Melany's Heart Valve Journal

Well I had my echo on the 3rd, results were normal. I see the cardiologists again on the 20th. My bp has been normal for a few weeks now and I have not been taking any meds. But I did get a new diagnosis Thursday. I was sent to a rheumatologist for my bone pain in my feet and legs, and finally after 6 years of pain, they diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. The definitive blood test for RA was negative! So I am on new med for that, hopefully that will work. I am beginning to think it is all related, maybe if I can manage the fibromyalgia, my bp and all these other symptoms will ease up. Anyway, the kids are doing great, I am working full time and going to school, and Eric is hard working and helping me out! I will have an update after I see the cardiologist!

Melany

Happy Easter to everyone! Easter was great! Missed church, little man has an ear infection/fever. But we got to spend time with family for an Easter cookout and the kids got to easter egg hunt again. They had a blast!

I am feeling better, but still tired. Nights are the worst, the medicine is making me sick. I am also back to sweating all day. Not sure the Midodrine is working, my pressure is still all over the place, low at times and barely normal at others. I have another echo scheduled for May 3, we will see then.

I just spent some time reading all of my posts and boy, I had forgotten alot of the little things I have been through. I truely am blessed to be here today and have a great family with such great support. I know that whatever I face ahead, with God and my family by my side, I can get through it!

Thanks for all the support and prayers. Happy Easter to all of you!

Love,
Melany

Many of you have asked if I am on bp meds. Yes and no. My pressure before the surgery was always around 100/60 and now I am lucky if it gets to 90/50, but it does drop into the 80's/40's at times. I get dizzy, lightheaded, fatigued and sick to my stomach. Some times so much so, I can't function at all. I am on Metoporol which is a beta blocker to keep my heart rate down but this also lowers bp. Can't stop that med becuase of the history of SVT before and after the surgery. So my cardiologist has me on Midodrine which is like a vasoconstrictor and helps the heart pump stronger and increase bp. Only last time I tried to take it, my heart didn't like it so well. There aren't many other bp/heart meds I can take because most of them, if not all, lower bp. This is the conflict the dr's have. The one's that raise bp, generally raise your heart rate, again a problem. So for now, I am trying to take it one day at a time until my energy returns and I can feel good again. I had just made it to 1 1/2 hrs of cardio and weight training three times a week, when it hit me again. Hopefully the echo will be normal, but I would like to have an answer. As my cardiologist said, I am too complicated of a case, but I that's just me!

Thanks,
Melany

Hello everyone! It's been three months since my last post and a lot has happened. I am having trouble again with my blood pressure dropping and feeling terrible. Dr's aren't sure what the cause is and can't seem to fix it. I am going to have another echo in two weeks to check for diastolic dysfunction, pray that whatever they find is treatable. Anyone else have this problem after surgery? My blood pressure has alwyas been on the low side and I have a family history (my dad) but I never had any trouble until I had my valve repair.

On the other hand, the kids are getting bigger and doing great! Sydney is playing t-ball and dancing and will be starting horseback riding lessons this summer. David is growing too fast and want's to play ball with Sydney. Eric is my rock, he is helping more than I could have ever asked of him. I am half way through my Assoc. degree in Health Care Administration and looking forward to finishing next February.

Hope all of you are well, and I have really missed talking to all of you.

Melany