Life!
Well, I do live, and am even online at times lately...sorry if I missed you online!
As for a general life update:
Bronchitis is apparently still clinging on, went today for more cough medicine and a steroid shot to clear up what they think is just some inflammation. If I'm not cleared in a few days it means a return trip.
Also today was my visit to my Cardiologist, which seems to hold good news(of a sort). They ran another echocardiogram and an ECG, as well as doing blood-work. I'm supposed to hear back from the results later today, with the possibility of being included in a current round of research study. A few years back, not long after my original stay in ICU and all there was a study being done on the effect a pacemaker could have on folks with my condition(s) (Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Congestive Heart Failure, to be specific). It seems the original trials showed a lot of promise in keeping any further deterioration of the heart muscle, and the study has been expanded somewhat. Originally, I didn't qualify because my heart rhythm was /just/ outside their operational parameters, but they will be taking a look at my current results to determine if they'd like me to participate. Basically what it will entail is having a pacemaker inserted to help normalize my heart rhythms, with the hopes that it will eliminate my arrhythmia(one of the side effects of having an enlarged heart). While I will have to consult with my parents, I'm fairly well decided that If I qualify that I will participate.
The major fear my Cardiologist has held is that my heart muscle will weaken further over time, which would likely necessitate a heart transplant(which I came within about 3 hours of the first time around...well...actually it was more like "since I technically died for a few minutes they thought it was a heart transplant or nothing". It's been something in the back of my mind for a long time, mostly worries about how it would affect my family and friends since I've seemed to have moved past any fears about it myself. Irregardless, I hope to be able to avoid the possibility for as long as it remains feasible and this seems like it might extend those chances. So, whenever I hear word I'll let folks know! (In other words, if it goes off, I may finish my mage....eventually...really, I swear!) Now I'm off to bed, as I should have been 8 hours ago.
As for a general life update:
Bronchitis is apparently still clinging on, went today for more cough medicine and a steroid shot to clear up what they think is just some inflammation. If I'm not cleared in a few days it means a return trip.
Also today was my visit to my Cardiologist, which seems to hold good news(of a sort). They ran another echocardiogram and an ECG, as well as doing blood-work. I'm supposed to hear back from the results later today, with the possibility of being included in a current round of research study. A few years back, not long after my original stay in ICU and all there was a study being done on the effect a pacemaker could have on folks with my condition(s) (Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Congestive Heart Failure, to be specific). It seems the original trials showed a lot of promise in keeping any further deterioration of the heart muscle, and the study has been expanded somewhat. Originally, I didn't qualify because my heart rhythm was /just/ outside their operational parameters, but they will be taking a look at my current results to determine if they'd like me to participate. Basically what it will entail is having a pacemaker inserted to help normalize my heart rhythms, with the hopes that it will eliminate my arrhythmia(one of the side effects of having an enlarged heart). While I will have to consult with my parents, I'm fairly well decided that If I qualify that I will participate.
The major fear my Cardiologist has held is that my heart muscle will weaken further over time, which would likely necessitate a heart transplant(which I came within about 3 hours of the first time around...well...actually it was more like "since I technically died for a few minutes they thought it was a heart transplant or nothing". It's been something in the back of my mind for a long time, mostly worries about how it would affect my family and friends since I've seemed to have moved past any fears about it myself. Irregardless, I hope to be able to avoid the possibility for as long as it remains feasible and this seems like it might extend those chances. So, whenever I hear word I'll let folks know! (In other words, if it goes off, I may finish my mage....eventually...really, I swear!) Now I'm off to bed, as I should have been 8 hours ago.