Glitter in the Air
It has been a long day. My brain and emotions are on information overload. I’m tired but I want to write all this out so that you will know just as much as I do.
The Doctor. He was an interesting sort, but I liked him. The minute he walked into the room you could tell he meant business. No idle chitchat from this fellow. Ry said he looked like Jim Gaffigan. I can see that now. The man sat in a room with us for an hour explaining everything. Any question I had, he answered. He listened my my frustrations and complaints and gave a valid effort to explain things in a way so that the frustration could be alleviated.
The Diagnosis. Dr. Smith concurred with Dr. Cherla in my problem, Vasovagal Syncope. Where Dr. Smith differs from Dr. Cherla is he explained to me in laymen’s terms what is happening in my body. Basically, my nerves and blood vessels have a problem with each other, which in turn gives me a problem with my heart. It has has to do with the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). This is the part of your body that operates all by itself. It tells your heart to beat, it tells your stomach to digest, it tells your body how to react to stressors. That is where my problem comes in. When a stressor hits my body and adrenaline flows through, my nerves tell my blood vessels to do too much and they over-dilate. Therefore, my blood pressure drops, my heart rate drops and I get dizzy and pass out. Not enough blood is flowing through my heart to make it through my head because my blood vessels are over-dialated. (Blood is pooling at my feet, essentially.) And because I have a naturally slow heart rate that makes the situation a little worse. Anyway, that’s why it’s so hard to treat. There are too many factors that could make my nervous system behave this way.
Treatment. Dr. Smith also concurred with the path of treatment that Dr. Cherla has been following. The new medication I started on Thursday of last week (Midodrine) is exactly what he would have perscribed me should have not already been taking it. He also agreed with Dr. Cherla that now is not the appropriate time for a pacemaker. Based on all the tests I have had so far it is inconclusive whether a pacemaker would help me or not. So, my plan of action going forward is this- continue taking the Midodrine. If it doesn’t work we might increase the dosage at a later date with continued monitoring (to make sure it doesn’t raise my blood pressure to dangerous levels.) Should this not work, he would implant a heart monitor in my chest to watch my EKG for a longer (up to 3 years) period of time. Only then, should the tests prove so, would I seriously consider a pacemaker. That’s some good news!
Conclusion. While I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already now, the doctor did reassure me that the problems with my heart are not life threatening and I need to look at the positive. I’m not at risk for heart disease or cardiac arrest. He doesn’t sense an arrhythmia. I have a good, healthy heart. Those are all very good things. Even though I’m frustrated (and I told him so) that he couldn’t give me some magic pill to make this all go away, I’m just going to have to learn to live with it. He applauded my lifestyle; diet, hydration, and exercise. I’m still allowed to keep my 1 cup of coffee a day but I was cautioned to continue to stay well hydrated with lots of water (keeps up blood volume). I’m to keep up my healthy diet, and to eat often. Sounds silly, but he specifically said “no starving yourself.” Yeah right! Because I’m on medication to raise my blood pressure I don’t have to eat excessive amounts of salt anymore. Praise Jesus! Lastly, exercise. He did not forbid me, but he cautioned me against running any marathons for a while. Because of the medication and my condition, my heart will just, well, poop out. Unless I really sincerely don’t care about the time and am willing to take all day to complete the race (to allow ample rest) he cautioned against it. Sigh. He DID NOT, let me repeat DID NOT, say I had to stop exercising. He welcomed it. I just have to be smart and said that when I have symptoms I have to stop.
And that, my friends, is that. I was very impressed with the staff at Barnes Jewish/Washington University. They were amazing. It was hard to believe in a place that big you could find such kind caring people.
Shocker to all, I didn’t have any problems with my heart rate being low for this appointment- we were in a car accident about an hour before my appointment. Just our luck! We were turning onto the road to the hospital and a graduate student from St. Louis University ran a red light and hit us. He hit us on the front driver’s side and bashed in the front fender/bumper. My poor car! We just got it back from the shop a couple of months ago after hitting the deer. Luckily though God was watching over us, Ry and I were both fine, the poor fella in the other car was fine and we all walked away. My car is still driveable but severely out of alignment. Ry is taking to the shop tomorrow. Here we go again.
I’m probably leaving things out of this story and Ry will remind me of it later, but I am fried. I’m going to bed! Thanks to all of you for the awesome amounts of encouraging words and prayers. Folks, I’m humbled by the love. I can only hope that I can return the favor in your time of need.
TODAY I LOVE: valuable friends, caring strangers, and wise doctors
SONG OF THE DAY: “Glitter in the Air” by P!nk
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I’m so happy for you, Sarah! Keeping you in my prayers.
Praise the Lord for confirmation! Love you!
Sarah,
We’re very glad to hear that you had a positive experience here at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Dr.’s Smith and Cherla are exceptional physicians and you couldn’t be in better hands.
If you’d ever like to share your experience with fellow patients and the community on our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/barnesjewishhospital, please think about joining us!
We hope that your health continues to improve, and wish you the very best in life.
Sincerely,
Kristin Hall
Marketing & PR
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
More and more hugs and prayers headed your way. So glad you got good news in that your heart is healthy as can be, but so sorry he didn’t have a magical pill for you.
I’m so happy you won’t have to get the pacemaker right now!! I will continue to pray for your heart!!
Oh girl, I have been totally thinking about you and praying for you with all of this. You are such a strong, amazing person dealing with all of this yet you still have such a great attitude. They will figure this out and get you on the right path. If you ever need someone to schlog a race with you, I’m your running/walking gal pal!!! HUGS to you and Ry.
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