An Appointment Worth the Wait

Posted on March 11, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

After nearly two months of waiting for the appointment, I finally got to see the cardiologist on Friday to review the results of the cardiac MRI, blood work, and 30 day heart monitor that I had to endure in an effort to determine why there had been a decline in the function of my heart and if I would need a defibrillator.

I woke up late and had to scramble to get ready and head out to the medical center on the other side of town.  Normally if I’m in a rush and stressed like that it shows up when the nurses check my blood pressure, etc.., but not this visit.  My BP was normal and by the time the doctor came in to see me, I was oddly peaceful.

To my relief, the doctor confirmed that the cardiac MRI  indicated that my ejection fraction is at 47%. That is in stark contrast to the 35% that previous tests had indicated. And since defibrillators generally aren’t prescribed for patients with ejection fractions over 36%, that means I will not need one.  The doctor stated that a normal ejection fraction is around 55%, and since mine is 47%, he considers the weakness of my heart muscle to be mild.  Since I’m already taking the best medications for treating congestive heart failure and improving heart strength, the doctor wants to continue with the regimen that I’m on now and see how things progress.

The results of the blood work done to check my potassium, iron, thyroid, etc… all came back within the normal ranges.  While I’m thankful that those results were good, they are also frustrating because we were hoping to find a treatable cause for the decline, like an iron overload or something like that.  Alas, there’s no evidence of that, and I’m really not going to spend much time dwelling on it.

There were a few points of interest on tapes from the heart monitor I wore for a month, but the doctor said they seemed to indicate normal elevations in heart rate that anyone can expect from time to time.  Nothing to really worry about.

I can’t begin to explain how glad I am to finally have some of the answers that I needed, and how thankful I am that the results from the tests were worth the grief I endured going through them.  And as frustrating as the wait has been, it’s been worth it.

As for that odd peaceful feeling I was feeling on Friday?  It’s still with me as I write this.  I’m more at peace with things now than I have been in a long time.  And, along with the improvement in how I’m feeling mentally, I’m also feeling better and stronger physically.  And that, my friends, is saying something.

And speaking of friends, I can’t begin to say how much I appreciate the love, support, good thoughts and prayers that I’ve received from everyone in the Diabetes Online Community over the last few months.  If there were any doubts in my mind as to whether I’m loved or not, they are long gone.  To all of you:  Thank You, and Lots of Love, my friends!

 

Posted in Doctor Visits, Featured, Health, Heart, Life, Shout outs | 13 Comments

A Hopeful Hand

Posted on March 1, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

So, today is apparently “Write HOPE on your hands for diabetes” day.  And, I evidently didn’t get that memo.  Didn’t know a thing about it until I started seeing photos of hopeful hands posted on the Facebook pages of several friends.  And I was a bit annoyed that I didn’t see them before I got to work this afternoon.  Where I had no markers, etc… with which to jazz up my hand for the occasion.

Despite the late notice and being stuck in the office, I found a way to participate.  The blue HOPE bracelet that my friends Alexis and Justice sent me just happened to be in my laptop bag, and I always have my cellphone in my pocket.  I put those items together and the image below is what resulted.

Hope is on my hand.  A smile is on my face.  A picture has been posted.  My work here is done.  Ciao!

 

Posted in Diabetes, Humor, Inspiration, Life, Photos | 2 Comments

A Naughty Bite of Happiness

Posted on February 19, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Sometimes in life, happiness comes in small, naughty bites….  In unexpected places….  Now, I know what you’re thinking.  This post isn’t about that kind of naughty bite, so I’ll give you a minute to get your mind out of the gutter.

This post is about these sinfully delicious, bite-sized red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and little heart shaped sprinkles.  And where, pray-tell did I find these naughty bites of happiness?  At work!   🙂

This nice little treat was completely unexpected and it has made a dreary night at work just a little bit brighter. And believe me, they are every bit as delicious as they appear.

Being naughty never tasted so good.  😉

Posted in Humor, Life, Photos | 5 Comments

Guarded Optimism

Posted on February 16, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

So, I finally got my hands on the test results that I’ve been waiting on for the last month and there is reason for optimism.   Guarded, but optimism just the same.

The MRI report indicated that my ejection fraction (EF), which is a measure of how well my heart is pumping, is at 47% right now, which is a big improvement over the 35% from the last round of tests.  By comparison, the normal EF in a healthy person ranges from 50% to 65%.  So, if this report is accurate, I’m not far from that range.  And, if the EF is in fact at 47%, it means that I probably won’t be having surgery to implant a defibrillator any time soon.  Those are very big Ifs.

