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nursedarryFeel free to skip unless you're a cardiologist or just morbidly curious.
I had an assessment with my consultant today. It's been four months since my surgery and since then, I've been working through Phase III of a self-directed cardiac rehab programme, had a chest X-ray, a 48-hour trace and more echocardiograms.
My consultant - who's been with me since my proper diagnosis in January, who did the angio and made the surgical referral - said my re-plumbed pulmonary vein and the repaired valve look fine.
He's now happy for me to come off the medication I take for controlling rate and rhythm to see if the pulmonary vein ablation procedure has worked and if it will control my atrial fibrillation.
I'm going to stay on Warfarin for the time being, but can come off it for short periods in order to have minor surgical procedures, which is good news. I'll be reassessed in six months' time with a 72-hour trace and another echo. I can now swim, start Phase IV of rehab at the gym, (provided there's a defibrillator on site(!), and pretty much do what I did before.
There's a chance I'll need the valve replaced in future, but for now, it's all good. Today I walked the four miles to and from the hospital and almost cried, when I consider that four months ago, I couldn't even walk up the stairs in my own house.
Finally,
I also have some Gortex stitches working as tendons in my mitral valve, but they're not radiopaque. The ring narrowing the valve circumference and the wires holding my sternum together show up nicely, though.
And damn, my tits actually look pretty good in this...
I had an assessment with my consultant today. It's been four months since my surgery and since then, I've been working through Phase III of a self-directed cardiac rehab programme, had a chest X-ray, a 48-hour trace and more echocardiograms.
My consultant - who's been with me since my proper diagnosis in January, who did the angio and made the surgical referral - said my re-plumbed pulmonary vein and the repaired valve look fine.
He's now happy for me to come off the medication I take for controlling rate and rhythm to see if the pulmonary vein ablation procedure has worked and if it will control my atrial fibrillation.
I'm going to stay on Warfarin for the time being, but can come off it for short periods in order to have minor surgical procedures, which is good news. I'll be reassessed in six months' time with a 72-hour trace and another echo. I can now swim, start Phase IV of rehab at the gym, (provided there's a defibrillator on site(!), and pretty much do what I did before.
There's a chance I'll need the valve replaced in future, but for now, it's all good. Today I walked the four miles to and from the hospital and almost cried, when I consider that four months ago, I couldn't even walk up the stairs in my own house.
Finally,
I also have some Gortex stitches working as tendons in my mitral valve, but they're not radiopaque. The ring narrowing the valve circumference and the wires holding my sternum together show up nicely, though.
And damn, my tits actually look pretty good in this...
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 04:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 04:08 pm (UTC)I'm sick of it all again, now :D
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Date: 2012-07-30 04:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2012-07-30 05:53 pm (UTC)Harder this time, cause I can!
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Date: 2012-07-30 04:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 05:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2012-07-30 04:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 05:52 pm (UTC)BUT, still kind of limited with the gym, hence the need for a Phase IV. A lot of people try to do too much too soon, which I was tempted to do, and my body just ain't having any of dat! Still taking it nice and easy.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 04:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 05:49 pm (UTC)Um...in a good way, I hope...
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 04:48 pm (UTC)And it's awesome to see you recovering so speedily. *hugs hard*
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Date: 2012-07-30 05:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 05:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 05:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 05:39 pm (UTC)The fact that what it probably says about me is that I'm a teenage boy is very concerning -- especially when you're around ;P
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 05:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 07:16 pm (UTC)All awesome stuff, honey! Go you! And with luck, by the time you end up (if you do) considering a valve replacement, it will be keyhole as standard procedure and much less physical trauma.
I hope this also means you can get that damned tooth sorted with the all clear for minor procedures?
*smooch*
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 08:12 pm (UTC)And yes! After I left Cardiac Out Patients, I went up to the MaxFac dept and cancelled my appointment there - could have been a consultation, but my dentist friend at the PCT said the surgeon might have just removed it. I'm actually now wanting to wait till Oct, when I can afford the implant, as I have to pay for that before it's made, I think. What I AM hoping though, is that my dentist will do the extraction for free. He's already taken out a quarter of the tooth:)
It also means I can get my ingrown toenail sorted (TMI?), which I've had before, and it really hurts with my trainers on - but hard to wear sandals at the gym! The only downside of that is that the doc at my surgery who does them is the first one I saw with my chest complaint! Oh noes!
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 07:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2012-07-30 07:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 08:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 08:10 pm (UTC)*hugs you*
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Date: 2012-07-30 08:19 pm (UTC)Course the whole thing still looks like someone's cut open my chest, but it's a small price to pay for still being amongst the living.
(no subject)
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Date: 2012-07-30 08:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2012-07-30 09:01 pm (UTC)You DEFINITELY deserved to treat yourself with that Pandora charm!!!!!
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 09:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2012-07-30 09:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-31 05:45 pm (UTC)Thank you, bb!
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Date: 2012-07-30 10:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-31 05:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 11:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-31 05:47 pm (UTC)Stupid weed.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-30 11:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-31 05:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-31 12:43 am (UTC)YAY for feeling better and hopefully beginning to plan a trip here!!!
*snuggles* I have a package to send - but need to get some $$ first. Postage is just stupid!!
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-31 05:50 pm (UTC)And Cassie said the same thing about the X-ray. Perverts.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-31 01:21 am (UTC):D
Good to hear things went so well and continue to improve!
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Date: 2012-07-31 05:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2012-07-31 05:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2012-07-31 03:31 am (UTC)<3 Keep healing, bb! We're all pulling for you!
(no subject)
Date: 2012-07-31 05:52 pm (UTC)