Hi all!
Wanted to get an update out to everyone who has been so kind
and concerned about my condition this summer/fall. Let me start by saying I’m
much better today, thank you!
I returned to the Seattle area on Saturday 9/28 to await my
cardioversion on 10/9. First, thank you to Barbara, William, and Blake for
coming over Friday night and packing up my patio and all my food for transport
to Seattle. A big thank you to Sue for driving my truck for me! Michele, Jason,
and Quinne were incredibly kind in opening their home to me during a time when
it was difficult for me to even eat. And thank you for Colleen and Doug for
stopping by my trailer over the weekend to make sure it was buttoned up
securely and ready for the cold snap.
My sister Kim came to visit Sunday afternoon and found me
drifting in and out of sleep in the recliner. And not only was I feeling sick,
Michele had gotten food poisoning a couple days early and was completely out of
it for several days, including her own trip by ambulance to the emergency room!
Unfortunately, I couldn’t wait ten days for the appointment.
I was suffering by Monday to such an extent that Quinne called my doctor and
took me to the emergency room. After they got me settled enough to breathe more
easily for the night, they admitted me and performed the Transesophageal
Echocardiogram Monday morning and proceeded directly to the cardioversion. I
was sent home that afternoon. The next few days were filled with appointments
with various doctors to check my progress and all get in sync on my treatment.
They were also days of uncertainty. Sometimes I felt fine
and at other times it was as if nothing had improved. The worst was Sunday but
there was a marked improvement on Monday.
Tuesday, Michele drove me to an appointment for a pulmonary
function test and consultation. Dr. Miele was very attentive and said that even
though my lungs were showing only 37% of capacity, she felt getting the water
out of my tissues and drying up my sinuses would reveal that in two weeks I was
breathing normally. However, I’ll need to be back in two weeks for a CT scan
and evaluation. As she said, “I hope it’s only your heart.” I also managed to
eat an actual meal at the hospital, the first I’ve had an appetite for food in
a long time. BLT and a chopped salad. Delicious. I had already had a strip of
bacon and a scrambled egg for breakfast, compliments of Jason. I had another
meal of leftover Chinese food when we finally got home, and a few bites of
dinner.
Wednesday, at what Michele called “The butt crack of dawn,”
Quinne took me back in for my follow-up consultation with Dr. Fellows and Dr.
Longo. Both concurred with everyone else that I need to shed the water weight I
gained. I’ve lost 8 pounds in the past three days and will probably lose at
least that in the next week. What I didn’t know, however, was that I need an
ablation now to stabilize the heart. The alternative to that is long-term drugs
which can be as harmful as the a-fib in the first place. Scheduling has said I
need to stick around until November 4 to have that procedure. Then probably a
two-week check-up after to make sure everything is ticking correctly and
steadily. Wednesday is the first day I’ve felt completely clear-headed and had
a good appetite, as well.
So, I’m here in Lynnwood WA for another month before I can
consider moving my trailer and going south. At that time, it will all depend on
how the weather is and how safe it is to travel. I’ll just have to wait and
see.
That brings me up to date. Since I’ll be in the Seattle area
now for at least another month, I’m hoping to see some of my friends here. If
you’re in the area and want to get together, let me know. If I continue to
improve as I have the past three days, I’ll need to get out of the house
occasionally. And figure out how I am ever going to repay Jason, Michele, and
Quinne for having abused their welcome and hospitality so thoroughly.
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