Home for Christmas...

Home for Christmas!!!

So after one long grueling year of the heart issues and not much traveling, I was blessed to be home in Californian for Christmas. I arrived at 6:15 PM on Christmas Eve, just in time for the dinner they were holding out on till 6:00 pm so I might have a chance to make it home. I love you all, thanks for suffering for me!

I was excited to get home to those I have missed and love so dearly. This Christmas could not have been better. It was truly one that gave me a gift from Heavenly Father and time with those I love. I enjoyed just visiting with the family and having a girl’s day with out kids in Temecula, CA, with Claire and Vanessa.

One of the greatest highlights was seeing Veevee getting her Pony for Christmas, from Claire and Eric. Here are some cute little pictures to highlight my time home.

Yes a little late…but hey… I finally have time to post this.

Day 10 - Done at the Mayo Clinic

Day 10 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ and the Mayo Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. Then my trip to Carlsbad, CA., to be with family on Christmas Eve. I started my morning at 6:00 AM, getting ready and saying my goodbye’s to the Fleming family.

For the first time I was able to meet the Cardiologist there at the Mayo Hospital. He informed me that the heart is healthy for the most part and that in about 1-3 years I will need to have a pacemaker and/or ablations. He stated that the arrhythmias are caused by the slow heart rate and low blood pressure. He stated that I have autonomic deficiency, the start of autonomic neuropathy. The treatment for this is medication, problem one – allergic to the one medication, problem two – beta-blocker, which I can not take since I have one kidney, low blood pressure, and low heart rate. So, he said the best thing for me is to start my exercising back up slowly and take salt tablets (10-20 a day). He did inform me that I am still more physically fit than most my age that do not have any health problems. He gathered this from the fact I can go 12.8 minutes on a treadmill with incline. I guess most can only do 9-10 minutes. Connie, I guess those work outs and runs actually paid off. Thanks!

I then had to go to the Mayo Clinic to see Dr. Krotser, the Consultive medicine doctor. He informed me that I have a volume deficiency, just mean that I do not retain water and salt properly. This then causes me to have even lower heart rate and blood pressure. He also told me to follow up with a gastroenterologist about every 6 months to watch the esophageal spasms that I am having. One could medicate these but since they are not the cause of chest pain we are not going to do that. He feels that in the future I will have to have medication to control it so I can eat, but for now it will be done with diet.

Over all this all means I have a few things going on:
1. autonomic deficiency (ties all the following together)
2. esophageal spasms (when I eat I have spasms when swallowing food)
3. volume deficiency (not retaining water and salt properly and easy to sweat)
4. gastroparesis (this has become a lot better in the last 2 years and he was amazed that I did it with out medications)

The treatment is to follow up with the doctors (gastroenterologist and cardiologist), take a salt tablets, diet, working out, and later will come the medications. I am supposed to go back to the Mayo Clinic Monday to meet with a dietitian and the medical board, no worries if I don’t go they send it by mail. I like this a bit more and will do that instead.

Over all this was a great gift for Christmas, the diagnosis and how it can be treated. Bad part is they say it will take about 3 months to regulate and take full effect. This will also take care of the constant fatigue, since that is caused from the volume deficiency. I am so excited to have this and know what I can do to take care of it over the next few years till I have to have medication, my personal goal is to see if I can go 10 years with out medication and beat it with diet, food, and salt. I will have to watch what activities I do and elevation. I have been educated on what to do in prep for flying and I can start that again in about 1-2 months if things go well. I am excited to see what happens!! Hope and faith is what I will keep through this.

I have to say thank you to the Fleming family that welcomed me in there home and loved me as if I was one of them. I was so blessed to learn so much from them. I will always hold them close to my heart and will look forward to visiting them again soon. Thank you all for your love and help during this time, I could not have felt more at home then I did there. You are all so amazing!!!

Here is a picture of the Fleming Family!



Once I was done I had a wonderful lunch with Angel and had a sad moment when I realized that short formed friendship will be at a distance now. I was very blessed to have met her and hope that we will see each other again one day. It is amazing how we are blessed to cross paths with some and have it change our lives forever. After that I was on the road to California for Christmas dinner and being with family!

Day 9 - Last testing day...so we hope!!!

Day 9 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, today was amazing! I know I was at a clinic all day so how could it ever be so amazing. Well let me tell you. First of the test today were so easy, one was turning in the monitor, and the other was just eating a sick egg sandwich, milk, and radio active stuff.

