Heart failure -

[Christina L]

Thanks DB -

Thanks DB -

I think it is somewhat hereditary and people with thin faces and not much a jaw line can be prone to sleep apnea (which I have - I think my Dad had it (not officially diagnosed) and I look so much like him - he snored something terrible although I don't snore that bad - and he was always tired and took lots of naps - he died of a heart attack at 63) - the most affected by SA are overweight, thick-necked men in their 40s and 50s, but anyone can have it. I know a gal whose brother died in his sleep from untreated sleep apnea.

It will be a pain in the butt to have to wear a CPAP machine but I have gotten used to wearing my oxygen at night and this will be a step up, I know, and not "sexy" looking to wear but if it will help my heart and prolong my life so I can enjoy raising a little girl, I will do it. I read of one lady who says she envisions herself as a fighter pilot every time she puts on her CPAP mask at night.

Thanks for the advice - even though I don't want to have sleep apnea, I would rather have that be causing my "maybe" right heart enlargement than something else.

Christina L

 

[Sherry]

Christina, I'm a little tired but nothing that I can't handle. Some of that too could be getting out of my normal sleep pattern in the summer since I'm a teacher. I would be so much better off if I could convince myself that sleeping in only makes me sleepier. Anyway, I'm very pleased with the effectiveness of the Altace. I may have mentioned it earlier, but I play tennis with a retired heart surgeon, and he told me it was a no brainer to get on a low dose of Altace in order to protect my heart function. When Dr. Dan spoke, I listened...

I am glad to hear that your numbers are coming down. It was smart for you to buy that cuff and begin checking it daily. That's the only way you would really know, not just on the occasional trip to the doctor's. I was told that the most telling reading is the one that you get when you first get out of bed in the morning. Is that when you're testing?

 

[Der Biermeister]

It will be a pain in the butt to have to wear a CPAP machine but I have gotten used to wearing my oxygen at night and this will be a step up, QUOTE]

Christina - a lot of it is a positive attitude. I remember when I first got diagnosed with OSA - about 15 years ago. I was so ruined by what it was doing to me that the very first night on CPAP felt like a godsend the next morning. I have never once -- in all those years -- felt bad about CPAP because I wake up refreshed, having had a good night's sleep instead of 200-300 micro-awakenings. And there is this aspect -- it IS possible to reverse the condition -- I know, I am living proof. With renewed energy (15 years ago), I began my walking program. I was committed and after 1 1/2 years, and the loss of some 60 lbs, I got re-tested at University of Virginia, and I was "cured" of OSA. It was more than just the weight loss - the exercise did wonders for my overall respiratory system. Where I had snored extremely heavily before treatment, I now did not snore at all -- and this without CPAP. I stayed that way for about 7 more years until I ruined my right knee, went through two operations - including a total knee replacement, and gained all my weight back .... and the OSA too. So I began CPAP therepy again a couple of years ago. But I am on the way down and I suppose in another year, I will once again be cured. BUT -- I got so attached to CPAP that I remember the first night I didn't have to sleep with it -- I really did not want to give it up. For me -- and I know everyone is different -- CPAP is very soothing and puts me to sleep in about one minute.

 

[ladyofthelake]

Christina,

Though I do believe you need good specialty docs monitoring your situations with your heart, OSA and hypothyroidism, I think it would help to reduce much of your speculation worry, if you required a copy of your last echo report from your cardios office, soon. I hope you will look into the pillar procedure if you do have OSA that needs intervention. There are some Dental appliances or jaw adjustment devices that can also be helpful. Here is a new and very different recommendation from the sleep center online I thought you might like (I found it as I was researching my insomnia problem)

*Learn to play the didgeridoo: Swiss medical scientists, publishing in the British Medical Journal, found that regular playing of the didgeridoo (an Australian wind instrument) improved snoring, sleep apnea, and daytime sleepiness, and reduced sleep disturbances to bedroom partners. The reason for this improvement may be that training to play the didgeridoo decreased the collapsibility of the upper airways.*

