. while this thing took pictures of my heart. Ok so far so good. When I finished with that I got to sit for another 30 min.Then they came and took me into the Stress room. They explain to me that they will give me this medicine through my IV and it is going to trick my heart into thinking it is running a marathon . I might experience a hot flush feeling, some tightening in the chest and throat  and some nausea. GREAT! This was the worst 10 min. I have ever experienced. I felt like I was going to die. After this was over I had to sit for another 30 min. and then go back under the arm stretching machine again before I could leave.  This is definitely an experience I will never forget. On the Bright side. ONE more test down, One more step to a surgery date. MOVING RIGHT ALONG...

Today I had my consult with Dr. Nease.
When I got there I heard the receptionist tell another patient they were running an hour behind. I asked her if I had heard right. She replied yes, we're doing good today, usually we are 2 hours behind.  I found this humorous at the time but after driving 4 hours the wait seemed so much longer. Any way I am a candidate for the surgery. I have my class with the NUT. on Feb 5th. I have to have a stress test done before that and then they can give me a surgery date. Wow this is really happening. It is worth the long drive to Huntington to have someone with so much experience in the field and such a good success record. I guess that's it till next time.
Michelle

12/15/06
I got to go to the seminar last night. I was really impressed with Dr. Neases. What's really good is that my Husband, the critic, really liked him too.
He is very up front about the risks and dangers of the surgery. He was very informative. He has a personal interest in helping the morbidly obese since he lost his father due to obesity related problems. I gave my application to Kim when I got to the seminar. I think the only thing that I still need is the Psych. evaluation. I hope to get my consult scheduled soon. I have to say that besides a Surgeon's experience and expertise, it's important to me that a doctor believe in God and doesn't think he is God. I was relieved that Dr. Nease said he had preformed the surgery on some members of his church including his pastors wife. That kept me from having to wonder. God Bless

12/08/06
Well It did snow and I wasn't able to go to the Seminar. Roads get really bad here, really fast. The schools had a 2 hour eairly dismissal and then canceled for today. Kim from Dr. Neases' office called today and said I could come to the Seminar in Huntington on the 14th. After that they won't have another one until February. I will do anything I can to make the one next week. I guess if it's Gods will then there will be a way. Until next time. Michelle

Well, My journey is about to begin. In two days I'm supposed to go to Huntington for the seminar which will start this whole ball rolling. It seems like I have been waiting so long. This is a 4 hour drive for me. Now Mr. weather man is saying *SNOW*
Here in the Mountains that is bad news.  Tonight was the first basketball game for the Jr. High School. Two of my Girls are Cheerleaders. That meant me in a gym full of hundreds of people. I so wanted to hide. I hate feeling so large. I sat outside the door for most of the game with a friend at the ticket table. My husband came right after work to see the girls first game and then I joined him inside the gym. Hummm now where to sit. The bleachers aren't exactly designed to accommodate someone my size. We picked the first available seat we could find. What a mistake. We were in front of an elderly gentleman with a bad case of gas. I was trying desperately to not put my over sized knees into the back of the guy in front of us. this requires sitting kinda sideways. Thank God the buzzer went off for half time and we looked for a better seat. We found one with no one in front of us, and more room for my wide seat to sit.  My DH, who has been rail thin his entire life, has no idea how stressful this kind of thing is for me and I am so good at hiding my misery. I pray the snow holds off so I can go to this seminar.