Healing Is Happening!

Today I had a follow up appointment at the U of M and I have to say it was UNeventful which we are VERY thankful for! I truly believe healing is happening and I am feeling more and more like myself again as the days go on. I could not be more thankful and more humbled that God is yet AGAIN, giving me healing!

I had an exercise VO2 test where I had to walk on a treadmill with a snorkel-type piece in my mouth that I had to breathe through, with my nosed pinched, while connected to tubes and wires. It sounds a bit complicated and it wasn’t too bad, but learning to just breath through your mouth during exercise is maybe something I haven’t necessarily tried before. But, I was able to max my heartrate out at 162 beats/minute and walk on an incline as long as I needed to. A week ago, I couldn’t have even dreamed of breathing like that through a mouth piece, let alone walk on an incline on a treadmill. The person who ran the test said I did very well, so I hope that translates into “your heart is doing very well.” (Don’t know results yet).

It is confirmed that all of the pressures in my heart that were tested during the heart cath are actually completely normal and that again, the heart cath could not look better. So, it’s a bit confusing as to why my EF dropped so low, but we think it’s solely the irregular heartbeat. While doing the exercise test, I noticed a “Kristin normal” heartbeat and was shocked by what I saw. It was so normal looking to me that I wanted to take a picture of it, but chickened out. It looked vastly different from the EKG line I saw a week ago, that was all over the place. This time it had rhythm and I only felt a few pvcs. Ah, I just could not be happier!

I am still working on tweaking my meds so that I can feel the best I can during the day, so now I’m just changing the timing of when I take one of them. I have a low blood pressure (90/51), but hopefully with that little tweak, things will look up.

I am also 1% away from getting rid of this LifeVest hopefully! An EF of 35% is kind of the line of when the LifeVest is ditched and I’m HOPING that with the results of the EVO2 test, that they just say “okay, you can be done with it.” I would be beyond thrilled!

Really though, I am most happy that I am feeling the healing. Puts me in awe that God would choose yet again to do this in my life. I have asked numerous times for healing (okay more than numerous) and He continues to bless us with that. I know I have a long ways to go yet, but I will take any healing I can. Like I was told, an EF of 35 doesn’t mean you are healed, but it’s at least a “live life being okay” type EF. The risk for sudden cardiac rest decreases significantly if above 35% tests have shown. Again, I am at 34. Each percentage my heart function goes up is just one small step in the right direction. It truly is amazing what medication can do. And really what God can do through medication. I look forward to the day when I don’t have “risk for sudden cardiac arrest” next to my list of issues!

Thank you for continuing to join hands with us in praying for healing! The next steps? I will have a blood draw on Thursday and then probably a follow up ECHO and possibly another EVO2 test in the future. Patience sure is a virtue but the wait is much more manageable and bearable when you literally feel the healing taking place in your life! I have felt the best I have in well over a week and what a great feeling it is. Again, my heart has a ways to go yet, but I have more energy, am not NEAR as fatigued, and I don’t feel heart palpitations constantly.

So. Much. To. Be. Thankful. For.