The results of the blood work done to check my potassium, iron, thyroid, etc… all came back within the normal ranges.  And while there were a few blips on the tapes from the heart monitor I wore for a month, they don’t appear to be anything to worry about.

While all of those are good signs, I’m still left with a lot of questions about what the hell is going on.  And, unfortunately, I can’t get in to see the doctor until March 9th.  But, at least I have the reports and know what they say.

For now, I’m trying to go forward with guarded optimism that things aren’t as bad as believed.  The clouds of doubt and despair that have consumed me in recent months aren’t making that easy, but I am trying.  I guess time will tell.

Posted in Health, Heart | 12 Comments

A Summit City D-Meetup

Posted on February 10, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

While en route home from Detroit today, my good friend Mike Hoskins and his pooch Riley “The D Dog” made a stop here in Fort Wayne for a D-Meetup.  Our meetups usually take place when I’m traveling through the Indianapolis area en route to Louisville or back to Fort Wayne, so it was nice to actually meet on my turf for a change.

A local Panera Bread was the rendezvous point for the afternoon’s shenanigans.  Stories were told.  Laughs were shared.  And encouragement and support were offered as always.  And a good time was had by all.

Of course, no D-Meetup is complete without cupcakes.  I sent Mike home with a box of them to share with his wife, Suzi.  Hopefully, they made the journey uneaten. 😉

It was great hanging out with you as always, Mike.  Hope the trip home was safe and uneventful, and that the cupcakes were delicious.  Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in D-Meetups, Diabetes, Photos, Shout outs | 6 Comments

I Need Answers

Posted on January 31, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

So, it’s been two weeks since I went through a grueling barrage of heart tests to try and determine why there’s been a decline in my ejection fraction and what the next course of action will be.  And, much to my dismay, I know as much now as I did going into those tests.  Meaning I still don’t know.  Meaning I’m still waiting for test results. And the waiting is driving me insane.  I need answers.  And I need them NOW!

I called the doctor’s office on Friday and left a message for them to call me back. I didn’t receive that call back.  I attempted to call again today and, again, got no where.  So, I’m going to give it another try in the morning.  And if I’m not successful this time, I’m simply going to get in my car, drive across town to the office, and demand answers in person.  I need to know what’s going on.  I need to know what we are going to do next.  Am I going to need surgery to implant a defibrillator in my chest?  I need answers.  And I need them NOW!

I’m trying to keep living my life while I wait, but this big dark cloud is looming overhead.  I’m trying to think positively about things and believe that everything will be OK.  But the negative thoughts in my mind are outweighing the positive at this point.  Every aspect of my life going forward is tied to this one thing.  I can’t really plan to do anything because I don’t know what’s going to happen with my heart.  I am in limbo.   And it sucks.

In the mean time, I’m stuck wearing this heart monitor that has become increasingly annoying in the past few days.  Apparently, I’ve had an allergic reaction to the adhesive and/or conductive gel on the electrodes, because there are big red welts on my chest where the electrodes were placed.  They hurt and itch like crazy, too.  Just lovely.  And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had these blasted things rip off in the middle of the night.  Great way to wake up, let me tell you.  I sincerely hope it’s all worth it in the long run.   I guess time will tell.

For now, I need answers.  And I’m going to get them!

Posted in Health, Heart, Rants | 12 Comments

Vlog: My Heart has a Cell Phone

Posted on January 13, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

So, I’ve been talking about this thing since I got it Monday and decided that instead of trying to describe it in writing, I’d shoot a vlog post and show you.  So, without further delay, I present My Heart’s Cell Phone. Enjoy!

Posted in Health, Heart, Life, Vlog | 4 Comments

Possible Next Steps

Posted on January 4, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

So, yesterday’s visit with with my primary care doctor was quite revealing.  Given the fact that she called me directly and said we needed to discuss a letter she received from my cardiologist, I knew it would be an interesting visit going in.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the results from a recent round of testing performed by the cardiologist indicated that the strength of my heart has deteriorated again, and my ejection fraction is back down to 35%.  I knew that going into the appointment yesterday.  And I knew that the cardiologist had ordered a more intensive test to confirm that result.  What I didn’t know was what he was planning to do if the results were confirmed.

