Tests

This is the medical tech equipment used for my latest heart scan.

Heart Scan Results???

Another heart scan…. Here’s the list completed so far

1.Electrocardiogram (EKG)
2.Transesophageal echocardiogram
3.Treadmill exercise stress test
4.Doubutamine Dual Isotope Stress Test

I have yet to get the results, but I did almost pass out when they raised my heart rate with medicine. Resting heart rate was low – around 50 without caffeine. then when they took it to 122. I lost blood pressure. I got a buzzing sound in my ears, got tired, had vision changes, and blacked out a bit.

Not sure if that’s normal, but it didn’t seem so at the time. I hope we figure out if the leaking in the valves is exacerbating my chest pains.

TEE test results, Stress test pending

I had horrible experience with the TEE test. It is way worse than you think it will be. Don’t worry if you have to have it too, because it will be a bad memory within a few weeks.

I felt like I had strep throat while recovering, and the meds wore off during the test. I woke up several times during the procedure.

I checked into the hospital for the exam. I wasn’t alone. I felt good having some one to talk to, because I was really afraid.In the Hospital I was in, there was a recovery area that is also the area that I had to wait until they found a cardiologist who could perform my test. I had been sent directly there from my primary care physician, and that made it difficult to track down an independent cardiologist available to do my scan.

 While waiting, I was given an IV with a bag of fluid. I was allowed to watch TV and lie down on an hospital bed in an area that was common recovery area. There were other people with serious cathederization procedures one curtain away from me. The pain and discomfort level the man next to me was experiencing, made me feel very lucky to have a only irritation and a sore throat. This did add to the fear element of the day. I was more on edge listening to his worries, and his discomforts after his minor surgury. It made me want to do something to help him, obviously I couldn’t.

When my time came to go to the test they rolled me down the cardiology hall on my hospital bed. I felt strange. It was a bad center of attention feeling.

The nurses were nice, and as the Dr. entered the room I heard them discussing putting me to sleep. I guess they didn’t want me moving around alot during the procedure. This is the physician’s preferance. I was ok with that. I couldn’t believe how awake I was. I was prepping myself for the test, as nurses strapped electrodes to my chest near my collar bones. Until they put the sedative in my arm, I was wide awake.

Liquid Hurricane spray was sprayed through an aresol can with a long slinder extension (similar to a coffe stirrer) 3 times into deep in my throat. Usually people have a coughing reaction. I forced myself to stay calm and hold my breath. Not a good taste or feeling, but I was freaked out. It was all surreal.

They administered a sedative through IV.

A plastic mouth guard was shoved into my mouth, and strapped around my head. I was still wide awake for this. Then I did get very sleepy.  Then tubes were fed down into my esophogus. I woke up and wasn’t able to swollow. It felt like I was drowning. That was the worst feeling. I motioned for them to suction. I tried to speak but couldn’t. Then I felt them pulling the tubes out of my throat.

I was extremely irritated after finding out that I had gone through all of that, with some big questions still looming. The drugs they gave me lost their ability to control my pain, my conciousness, and yet they did make me angry. It was like having strep throat without being able to drink water, have ice, or medicines for the 3 hours in recovery.

I was so restless, and hateful. I wanted to leave, drink water, or get pain relief.

The Dr. said Mitral Valve and tricuspid is no big deal. That frustrated me, until I did more research… I would think that any valve in the heart leaking would be an issue. He didn’t seem to be concerned at all. It may not be a big deal ever, but I still worry about my valves under stress (excercising)

It still feels weird to try and garge with mouthwash or water. I choke sometimes when eatting. It seemed to irritate my gag reflex. It has been sporatic ever since last week. Seeming to get better, but still bugging me.

Initial Results : Minor Regergetation Mitral valve and tricuspid valve. Not life threatening, but may continue to be symptomatic. No clear signs of ASD or PFO.

This is a result under very controlled imaging. I feel good that they didn’t see life threating problems. My other thought is.. I’m preoccuplied with how those “minor” leaks hold up when I’m working out really hard. This was the same thought my Dr. had, so I have a STRESS Test the end of this month. This should also help me to have more information about my non-resting heart functions.

I am working out and taking new and improved Asthma meds until then… Obesity is much more dangerous than minor heart leaks… So I took a friend’s advice and found weight loss solution that is great for my busy lifestyle.

“Hurricane Migraine” My Poem

Close the blinds! The throbbings come,
The dullest ache has finally won!
It started in the smallest vein,
That tiny swelling hurricane!
Peaceful day, gone terribly wrong
A building force, now going strong.
Minute after minutes, tick
My stomach is now feeling sick
Medicines come nowhere close
To throwing lifelines from the coast
I’m drowning in this sea of pains
These ever present throbbing veins

Copyright 2009 – EC

If you have constant migraines, get heart scan!!!

I just found out I have blood that is leaking through valves in my heart. It may be contributing to my constant migraines, and it may explain why good medicines don’t always work for me. I hope more reseach is being conducted – ASD or PFO and Migraines… Closing the gap to stop the cycle of Migraines. I’ll participate!!! I am already about to have more scans done, and find out what I can do to fix everything. Having Heart Scans at 26, may have saved my life. People can die early because of this valve not being closed at birth. You survive until heart eventually fatigues. If you have constant migraines, get heart scan!!!

I’ve had migraines with Aura almost my whole life. I never knew that my heart was born with this hole. I’ve been through dozens of other tests and meds to figure out what is making me sick with constant migraines… thyroid tests, asthma tests, Polycystic tests, ADD meds, bipolar meds, Cat Scans, diabetes scans, lung scans, hormone tests, birth control changes, doctors listening to my heart… but still no one ever figured it out… One Heart scan – EKG with Emory and they found flaws in my heart.

MORE Heart Scans for Me

Oh man, TEE Test sounds like it won’t be fun. I know what to expect, but I think I’m more worried about the results than the test. I am thinking of everything differently. I was talking with my co-workers and my family and friends about the news.

It puts the strangest things into perspective… I almost felt relieved.

I’ve always been a step behind in physical activities. I’ve lagged behind since as long as I can remember. It took a toll on my self-esteem and my weight.

I’ve ballooned up, feeling like a lazy hypocondriac… who can’t cut it at sports…at least not like others. It comes so easy for everyone else.

I think this is a turning point. I was looking at everything from my life with new perspective.

Over the years…
I climbed small hills and mountains with a lot of difficulty. Biked 10 miles a day during summers, swam 2 miles a day… and pushed through the pain. I thought about places I went overseas, when I swam from one island in Costa Rica to another across a channel. I thought about collapsing in the pool, and being pulled out… I thought about collapsing in PE classes… I thought about having to use a lower impact step for Aerobics.

It’s been a constant thing for me to battle with. This past almost 5 years since Lily was born… I’ve gotten more and more and more tired… and sick feeling. I don’t feel like moving. I don’t feel like getting up. I hurt with migraines at times, yawning all day, coughing a lot… I thoght it was Asthma and Sleep Apnea. It is more.

Before Lily was born I lost 55lbs the hard fashion way. I worked out HARD !!! (kept it off shortly, then gained it all back plus 40 more… through BAD pregnancy. I had water building up all over my body… I wonder what this means to Lily’s diagnosis… of Autism… is there a link between mom’s with heart trouble and Autism???)