http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleep_apnea.htm

I see that you do have some reading of your ox level so if you already have an ox monitor ignore but I think if you see your echo report and do see enlargement in any of the heart figures including the last read on your pulmonary artery pressure then you may want to request that your doc prescribes you an in home oxygen monitor (along with medical help you may want for incressing pulmonary artery pressure) which is convenient and insurance covered for sleep apnea. It will help you to monitor the success of your efforts. (Sleep slightly elevated on your right side) I actually have and do use, occasionally, a consumer model (non US) in-home, small ECG unit that my cardio and I love for the fact that I am arrhythmia prone. It is very helpful to see that my heart has great function even when it has frequent PVCs and PACs and I know that I can rely on it to tell me if I need help (which luckily I have not needed, lately – “knock on wood”) – my own sensitivity would alert me as well but it is good to have. So I think there are some gadgets that can be helpful along with your BP cuff. Great to hear your BP is so good and that your M repair has helped to decrease the size of your LA from 4.2 to a 3.6 . There is also in home thyroid monitoring tests that I don’t use but I know I can use them to monitor before and in between Endocrinologist visits. (there is also the old fashioned basal therometer in home testing for thyroid)

http://www.ebiosafe.com/frame.asp?Current_Category=1&Current_Product=30&Affiliate=123485

Hope you’re feeling better an looking forward to your new, fantastic adoption Mommy life.

 

[Guest]

Cort - I'm sorry to hear that you are going through a rough patch right now. You are another person that just amazes me - you have lived enough life for all of us here at VR.com - you just know how to live period - you are such a great guy. I hope that you and I will both get our acts together and go on to savor each day and not to worry too much about our futures. If we take one day at a time and deal with each "problem" as it comes and face it head-on, we should be fine, right?

*nods*

Exactly .

As for me, thank you for your kind words. I didn't used to know how to live...it just came to me (more or less) ... after my 2003 surgery. I realized I needed to be "happier" about things ... and, after a few things fell into place (including getting rid of that '00 "mc", er Lumina ... and my "evil twin"), things started to look a bit better. I'm not perfect ... still have my moments ... but, generally, am better than before.

 

[Christina L]

Sherry - I test my BP

Sherry - I test my BP

three times a day - in the morning, noon while home for lunch, and again late around 10 p.m. I am really getting suspicious of this blood pressure cuff - it is so erratic in its readings. The last few days I have majorly low blood pressure - like 90s/60s!!!! Then I will have a pretty normal reading for me. I still think my diastolic value is a bit too high. I have been taking potassium and magnesium supplements to help with blood pressure and am wondering if I am taking too much. What do you think?

I'm glad you are feeling pretty good on the Altace - you will get used to the slightly reduced energy in time. You have a heart surgeon "friend" - would you want to ask him about my situation to see what he has to say. I'm not sure how well you know him, but I would love an unbiased opinion for once. All the cardios in the group I go to are in cahoots if you ask me. That is why I am going to start clean with a totally new cardio group.

DB - thank you for your inspirational story. It truly does help me to know that others are on CPAP and feeling great. I have yet to know if I will be prescribed a CPAP, but I will know by Wednesday evening and will keep you posted. It truly is uplifting to hear that a person doesn't have to have sleep apnea their whole life if there is something that can be remedied. I know I am going to walk every day come hell or high water and I also am bound and determined to lose this post-surgery (hypothyroid) weight!! I have already lost four pounds since starting the Armour Thyroid, so my metabolism is revving up. Good luck DB in you quest to lose a few more pounds. Know you can do it - you did it before. You go!

Lady of the Lake - I have had so many second opinions and sometimes I like them and sometimes I don't. I like what I want to hear of course. The scary time came when the chest x-ray showed borderline cardiomegaly - that kind of clenched the echo findings and second opinions from a few docs. I was told by one doc my heart has always been upper limits of normal in size and this happens sometime after surgery (it does? who says so?) - another second opinion called my left atrium normal (for some reason left out the right atrium) and said there was one view on my right ventricle that may show enlargement, but when the radiologist took all the measurements together of the right ventricle, he thought it was normal size and certainly normal function. I will just be so anxious to talk with the pulmonologist on Wednesday and of course the new cardio (in three weeks). In the meantime, I am going to work (again) on my thinking patterns.

A digideroo (sp?)???? That sounds just like the thing I need - something total silliness, but yet it may help my lungs. I truly will look into it and also the pillar procedure (again need to see what the pulmonologist says).

I am also going to have mega blood work done on Wednesday regarding my adrenal glands, cortisol, hormones, thyroid function, you name it. A person can't tell me that going into perimenopause/menopause isn't causing a lot of problems for me right now. The weakest point in a person's body gets the brunt of everything else that is going wrong with the body.

Thanks for all your concern and your help. So many good posts from you all - I have to print them out.

Cort - I would love it if you could send me a PM and tell me how you changed your way of thinking. I need a guru.

Take care everyone - have a nice evening.