His plan, should the test I’m having next week confirm the ejection fraction is indeed less than 36%, is to arrange for a defibrillator type device that would, hopefully, protect me from sudden cardiac death.  In the event that I should go into cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation, the device would shock my heart and restore a normal rhythm. Which in turn should give me a fighting chance to get to the hospital.

Now, that could mean a couple of different things.  Worst case: I have to undergo surgery to implant a defibrillator.  An operation that, while routine, is fraught with the potential for disaster.  Best case: I have to be fitted with a wearable external defibrillator, involving no surgery, etc.  If I must have something like that, I’d much prefer the non-invasive option.

At this point, either option is on the table.  And what happens next will be determined after the test next Friday.  And while I truly hope the results are better, and that the results of the last test were just wrong, the pain in my chest is telling me otherwise.

My primary doctor and I both agreed that obtaining a second opinion from an independent cardiologist was a good idea, so between now and next Friday, I’ll be meeting with a new doctor to have them review my case.  Again, I’m trying to be optimistic that fresh thinking on this will result in something good, but as I said, I’m struggling with that.

Until then, it’s a wait and see what happens game.  And I’m not good with these games.  I can’t begin to describe what all of this is doing to me mentally.

But there was one bit of good news that came of that office visit.  My A1C was 7.0, down from 7.4 in September.  And given everything that I’m dealing with right now, that’s a damn respectable number.

And at a time when things are quite dark and miserable, it’s nice to see that something I’m doing is still working.

Posted in Diabetes, Doctor Visits, Heart, Medications, Mental Health | 13 Comments

Resolved to Give ‘Em Hell

Posted on January 1, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Well, today is January 1, 2012.  Happy New Year to everyone reading this right now.

Much like millions of other people in the world, this is a time when I think about resolutions for the New Year.  Things that I want to work toward by the time the year ends.  Some years, my list is long, and others, not so much.  And some years I accomplish them, and some years I don’t.  This year, I have only one resolution.  And it’s one that I’m guaranteed to be able keep each and every day of 2012.

This year, I have resolved to Give ‘Em Hell.  To give diabetes and congestive heart failure just as much hell as they give me.

I’ll be giving them the finger
each and every day.
Sticking it to both of them,
to survive another day.

My tactics will soon be changing,
because I’ve lost a little ground.
But I’ll keep doing what I must to
turn this back around.

The battle will be difficult,
and I’m sure I’ll shout and swear.
Consider this your warning,
don’t say you weren’t aware.

It is my fondest wish that
the battle will go well.
Just call me Harry cause
I’m gonna Give ‘Em Hell!

So there you have it.  My resolution for the new year.  Short, bittersweet, and to the point.   And since this post has taken the shape of a wine glass, here’s to a healthy and Happy New Year to everyone!  Cheers!

Posted in Diabetes, Health, Heart, Lessons Learned, Life | 4 Comments

2011 Health Activist Awards Nominations

Posted on December 30, 2011 by mydiabeticheart

This year, WEGO Health is hosting their first annual Health Activist Awards.  And, among the boatload of nominations they’ve received across the ten voting categories were two nominations for yours truly.  Super cool stuff!  The details for each nomination are below.

The first nomination

Award: Best in Show (http://info.wegohealth.com/best-in-show-2011)
Link: twitter.com/mydiabeticheart
Platform: Twitter
Reason: Mike brings a fresh perspective to living with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure — as a young person dealing with both conditions, he has the ability to reach a different audience and make the topics relatable and modifying how people perceive T2 diabetes and CHF.  He’s a prominent voice in the diabetes community on Twitter, but his story continues through his blog and offline.

The second nomination

Award: Best Kept Secret Award (http://info.wegohealth.com/secret-2011)
Reason: Mike is always advocating for Type 2 diabetes which is very much underrepresented in the Diabetes Online Community. He’s even been on the cover of USA Today advocating for the cause and dispelling diabetes myths. Mike was also diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure a few days after his T2 diagnosis. He’s truly a fighter for his own health and the health and support of countless others. He has made amazing strides in his own health and is a vital part of the D-OC. There’s not one person who can read his story and talk to him without feeling inspired.
I am both honored and thrilled to be included in the nominations received.  Thank you so much to the kind folks who nominated me, and best of luck to all of the nominees.

Posted in Awards & Recognitions, Diabetes, Health, Heart | 1 Comment