Wanted to get an update out to everyone who has been so kind and concerned about my condition this summer/fall. Let me start by saying I'm much better today, thank you! I genuinely appreciate all the good wishes I've received from folks here at SOL.
I returned to the Seattle area on Saturday 9/28 to await my cardioversion on 10/9. First, thank you to my neighbors for coming over Friday night and packing up my patio and all my food for transport to Seattle. A big thank you to my friend for driving my truck for me! My ex-wife, her boyfriend, and my daughter were incredibly kind in opening their home to me during a time when it was difficult for me to even eat. And thank you for friends for stopping by my trailer over the weekend to make sure it was buttoned up securely and ready for the cold snap.
My sister came to visit Sunday afternoon and found me drifting in and out of sleep in the recliner. And not only was I feeling sick, my ex had gotten food poisoning a couple days early and was completely out of it for several days, including her own trip by ambulance to the emergency room!
Unfortunately, I couldn't wait ten days for the appointment. I was suffering by Monday 9/30 to such an extent that my daughter called my doctor and took me to the emergency room. After they got me settled enough to breathe more easily for the night, they admitted me and performed the Transesophageal Echocardiogram Monday morning and proceeded directly to the cardioversion. I was sent home that afternoon. The next few days were filled with appointments with various doctors to check my progress and all get in sync on my treatment.
They were also days of uncertainty. Sometimes I felt fine and at other times it was as if nothing had improved. The worst was Sunday but there was a marked improvement on Monday.
Tuesday, my ex drove me to an appointment for a pulmonary function test and consultation. The doctor was very attentive and said that even though my lungs were showing only 37% of capacity, she felt getting the water out of my tissues and drying up my sinuses would reveal that in two weeks I was breathing normally. However, I'll need to be back in two weeks for a CT scan and evaluation. As she said, "I hope it's only your heart." I also managed to eat an actual meal at the hospital, the first I've had an appetite for food in a long time. BLT and a chopped salad. Delicious. I had already had a strip of bacon and a scrambled egg for breakfast, compliments of my step-husband. I had another meal of leftover Chinese food when we finally got home, and a few bites of dinner.
Wednesday, at what my ex called "The butt crack of dawn," my daughter took me back in for my follow-up consultation with two cardiologists. Both concurred with everyone else that I need to shed the water weight I gained. I've lost 8 pounds in the past three days and will probably lose at least that in the next week. Wednesday is the first day I've felt completely clear-headed and had a good appetite, as well.
What I didn't know, however, was that I need an ablation now to stabilize the heart in its rhythm. The alternative to that is long-term drugs which can be as harmful as the a-fib in the first place. Scheduling has said I need to stick around until November 4 to have that procedure. Then probably a two-week check-up after to make sure everything is ticking correctly and steadily.
So, I'm here in Lynnwood WA for another month before I can consider moving my trailer and going south. At that time, it will all depend on how the weather is and how safe it is to travel. I'll just have to wait and see. Sadly, that is delaying me from being reunited with my girlfriend.
That brings me up to date. Since I'll be in the Seattle area now for at least another month, I'm hoping to see some of my friends here. If you're in the area and want to get together, let me know. If I continue to improve as I have the past three days, I'll need to get out of the house occasionally. And figure out how I am ever going to repay my ex, her boyfriend, and my daughter for having abused their welcome and hospitality so thoroughly.