Christina L

 

[Georgia]

Christina, I finally started to lose weight by lifting weights. They're light - I'm not going to be "cut" anytime soon - like ever - but I've concluded that they're right about building muscle mass helps with weight loss. And I sure felt the difference when I took a month off while in CO after my mom died.

So I'm back in the regimen, aerobic and weight exercises.

Hope you get some answers soon, kiddo.

 

[Guest]

Cort - I would love it if you could send me a PM and tell me how you changed your way of thinking. I need a guru.

*rolls eyes and grins*

Heh ... if I could put that into writing ... I don't think I'd have to find a job . He he he

Seriously, it isn't anything I can put into words. It just ... well ... happened. There were, of course, a few catalysts ... my best friend being one ... and (as corny as this will sound) getting rid of that damn '00 "mc" (Lumina) LS I had were huge starting points for me. Other than that, it was meeting people ... traveling, etc.

I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Despite what you may read in other threads, right now is not a very good time for me ... I hate my job ... and really feel "stuck". But, I grin it and bear it ... figuring things HAVE to get better. Don't know when ... but, they have to ... someday.

*shrugs*

In the meantime, I just try to make the best of things ... and not always succeed .

 

[Andrew'sMom]

Hello Christina,
I have been following your thread here ... I do not have anything medically to offer, but I do want to wish you the very best with getting that little Emma into your home (I can tell she is already in your heart!) I am sure you will be a wonderful mother, and I can only hope that you will be able to wrap your arms around her soon. Two of my favorite books (that always make me cry!) are I'll Love You Forever and The Mitten Tree. When you get that little one home, we'll all have to send you a copy of our favorite children's book ... you'll have a mini-library stocked full of wonderful favorites!! Wishing you the very best in getting answers to your health issues.
Jen

 

[Georgia]

Cort, not perfect? Of course you are.

 

[geebee]

Child of my heart
I waited for you
Searching, love growing
Looking for a babe to hold
Arms ready to cradle
Empty but for the
Dream of you

In another world
You waited
Searching, love growing
Looking for a mom to hold
Your little arms
Waving, looking for
A place to rest

Soon we will meet
Arms entwined
Never to be empty
Again

 

[Christina L]

Georgia -

Georgia -

Thyroid supplementation is definitely starting to rev up my metabolism and I am starting to lose weight. I have also been walking every day 1-2 miles and eating better and not as much. I have read some very interesting stuff that all of you might be interested in regarding hypothyroidism and soy products - soy totally messes up your thyroid gland - I hope you all will get on the internet and read up on it. I was drinking Ensure and Boost - which I believe have soy protein in them and Wayne and also drank soy milk and we ate soy bacon (pretty good actually) and soy burgers, etc. etc., plus tofu every now and then. People in China and Japan rarely eat tofu - which we have been led to believe. Anyway, that is an aside, but I hope I can help those of you who have normal thyroid function to keep it that way.

Cort - don't ya have one small tidbit to share with me - a favorite quote that helped you out?? I agree with Georgia - you are pretty perfect to a lot of us gals on VR.com - wish I knew someone I could hook you up with, but I don't. You will have to stay single and have lots of fun then.

Jen - such sweet words. How is your little boy? Thank you for taking time out of your busy life right now to post such sweet thoughts.

Rachel - I am slowly coming over to your way of thinking. At first I was scared because I thought I wouldn't even be able to carry Emma around. Yes, she will have a better life, but I certainly don't want her to have a mommy who is deathly ill. However, I am NOT going to be deathly ill, I promise. As everyone says here, there are medications, procedures, so much that can be done. And finally, I have not been diagnosed with actual cardiomegaly or enlarged right heart, only borderline on both of those. I have been told I do not have PH - only when I have sleep apnea. Now that I know what can be done about the sleep apnea, maybe it will help my heart. BUT I agree with you - Emma will have Wayne if something happens to me. She will be here in the States and she will be strong for sure - because she has had to be already - she is most likely alive and in an orphanage as we speak - already abandoned by her mother and father. She will have at least two other abandonments by the time we get her (the social worker told us all of this). It is all very sad, but my goal is to give our child the happiest childhood she can have - I feel that is what being a parent is all about - to give your little ones a wonderful childhood, yet prepare them for adulthood.

Gina - oh Gina - cry I did when I read your poem. Sooooo beautiful. Thank you so much for posting that.

I know someone said before on this thread to not be afraid of the joy Emma will bring. I think that is very profound. A cardiologist even asked me the same thing - why I was looking for a health problem to keep me from adopting? That is the cardiologist I will be going back to see - sounds like a keeper this guy.