Second, I was able to talk with some amazing people at the Mayo Clinic, one to be AC. She has to be one of the funniest girls ever met and she reminds me a lot of me when I was her age. She is way past her year in age socially and with maturity, something about her pulled me to her to open up and talk with her. I am glad I did, I may not ever see or talk with her again after tomorrow since it is suppose to be my last day, but she has touched my life forever and I will always look back and wonder how she is doing and what she decided to do in her life. I can only pray she follows her dreams always and never looks back with regret or hid behind her size. She is one amazing woman with many talents from what I have seen in such a short time. She has truly touched my heart.

Third, I am done with testing (at least this is the hope)! If not I will have to be back on Monday, but I will not know that till tomorrow.

Forth, the gastroenterologist called and she feels that it is not gastro that is causing the pain and arrhythmia. She feels that from today’s test she will see better and then went over with me how to better manage the gastroparesis. She is very nice and was helpful in making sure I was taking care of me properly. She supports taking care of this with diet and not pills, she also feels it is more effective and you know when things are happening and can fix it with out a doctor. I was very happy for that. So as of now Gastro is ruled out as the cause. I will know for sure tomorrow when I speak to the Cardiologist and Internal Medicine Doctors.

They prayer is that tomorrow I get the best Christmas present ever, a diagnosis and a treatment plan.

As for what I am up to tonight… well I am blogging now since I just want to spend time with this great family, pack, and be ready for tomorrow.

Here is a picture from today’s food eating…LOL… I know you will all want to go out and eat this now!

Day 8 - Worst test of them ALL!!!!

Day 8 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ today started out with a very easy test, ECT Holter Monitor being hooked up. Then off for a bit of a break and back for the great test of the Esophageal Monometry. This test by far has been and will be the worst one yet. With out sedation and very little numbing, if any, I had a tube stuck in my nose and to my stomach. I still have burning in the nose and throat. I laughed at one point just after vomiting, because what the nurse said and a conversation JG and I just had a few days prior on dumb things nurses will say. “Ok now don’t move, just breath, you can not breath while you are gagging, take deep breaths, and swallow” “would you like a little drink of water to coat your throat with?” “ok now don’t move, just relax your shoulders and drop your chin (all while gagging).” “It is ok just let it come up it is just mucus (hello I am gagging and vomiting what do you think I am going to do, swallow it?). Please can someone tell me how this sounds to someone that was sitting straight up on a gurney with a wall to her left and the nurse and machine to her right? Where was I really going to go and why in the world would I move just to experience even more pain? I don’t know but tonight I had some great laughs about it with a friend. No worries I took pictures of the beast that tortured me for all of you to have to see as well. No, I did not take the chance of ever having a picture with the tube in, since I just wanted it out as fast as possible.

After completing the day at the Mayo Clinic I met up with the Fleming Family at there brothers for a BBQ (yes on a rainy day) and games. It was a lot of fun, I laughed so hard I was crying. With a bunch of competitive people playing “catch phrase” it gets a little loud and out of control. I will say the best part was the winning team had to do a dance; oh that team happened to do the can-can and had two guys on it. I would pay just to see that again. The evening was very fun and it made my stay here even better. I have had a blast with the Fleming family. It has been great just being treated as part of there family and feeling so welcome. I don’t know what I would have done with out them. I have wonderful memories I will always cherish. Thank you Fleming family, you guys are amazing!!!!

The upcoming week!

The upcoming week does have some testing and such, so for everyone that is wondering what is next, here is my itinerary.

Monday Dec. 22nd
The day starts in the afternoon at 1:15 PM at the Scottsdale Campus. I will have a 24 hour ECG hooked up, yet once again. From there I will head to the Gastro department for a Gastro MOT test. This is where I will have a tube down the nose into the stomach for a little over an hour. They will measure a bunch of stuff and how it is working. From thee I will be off to a BBQ at the Flemings’ Brothers’ home and then the Temple lights all together. They have invited me and I would love to have some Christmas times with them since I can not be with my own family at this time.

Tuesday Dec. 23rd
Today will start at 7:30 AM again at the Scottsdale Campus. I will have to report to the Radiology Department for a Gastro emptying test. This is where we will have to eat some radio active food consisting of an egg sandwich and milk. This will be about 4-12 hours depending on what happens with the food moving on. After that I will report at 2:30 PM to turn in my ECG holter monitor.

