Happy Monday...July 16th, 2018.
It's been a titch over a month since I last posted...life has been so crazy over the past month, with SO much going on, I'm not even sure where to start.
Let's go back a sec to where it all started...March 3rd and the 'bump in the road' along with my first blog post back on March 12th.
FIRST BLOG POST
...since then, I've had a set-back or 3, with test after test, including a stay at Mayo for a spell for more testing.
Last week I received a call from my cardiologists office, just checking in, trying to find out how I was feeling. 'Tired, lethargic with frequent bouts of being light-headed'...well let's get you in a for a quick check-up...I see you have a pace-maker appointment on Friday, let's do it then.
Quick lab draw, then a meeting with a NP named Meghan...she was a rock-star, though wasn't really digging my answers or results so ordered another diagnostic cardiac ultrasound.
Results showed an ejection fraction of 17%...ugh...with no noticeable improvement :( ...and a possible clot in my left ventricle...same old pesky clot, or is this one new?
Not many other changes...blood pressure still too low to 'medicate', 86/52ish, and they tweaked my PMaker, trying to elevate my HR quicker. None of that makes any sense to me, so I just roll with it. They have adjusted me so my resting doesn't go below 70, and my max is either set at 170, or 200, though I haven't been able to get it above 165 in testing, or biking on my own.
So what's next? Well tomorrow is a big day...after the news from last Friday, they asked me come in on Tuesday (tomorrow) for a heart biopsy...doesn't that sound like fun! Sounds like they'll insert a catheter into the right side of my neck, again, and go in through an artery to my heart and take some heart samples...really? Wait, what? You're going to do what? ...make it sound so easy, just an hour long procedure, but this test really bugs me, and I'm not sure why.
...and yes, I'm back to shots in the stomach...joy, joy.
This past month has been an emotional/trying month for me to say the least...and the 'unknown' is so hard on me! I've been told no running, and when I ride, NOTHING over 120 HR...ugh. To a guy who thrives off working hard, it's really hard to handle, but it's something I need to do if I have any chance of getting better, or any chance of getting a new heart down the road, if that's the journey.
...but wow, it's hard!
Emotional also as it pertains to life...life has always been a struggle, and now, even with NEW love, I feel lost...what to do, where to go, what's my next step? ...there are some days...
My trip to Mayo was a bit of a disappointment, thinking I would get some concrete answers while I was there, but all they could offer was a 'confirmation' that they believe I tested positive for cardiac sarcoidosis as well...a diagnosis I heard from the Heart Hospital earlier, so I will keep my care at the HH...the docs and nurses there have been amazing. I was reaching...
...so, tomorrow, ugh...I'll be sure to blog and/or post my thoughts on the procedure, but I'm not jumping for joy to get it done, and I'm not sure why...I'm Derek Lindstrom, and I can do anything, but some days, I'm a flipping-pansy!
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