Thursday, January 31, 2013
MIND: Rock Star Week
I have to admit I've been feeling good. On the down side, my swim class was cancelled and I have not been going to the gym this week BUT I've been busy with other things. Sunday, I planned and taught a wonderful Sunday School class. Then I went to Princeton Montessori to hear about their teacher education program which sounds great. Monday, my girls had their first swimming lessons of the season for one and the first ever for the other. They both did great. Tuesday and Wednesday were just a blur of running around getting errands done. Its annoying to have days like that but sometimes you just gotta get that to do list cleared. I got another Groupon and I'm trying out a new hair salon today. Just lots of little things are getting accomplished and its making me feel good. I've been rereading my side bar goals and decided I should update my profile picture since I've gained back about 15lbs from my 30 lbs weight loss. I'm hopeful after my surgery the weight will be easier to get off when I'm not on the beta blockers anymore. A girl can hope, right?
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
BODY: Ablation
Last week I saw my EP cardiologist. I'm really not sure what I was expecting to come out of the appointment. He left me with the same conundrum: Stay on the beta blockers to keep my arrhythmia within the normal range OR have this ablation procedure where he would zap these rogue heart cells that are causing my PVCs. I do not take any of this lightly.
The issue with the beta blockers (BB) is that they do not cure me. The BB slow everything down including my adrenaline receptors which keeps things at bay but I still have PVCs just less of them. I could increase my dosage of BB, the PVCs would likely be fewer. Unfortunately, the BB make me dizzy on occasion. Say I bend over to load the dishwasher or tie a shoe if I stand up too fast I get dizzy. I suspect the BB are also making me tired. Its hard to gauge tired. Whether its truly from the BB or I'm just having a busy day or too much interrupted sleep, its so hard to figure out. I do regularly (once a week) forget to take the medication which results in the PVCs coming in a little stronger. The flutter in my chest is a quick but uncomfortable feeling that gives me anxiety. I truly worry that something is majorly wrong with my heart even though I have been told everything is fine. Supposedly there is nothing wrong with staying on BB long term BUT to take them for the rest of my life when it effects my whole body just doesn't seem right. Plus, I worry that long term PVCs could effect my heart for the worse as well but I'm told they are harmless.
Ablation means anesthesia, staying over night at the hospital, just all the worries that come with any kind of heart surgery, correction my cardiologist says its so minor its really just a procedure. There's a great success rate though, like 95% effective and I'm told nearly all the complications are from the small incision made in my groin area not anything with the heart. For the last several months I've wondered whether its worth it to go for the procedure. I don't want to be one of these people that die on the operating table getting plastic surgery. While this is elective surgery, my decision does not come from a place of vanity. My doctor has been very reassuring that its a very safe and effective procedure so I've finally decided that I should have the procedure. I'm booked for it in two weeks.
The issue with the beta blockers (BB) is that they do not cure me. The BB slow everything down including my adrenaline receptors which keeps things at bay but I still have PVCs just less of them. I could increase my dosage of BB, the PVCs would likely be fewer. Unfortunately, the BB make me dizzy on occasion. Say I bend over to load the dishwasher or tie a shoe if I stand up too fast I get dizzy. I suspect the BB are also making me tired. Its hard to gauge tired. Whether its truly from the BB or I'm just having a busy day or too much interrupted sleep, its so hard to figure out. I do regularly (once a week) forget to take the medication which results in the PVCs coming in a little stronger. The flutter in my chest is a quick but uncomfortable feeling that gives me anxiety. I truly worry that something is majorly wrong with my heart even though I have been told everything is fine. Supposedly there is nothing wrong with staying on BB long term BUT to take them for the rest of my life when it effects my whole body just doesn't seem right. Plus, I worry that long term PVCs could effect my heart for the worse as well but I'm told they are harmless.
Ablation means anesthesia, staying over night at the hospital, just all the worries that come with any kind of heart surgery, correction my cardiologist says its so minor its really just a procedure. There's a great success rate though, like 95% effective and I'm told nearly all the complications are from the small incision made in my groin area not anything with the heart. For the last several months I've wondered whether its worth it to go for the procedure. I don't want to be one of these people that die on the operating table getting plastic surgery. While this is elective surgery, my decision does not come from a place of vanity. My doctor has been very reassuring that its a very safe and effective procedure so I've finally decided that I should have the procedure. I'm booked for it in two weeks.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Welcome 2013!
In 2013, I would like to continue to simplify my life and do interesting things. I am planning on training for and completing a triathlon, starting school for Montessori certification and making some sort of final decision on moving. Thus far in 2013 I've been feeling a little sluggish but I am setting myself up for success!
I just read an article that insists on 15 minutes a day for organizing yourself and I'm going to do it 11:45am - noon -- T.O. time aka Total Organization.
BODY - I always feel better when I am regularly exercising. I took a few days off during the holidays and now its turned into 3 weeks so I'm due to get back in the gym. Staying on course is easier for me with an actual deadline so I am going to aim for a triathlon in June. I signed up for a triathlon swim class at the YMCA beginning next week!
MIND - I signed up for the open house at the Princeton Montessori School. I am hoping that the program is the right one for me. It means I would start school in June! If I apply and am accepted, of course.
SOUL - Already finished my first book of 2013 "Pillars of the Earth." I watched the Golden Globes and want to go to the movies so bad. Alas other things get in the way when I have free time, like looking for another house. We have not made a final decision (as usual).
We are aggressively de-cluttering the house. Its hard to get rid of stuff that is brand new or you might use in the future. Our policy has been if we are not going to use it for the next 6 months, it goes in a box. We rented a storage space and are putting the boxes in it. The house feels so much better without the excess in it. I have put the kids' school on notice so we won't have to pay tuition until the last minute before their spot is taken. In theory, we could put the house on quickly should a house worth moving for become available. But really we just need to decide what the heck we're doing in the next few weeks or we are here for at least another school year and the window for moving without it affecting the kids too much gets even smaller.
I'm excited for 2013. I want to get some stuff done.
I just read an article that insists on 15 minutes a day for organizing yourself and I'm going to do it 11:45am - noon -- T.O. time aka Total Organization.
BODY - I always feel better when I am regularly exercising. I took a few days off during the holidays and now its turned into 3 weeks so I'm due to get back in the gym. Staying on course is easier for me with an actual deadline so I am going to aim for a triathlon in June. I signed up for a triathlon swim class at the YMCA beginning next week!
MIND - I signed up for the open house at the Princeton Montessori School. I am hoping that the program is the right one for me. It means I would start school in June! If I apply and am accepted, of course.
SOUL - Already finished my first book of 2013 "Pillars of the Earth." I watched the Golden Globes and want to go to the movies so bad. Alas other things get in the way when I have free time, like looking for another house. We have not made a final decision (as usual).
We are aggressively de-cluttering the house. Its hard to get rid of stuff that is brand new or you might use in the future. Our policy has been if we are not going to use it for the next 6 months, it goes in a box. We rented a storage space and are putting the boxes in it. The house feels so much better without the excess in it. I have put the kids' school on notice so we won't have to pay tuition until the last minute before their spot is taken. In theory, we could put the house on quickly should a house worth moving for become available. But really we just need to decide what the heck we're doing in the next few weeks or we are here for at least another school year and the window for moving without it affecting the kids too much gets even smaller.
I'm excited for 2013. I want to get some stuff done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)