Anyway....I see the pulmo tomorrow and get some blood work done. I hope to have a few more tidbits to tell you from the pulmonologist.

Have a wonderful night everyone. God bless our troops and may God rest the souls of those three young men who just lost their lives in such a gruesome way. I had to put this in here - it is weighing on my mind - it really puts my long 46-year life in perspective to see these young kids giving up theirs for us.

Christina L

 

[Sherry]

Have a wonderful night everyone. God bless our troops and may God rest the souls of those three young men who just lost their lives in such a gruesome way. I had to put this in here - it is weighing on my mind - it really puts my long 46-year life in perspective to see these young kids giving up theirs for us.

Christina L

Thanks for including this, Christina. It's been weighing heavily on my mind all evening as well. I have a future sis-in-law over there, as well as several former students. I won't rest until all of them come back.

 

[geebee]

Christina,
I wrote the poem for you so you would know that Emma is waiting for you also. She just wants love and will be happy to accept whatever is available.
You will be able to handle what comes your way.

 

[Guest]

Cort - don't ya have one small tidbit to share with me - a favorite quote that helped you out?? I agree with Georgia - you are pretty perfect to a lot of us gals on VR.com - wish I knew someone I could hook you up with, but I don't. You will have to stay single and have lots of fun then.

*chuckles loudly*

Oh no ... I want to NOT be single and have lots of fun. Some people call that sex . He he he

*blushes*

Why thank you, Georgia ... and Christina. You both have no idea how much I needed that today...your comments are very much appreciated . Sadly, believe me, tho, I'm not perfect. I have a few people who'd vouge for me on that one .

Hmmm...tidbit ... music. There is a song out right now (believe the name is "Bad Day", don't remember the artist name) that includes a line about playing a "sad song just to turn it around", with "it" being the "bad day". I hadn't thought of it then, but back in 2003, I played a lot of angry/sad songs. And, the more I listened to 'em, the more they "juiced me" up ... and it helped turn my perspective around. Conversely, there are a few "pick me up" (i.e. happy songs) that help me tremendously, too. One in particular is "Dive" by Steven Curtis Chapman. Now, I could give you songs all day long (you should see my list of songs to quote ... you know, the ones I use at the bottom of my signatures) ... and they may or may not work for you. You'll have to pick out what means something to you ... after all, if it doesn't mean something to you, it won't help.

*shrugs*

Other than that ... activities activities activities. Translation ... keep busy. And, meet people .



Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"We all have a song that somehow touched our lives" ... Kenney Chesney ... 'I Go Back'

 

[Dennis S]

Gina

Gina

Wonderful, wonderful poem.

 

[Karlynn]

Christine, I had never heard that about soy. Very interesting. I'm wondering why we haven't heard more about it, given the popularity of soy protein.

Glad you're hanging on to that cardiologist!

 

[Wise]

Excellent poem!!

 

[jax3172]

For Christina

For Christina

Soy: In my opinion, bad stuff - especially for someone with thyroid problems. Lots of data and research. Most people don't need all that protein. Most Americans consume too much of it.

Thyroid: I am hypothyroid (highest TSH was about 7.0). I went on Synthyroid and it didn't work out. I've been on 60 mg of Armour for about 3 months and can't remember feeling so good. Latest TSH was 1.5, which is just about perfect. There's been a lot going on so I cannot attribute all the feeling good to the thyroid med. Aside: lots of interesting stuff on the web about the Armour vs Synthyroid controversy. Read it if you feel compelled. IMO, a microcosm of American medicine, big Pharmas and the FDA.

PH: Not sure I ever read that hypothyroid can cause PH but I'll have to look into it. I also had a PA pressure of 38 in an echo in January and felt lousy. Just yesterday, it was back to 25 resting and 35 after treadmill stress test. I am a happy camper. I can just feel my exercise tolerance rising by the week and I just thank God!

Heart Issues: In addition to all the echos you get regularly, see if you can talk them into a high res CTA. My sense from all your posts is that SOMETHING is going on that can probably be fixed or gotten under control.

You: I've followed your posts for a long time. I feel a bit like a kindred spirit. You are in close touch with what's going on in your body. YOU KNOW when something isn't right. Passionately searching for the best possible physical outcome for yourself is a good thing and to be admired. Don't let anyone convince you to settle for ill health. Good luck with your adoption.

 

[Praline]

You are..

You are..

.. in my prayers. I hope things get better soon. Positive thoughts going your way.