Wonderful News about My Son

Boy, I re-read the last post and I made the Sleep Study sound horrible.  Little did I know that the second one would be almost as bad, just in a different way.  I changed offices this time, thinking that perhaps one closer to home would be more hospitable.  Little did I know......  So I show up at my appointed time and again, it's a little creepy because you are going to an office building at night and there is no one there except you and the technician and perhaps another patient or two who you don't see.  I think sleep apnea must be a secret shameful ailment because you apparently aren't ever supposed to see your fellow sufferers.  This time there was a big hairy centipede in my water cup, dirty sheets, and stained pillows.  But at least the technician was nice, just like last time.  So after feeling like I couldn't breathe (the mask thingy) and I was gonna throw up (a different mask thingy), I got adjusted and actually slept.  In a couple of weeks I'll get my very own face distorting mask and perhaps be able to sleep and breathe at the same time.

Fitness Pal is great.  I haven't been as faithful as I should be but I am back "on the wagon" today.  It sends you snotty messages when you don't log in for a while.  It actually tells you when your fellow FP friends....."so and so hasn't logged in for a week".  And of course then I can send her a message like, "do you need a Snickers bar for encouragement?"  I especially like the messages I get when I've went over my calorie count for the day and I get, "If you continue to eat like this, you will weigh (some amount way over what I weigh now) by November 1st.  I wish you could talk back to FP; I sure would have some comebacks.

I did a blood test on Saturday and should know the results next week when I see my new GP again.  I can't wait to hear about my cholesterol and triglycerides since I went off Crestor.  (sarcasm font).  I did find out that iron drops have nothing to do with dilated cardiomyopathy; too much iron can only cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Children's Hospital is the best!  We took my son for three hours of testing and consultation.  We met with all kinds of doctors and were very relieved to find out that he does NOT have DCM.  Thank you Jesus!

Here's to your health! 

Autumn is Here!

My walks have become enjoyable (and existent) again.  I am still off the Crestor and will find out in October if that was a good decision or not.  After a night at the Bates motel, I found out that I have sleep apnea.  Haha - let me explain.  Going for a sleep study is a nightmare.  My cardiologist kept insisting and I finally gave in and did one Labor Day weekend.  I pulled up to the deserted medical office building at 8 p.m. on a drizzly evening and pushed the button for admittance.  Apparently only the technician and I were alive at this time of evening in this area of town.  Waiting for her I just felt eery.  And, I kid you not, the next person I saw was a nun in full habit get out of her car in the same parking lot.  Finally I was led up to what looked like a sleazy motel room and told to make myself comfortable.  On the nightstand was an old People magazine with a front cover of Whitney Houston.  I took this as another sign that I would die tonight.  How anyone actually sleeps all hooked up to electrodes and glue stuck on your temples almost holding your eyes open, is beyond me.  But I did sleep for 5 hours and stopped breathing about 200 times I'm told.  So now, yeah, you guessed it!  CPAP - I think that means "Could People Actually Participate" in this madness.  I get "fitted" next month and then I will probably never sleep again....haha

Lest you think I am all negative this month, I have some good news too.  My best friend told me about a web site called "My Fitness Pal" and I have been faithfully logging in for, drum roll please...... THREE WHOLE DAYS!  It is so easy to track calories and exercise that I am motivated to eat right and exercise.  I highly recommend anyone with heart disease check it out.  I am doing so well that I may be Al Pacino's "butt double" in his next movie (this line was from the t.v. show Friends)

My son had some shortness of breath playing soccer so we have an appt. at Children's Hospital for an EKG and ECHO for him.  Probably just worried mama, but I want him checked out in case this stupid DCM is actually hereditary.  I don't think so, though.  I read something recently that an overabundance of iron can cause it.  I know that I did take "iron drops" as a baby and toddler.  I can still taste them if I think back really hard.  So perhaps.....who knows?  But I am happy that my symptoms stay at bay and I am only taking 5 pills per day.

Next month I will get blood work and then another ECHO shortly after that.  I'll post my results here.

Here's to health,
Tari