I can’t believe that I’m already approaching the 8-year Anniversary of my heart transplant.
The past few days have been quite busy, and I haven’t had a chance to write anything for this week’s post. We are leaving Sunday morning for my next appointment at my transplant center in Nashville, so I’ve been packing and prepping.
This is my big annual appointment with lots of tests and doctor visits. I always get nervous ahead of this trip, partly because I fear what they might find, and partly because I don’t want to get poked and prodded. After all these years as a transplant patient, I think I’m getting a little bit burned out on all the medical stuff. But I gotta do it, you know?
My hospitalization in July gave me more than enough time with the medical establishment for the rest of the year, but in reality, it only guaranteed me more. Since that stay, my heart arrythmia has evolved from simple SVT where my heart rate shoots up and stays there for a few minutes to a couple hours to a variable beat in which I can watch it climb to 110, 120, 140, 150, then crash back down to 90. That sudden drop makes me feel like I’m going to pass out, so I make sure I’m seated when I feel the tapdancing begin in my chest.
Previously, the SVT felt like sustained pounding, but now it feels like Jello jiggling in my chest. I have a Kardia Mobile 6L device, and I paid the $99/year membership fee to get “advanced determination” on the readings. These determinations have moved from “unclassified finding” to tachycardia, or supraventricular ectopy, or Atrial Fibrillation.
In this horse racing field, AFib is taking the lead by a nose, and I can feel myself moving in and out of AFib on a near constant basis at times. It seems to happen if I do anything remotely physical, like walking the dogs or too vigorous housework. Recently it was triggered by a trip to Costco.
Prior to my upcoming appointments, I have printed out the EKG strips from the Kardia and highlighted what the determination is on each. I also created an executive summary so the doctor can see the issue at a glance because I doubt he’s going to take the time to review the actual EKG strips.
It might seem obsessive that I printed these strips, but I have learned the hard way that if you don’t have proof, it doesn’t exist. Especially with cardiac issues. A racing heart without documentation is probably just a panic attack, right?
Bruce Wayne is adding a little extra stress because he has a corneal abrasion that requires eye drops three times a day. We took him to the vet a week ago and he’s been getting antibiotic drops, but his eye has not improved. At this last checkup, the vet prescribed a different antibiotic, a drop that’s supposed to aid in corneal healing, and a serum he created from Bruce’s blood plasma. He explained that last one as helping with healing because the cornea doesn’t have a great source of blood supply and this serum will help speed up his recovery.
He will be staying with a sitter who is currently studying at the community college to become a vet tech, so they will get some extra credit with him. Bruce will be in good hands.
While we are in Nashville, I’m sure we will make a stop at Hugh Baby’s, a little hole-in-the-wall burger joint with a pig as a mascot. My husband absolutely loves that place. I don’t understand the fascination, but I’m not going to deny him his favorite snack, so long as I get to have some Nashville Hot Chicken.
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