Wednesday Dec. 24th
This is the LAST DAY…so is the hope and prayer. I will start at the Pheonix Mayo Clinic at 8:00 AM, to meet with the Cardiologist, Dr. Luis Scott. Then I will head to the Scottsdale Campus to meet with Dr. Steven Krotzer, Consultive Medicine, at 10:30AM, to see what the diagnosis and treatment plan will be. No, worries guys after Friday it is a good chance I will be back here and right now I am not allowing for this to play in to the picture. AS SOON AS I AM DONE, I AM OFF TO CALIFORNIA!!!

Day 7 Sabbeth in Durango Ward

Day 7 the Sabbath in Gilbert, AZ. This morning started out a little ruff, I did not sleep well, and I passed out. No worries, I made it through all of church! It was a first in a long time. I really enjoyed the Durango ward. They are very nice and welcoming and so many love and miss the Shelton family. All of them wanted me to say hello for them and honestly I can not say I remember one name. Today was a day that I was able to relax and just enjoy life, not feeling like I was being held down by this “illness thing”.

After church we all returned to have a nice dinner and Emily and I had some laughs while making some brownies. I can not say enough how grateful I am to have the chance to get to know this family. It has been a huge blessing to me and has allotted me the chance to relax and less stress while getting the medical care I am in need of. I am amazed at how humble they are and willing to help everyone. I thank you again RS for your help in getting me in touch with this family and ward. THANK YOU!!!!

We will watch “Errand of Angels” and other then that, I will just relax, and call friends and family back. Thank you everyone that has kept me in your prayers and helped me so much, supported me, and loved me through these trials over the last 9 months. Today I have pondered this much and can not come up with words on how grateful I am and humbled by all of your love. I have truly learned who my real friends are and how to be a better friend to those around me. I can only hope I can be half the woman many of you are! Thank you for teaching me and being the hope when I could not hold on to any.

Day 6 Enjoying a day off!!!

Day 6 today was spent enjoying the Phoenix, AZ area. I was able to sleep in and relax this morning, get caught up on some work emails, and meet up with Kristal Guison (mission companion in Nashville, TN.). It was great to visit with her for the first time since the mission! Her mother was with her and it was great to see her as well, since I met her on the mission. Guison was here in the Phoenix area passing through to move back to Springville, MO. Best part was that I was so blessed to see her and spend some time with her. We met up in a town called Guadalupe, AZ. Nickname, “little Mexico” and was very fitting. We were able to speak in Spanish again, eat some great food, and buy a piece of jewelry. We watched in the marcado some Spanish dancing, people just enjoying one another’s company, and having fun. We spent about 4 hours together in this town and felt so great to be with people who just loved life and wanted to share with you there culture. I truly enjoyed that time. Below are some photos of our time together.

After Guison got back on the road I headed over to Fleming’s brothers home, to watch the BYU vs. AZ game. Can I just say BYU can now be bumped down to high school level on the playing field? I am not so sure they even brought there team! I thought for sure they would have had that game…but no! The Fleming families have been great and I am so grateful for them opening there home to me and treating me like family. I have enjoyed the time here and will look forward to having them as life long friends.

Day 5 - Sorry no funny saying...happenings this time

Day 5, at the Mayo Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. I had what appeared to be a short day today; little did I know I would arrive at 8:00 AM and not leave till 5:00 PM. No worries time was all a matter of another world today.

I started my day off with a great thing called an EEG, an ultrasound of the heart through the throat. I have had a few of these since March. Today’s by far was the best one yet. I did not wake up nauseated; I finally awoke after they gave me some medication, and an hour and a half of sleep. Bryan, The Fleming families’ son, was my driver today. He really is a great kid and was so amazingly helpful. Best part was he was entertained and impressed with the hospital enough he did not get board. The nurse was from Indiana and was quite funny. She helped a lot in getting me up on my feet, well kind of, she made sure that Bryan knew to not let me try and walk for at least 3 hours. The doctor performing the EEG was from Australia, here at the Mayo Clinic to get further training to take back to her home country to help them.

Next I was able to meet with the Neurologist fellow, Dr. Byron R. Spencer. He seemed to be very good, not my favorite doctor I have met with, but once Dr. Timothy J. Ingall, he specialized in stoke and cerebrovascular stuff. They did not think I should have had the closure so fast, maybe I should say they think that I should not have had the device at all. They think I should have had open heart surgery to close the connection. He also admitted that everything with the PFO closure devices is still very controversial. Much of it is still in research here at the Mayo Clinic. He feels that the part of what is going on very well could have been caused by the PFO closure device. It was quite interesting to also find out that Dr. Spencer will be in Utah for another Fellow in April at the U of U. Dr. Ingell trained with my neurologist Dr. Futrell in SLC. He feels she is very amazing and asked what she had said when she suggested this closure. He seems to really respect her and still works with her over the phone and such.

