Steps Forward

Today I was able to meet with the electro physiologist from the U of M, to discuss what the next steps are in my heart journey. It may seem like a long drive to Ann Arbor to meet with a doctor for 15 minutes, but it was definitely a well-worth-it trip! Plus, I got some good Mom and Kristin time in! And thanks to Dan’s mom for hanging out with our Mazers!

So the next steps? Due to still needing more tests (which I knew about), and the EP wanting to study the results of my holter monitor a bit more, it’ll take a bit before a procedure is done. I have a right heart catheterization to test the pressures in my heart to ensure there are no other issues going on, and an oxygen test. Yes it would’ve been good to figure out WHAT procedure and device I will have put in, and of course WHEN, but like the EP said, I have a lot of things going on (with the heart). I’d love to say that this is an easy one, but it isn’t. After 34 years of heart issues, it is getting a bit more complicated, but that doesn’t mean something can’t be done! And that’s such good news.

I am learning that the electrical part of the heart is incredibly intricate and it puts me in awe of God all the more, that just one little deviation from normal can cause a whole bunch of ruckus, to say the least. Best case scenario? That my PVCs (extra beats) are centralized in one to three parts of the heart so that they can do ablations (blast/burn those areas) and then insert an ICD (internal defibrillator) in my side by my ribs. I had to chuckle because he said “it’ll add another scar,” but my mom and I chuckled because I’ve got plenty of those going on!

We were thinking I would get a pacemaker, but pacemakers are permanent. They’d like to bypass doing one now if they can, but through the next few tests, that will be determined. It is looking like I will have an ICD implanted regardless though. But through what God shows the doctors in the next few tests, that could change. But until then, this is what they’ve been give and what they see.

Of course I’d like this to go like it does in the movies, where health issues are solved in a matter of 2 hours (the length of a movie), but like I said, I’m understanding how truly complicated this is. The heart is so fragile and a vital organ, so you don’t want to keep messing with. And unfortunately, mine has been through a bit already. So putting a device in it (like a pacemaker), really wants to be their last resort, but if it needs to be done, it will be done.

As for my low blood pressures, there isn’t much they can do right now. The meds I’m on, they don’t want to take me off of, but the end is in sight. So just a few more weeks and there will be a game plan! I am just so thankful for technology and that we are able to print the heartbeat (I mean really, think about that?) Then dissect it closely and see what is right and wrong. Even a teeny tiny little blip in a heartbeat can explain so much. Just shows how detailed our God is – that every beat of our heart isn’t without purpose. Sure makes me think about the other details of my life and how much He cares for those!

I am at peace. I was a bit worried earlier this week when they wanted to move my appointment up so abruptly, but it was a good thing, since my heart can’t be running this many PVCs all of the time, but thankfull there is nothing new that has popped up, that we are aware of.

So hopefully the next 3 weeks are uneventful and that I can just enjoy them until the next round of appointments. Thank you for walking this journey with us!