Dr. appt. today

[Gnusgal]

Well, after being delayed from October 21st, I was finally able to get in to see my electrophysiologist. I had wanted, so badly, to talk to him about the fast heart rates I get in the shower, but had to wait until I could get in to see him (this was only the second time I'd seen him, so I didn't feel right just calling him up). Anyway, I finally got to talk to him today. He gave me an event monitor to see if I can catch it right after I get OUT of the shower. After the way I described it to him, I think he suspects either atrial flutter or a-fib. I've had flutter in the past, so I wouldn't be shocked. His exact words were that he suspected "a short circut in the upper chambers." Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this so we can get rid of it!

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Niki,
Glad to hear you were able to see your Dr. I hope they get things figured out for you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care

Dave
________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[Nancy]

Hi Niki-

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that the event monitor catches the bad guy in the act.

 

[Gnusgal]

Well, it looks like I jinxed myself. I had told the doctor that my heart was certain to race if I got right out of bed and into the shower... No such luck. It figures that my heart would behave itself when it knows it's being watched. But I have the event monitor for a month. Surely it can't behave THAT long...

(I feel rather odd WANTING to make myself feel ill... But it's all in the name of making me feel better in the long run!)

The good news is, I was cleared to take the med the headache specialist I saw two weeks ago prescribed! Hopefully this will take care of my pesky migraines!

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi niki!
isn't that always the case_ when you want something to show up it doesnt'?
atleast you can now take the migraine meds. that should give you some relief.
please let us know what happens with the flutters and racing.
be well, sylvia

 

[atydev]

Hello

Hello

I hope your appt. went well and you got answers to all you questions. I know I have that problem all the time. Let us know how it went.

April
WPW-Mitral and Aeortic valve regurgitation-2 blockages

 

[Gnusgal]

Well, I got it! (I can't believe I'm excited about being exhausted from a shower.) My heart did its thing, so hopefully the doctor can look at it today and give me a call. I hope I don't have to do this several times before he figures out what to do. It doesn't feel good at all...

Thanks all!

 

[ccrawford]

Niki - Glad you caught that pesky feller. Also hope your new pain killers do the job for you. Keep us informed, Chris

 

[Gnusgal]

I have felt like crud all morning. I think it's because of letting/making my heart go wonky. I don't think I'll do it tomorrow (if I wait about 10-15 minutes after waking up to get into the shower, it tends to be better). I had to take some kids on a field trip today, and felt miserable the whole time. Sweating buckets, heart racing, and having to smile for all of my students and the little kids we were performing for... I'm just glad I have a sub here still and I can relax before taking over. Otherwise I wouldn't have a break, as we were gone for my conference period. I'm taking another group on a field trip tomorrow, so I think I'll skip the yuckiness. At least, I hope that does the trick.

Thanks for all the encouragement guys (and gals)!

 

[bvdr]

Congratulations. I do know how you feel once you get something documented. Somehow it validates that you arn't crazy and are not imagining it.

Have you called to let them know that you may have captured the event. If they can get what they need from that then maybe you won't have to wear the monitor for a month!

 

[Gnusgal]

Oh, I'm not wearing the monitor. It's one that you press against your chest when you feel an event, and press the record button. It wouldn't do any good to have the one that has the sticky pads, since it usually happens in the shower, so I probably wouldn't be able to dry off and get the pads on fast enough to catch it.

I do plan to call the doctor's office and see if the monitor company has sent them the results yet or not. I would rather not have to make myself do that again... Surely once is enough!

Thanks!

 

[Heather Fisher]

I had the same kind of event monitor after my surgery. The first time I caught my heart doing it's thing I recorded it and it was immediately diagnosed as V tach. They doubled my Toprol and it has never done it again. Hope yours works just as well in the diagnosis. They are great gadgets aren't they? Best of luck!

Heather

 

[Gnusgal]

Well, I tried calling to see if they had gotten the fax from the monitor company. They said it can take a couple of days unless it is "something bad." She tried to comfort me that, if they hadn't gotten it, it was't bad, but I don't care. I just want to have this thing solved, darn it. I don't want to wait a couple of days, especially with the holidays coming up. I told her I wasn't going to try to induce it tomorrow, because I felt like crap all day today. I guess I'll try calling again on Monday? I am SO tired...

Oh, and Heather, I hope it IS a simple matter of increasing a med or something. I'm pretty sure mine is atrial flutter, since I had that in the past, which isn't TOO bad, but it sure does make you feel awful.

Thanks for the support!