“Take a breathe and hold.”
“You may now resume breathing normally.”
Those were the words that speaker echoed time and time again over the CT machine just over a month ago. For the first time in 15+ years, we did a heart CT to see the full 3D images of my heart. If you have been around here a while you probably remember when I was told my doctor six years ago that the doctor before him notes the graft they put in my heart years ago had started to disintegrate. If you have no idea what I’m talking about you can get caught up on everything here, if that interests you.
So that we get everything caught up to total speed from the most recent update…
In 2014, I found another new doctor that was closer to our new house. We did an echo-cardiogram like I typically do once and year and we did a new test with a Holter. The Holter came back showing some irregular heart beats and palpitations which we weren’t at all surprised about. Once I was pregnant, we dicussed doing a CT after having B. So, once he was born and after we learned that the contrast wouldn’t affect my breast milk (remember that whole B won’t take a bottle thing?), we scheduled the CT and Ryan took the day off so that I could get the CT done. I arrived and my resting heart rate was exactly where it needed to be, which was what I was hoping so I would haven’t to be medicated to slow my heart rate. Once they got the IV in that was used for putting the contrast in, they took me back and it was time for the CT. Most of scan was done without the contrast and then the part was with the contrast. The contrast is a dye that goes in and out helps the arteries more visible have. My heart palpitationed abnormally as soon as the contrast went in which was really interesting. Due to palpitations we weren’t sure if it was going to skew the results are not.
I hadn’t heard anything for a few days after so I called and followed up and I didn’t get any answers and my doctor was out of town for two weeks. Finally a few follow-up calls led to a generic answer but that the scan didn’t need to be rescanned which is good news.
Fast forward a couple weeks and I still hadn’t heard anything. The first week of January I called and started to get a little bit pushy because we are talking about a vital organ, after all! Finally I was told that the records could be picked up but I had anything from the doctor. If you hours later my doctor finally called me!!!
I expected him to pull a typical doctor move and tell me that I needed to come in and discuss what the scan had showed. However, I got an apology for getting the runaround and that he had read it before he went out of town and he left a note for them to notify me which they didn’t do. He then let me know that the CT scan showed that the graft that they put in my hearts looks fantastic. He also let me know that the disintegration that the former doctor told me about is nowhere to be found. As you can imagine that was huge news for me because it’s always been something that’s made us a little bit nervous. So whether the old doctor from 13 years ago was mistaken or by some grace of God a miracle happened and it healed itself…it’s incredible news!! And it’s a huge weight off of everyone’s shoulders getting this news.
Other than that bit of excitement, life around here has been pretty normal. I took the last week and a half off (mostly) because I just needed an impromptu break to just live in the moment with minimal on my plate other than a few basic duties outside of our sweet little family. It felt so good to take that time away.
Last weekend we went to the Children’s Museum (I’ll post that soon!) and had such a nice, fun, family day. We wanted to get one good family activity in the books before Ryan had to go out of town for work: Ryan has been out of town since I this last Friday and will be back this coming Friday. We always miss him when he is out of town for work, but look forward to him being home!!
Went went and watched my sister’s swim competition on Sunday which was a lot of fun and I’m so proud of her. She’s such a good competitive swimmer! My mom and sister came and spent some time with us Monday night and yesterday which was a nice time. It’s always nice to get a little extra time with them when we can all make it happen on our schedules!
Your turn! Tell me, what’s going on with you? What’s new in your world?
Boy that is such good news for you! I absolutely detest when doctors offices screw up like that, It’s our lives they casually deal with. Love this photo of the 3 of you! How is your Dad doing?
Yes! I really agree. I feel like things on a variety of levels would have been a bit different had we not had that misinformation. I am trying to keep on the perspective that sometimes the body does things crazy and heels things… To control any frustration with that doctor that I may have. Ha ha. That said, it’s just really Great to know that things are good.
My dad is good. He is still in Kansas where I grew up. Just working a lot and enjoying life!
That is fantastic news!