I still might be crazy, but now I feel not AS crazy.
So I will start out by saying that my grandma Stanko went to the hospital last week because she was complaining of fluttering heartbeats and palpitations. She is resting in the hospital awaiting an angiogram and is probably going to have a procedure done to fix a prolapsed valve in her heart. She's not in critical condition or anything, but its nothing to sneeze at either. She is hopeful that the result of the procedure is that she will feel all around healthier and will stop getting an irregular heartbeat. I am praying that everything will get done as soon as possible, because my poor grandpa is a wreck worrying about her. She's always been really healthy and she'll probably live to be 160 or something after this procedure is done!
But anyways, she has been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and has had this valve problem for years without knowing. Its the most common heart condition people get, and a lot of people arent even affected by it in their lives. However, some people experience palpitations, fluttering and chest discomfort. Most of the time its not life-threatening. Some people, like my grandma, have to get procedures done to fix the prolapsed valve.
So...it can be an inherited condition and for years I've been trying to figure out the funny heartbeats I experience. A few months ago I had an EKG and was fitted with a 24 hour holter monitor, but the doctor said everything seemed fine. However, she did say that if I wanted to be 110% sure that nothing was wrong with me, I could get an ultrasound. I declined that because the doctor kind of talked to me like I was a weirdo (because I sounded really surpised, instead of happy, when she told me that my heart was fine). I found out later that an ultrasound is the best way to diagnose mitral valve prolapse. At the time, I also didnt know that my grandma had this condition OR that my gran on my mom's side has congestive heart failure.
So now I think I'm going to give my doctor a call and tell her my new knowledge of my family history and that my symptoms are still occuring almost every day. Hopefully she will think that the ultrasound is a good idea now, instead of talking to me like I'm a crazy-pants. I dont know if she's doubting me because I dont feel symptoms while I'm exercising...or the fact that I run marathons and long races...or what. But I wont take no for an answer this time...
Anyways, wish me luck because I really want to feel better about this once and for all.
In other news, my parents-in-law are coming to visit this weekend. I'm really excited because they want to keep it low key. No touristy stuff...yay! They just want to walk around different neighborhoods and just be laid back. I love it when family visits. My family was here for the marathon, we had a turkey dinner and didnt do much either. Nice!
In OTHER other news, I found 2 companies that are willing to parrot-sit for Sammy over Thanksgiving. I was really stressing about that.
thats all for now! see you next time!