Once we were done there at about 5:00 PM, we came back to the house. We had dinner and watched the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” this movie was very good! I would see it 100 times more if I could. I feel there were some really sad times, I even cried a bit. Over all I enjoyed the movie and took much from it in hope, determination, perseverance, and never giving up on ones dreams no matter how “scary” it may seem. It was a great movie for me to watch with everything going on here.

As for this weekend, it is a time for me to take a break and forget what is happening. I plan to have some good times, laugh, and enjoy all of Phoenix.

Here is the one picture I did have today, just after they were ale to get me up… as I was walking to sit in the wheelchair.

Day 4 - Laughs and Pictures

Day 4 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ today is a day filled with test, meeting another Doctor on the team, and more test. The greatest thing happened though, I was able to eat a breakfast then start fasting for the MRI tonight. I was so excited, you have no clue!

This morning my first test was with Stacy, doing the Pulmonary Test. She was a ball of fire from Indiana. Indiana girls truly are wonderful! LOL! She had me laughing and was nice enough to take picture of the testing. I have to say the pictures are funny!

As for the Endocrine test, it was boring, I just had blood drawn and a shot to see what happens when they cause my adrenal glands to work. It was a test to see if I have Addison’s disease. I was able to sleep for a moment and get rid of the dizziness, light headed, and nausea. No worries they kept the IV in for the MRI, which was taken off and put back on 3 times. After they said I was to have it, I was all changed, and then they said they can not do the test. For the love!

I did meet my Gastroenterologist today, she is really nice. She and this other guy doctor, she consulted with, does not think it is my gastro system. As they put it, it is Cardiology’s job to rule out that it could be Cardio issues. They say that the test over the next few days would have to show something significant for it to be gastro. They will retest me to see where the gastroparesis is and if it is getting better. They say if it is still there that they will have to have me go see a dietitian. Not that I have not controlled this on my own for the last, say several years, but it is there precautionary way to make sure I am doing the right thing. Over all it was a good visit and I will get my results over the phone by Tuesday. I really like how things just flow here.

All in all it was a good day, even with my schedule changing about 4 times today. I have an early day tomorrow and the weekend off, thank goodness since I will have another TEE with sedation tomorrow. Then again that is always subject to change I have found out. The bad news is they are thinking of having me come back after the 25th. I have told them I can’t and that I have to be back in Utah, but we will see what happens.

The Fleming family, which I am staying with, has really been great so far. There son, Bryan will be the one staying with me tomorrow through all of this. He is attending BYU and seems to be a great kid. We have laughed a lot tonight and it has been good to get to know them. One of the highlights of my day was talking with a friend on IM, she had me laughing so hard today, plus she helped me pass the time in a joyful way. Thanks JG!

Here are some pictures from today… enjoy laughing!

Day 3 - Hardest Day

Day 3 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ and at the Mayo Hospital, Phoenix, AZ; this morning I was at the May Clinic location for the second half of the stress test. I LIVED! Yes there were pain but none the less I made it through. That is till I was really light headed and the nurses would not let me walk or pull out my own IV. OK so it was “radio active” but still, I was done and did not want to wait for them. I just wanted sleep and to get on to the next test… oh and eat for the first time in about 18 hours. I only had a 30 minute opening.

I was able to make it to the Fleming’s home early and had time to get to know Gayle. She is a really sweet lady and so grateful I have the chance to stay there. Funny connection, her daughter in law is an old mission friend. Out of all people it was Erin Hanson, from the DR. I was shocked since I have not talked with her in about 3 years and we just lost touch after she was married. Plus her son served under some friends of mine in Hong Kong, the Ong’s.

Gayle took me to the Mayo Hospital where I was poked and prodded for a tilt test! Oh the joys! The two nurses were really nice, like everyone seems to be. The best part was they did not have to put in an arterial line in my wrist. They have this new finger censor that works the same. I love the Mayo and there new technology! You will see this in the pictures below. The bad part was they could not get me to pass out. Ok, so the two that were doing the test did not have anyone all day pass out on them. Bad part is they needed to see this and could not get it to happen. Then again my heart rate did not drop low enough.

The evening ended with making tons of calls, if yours was not returned forgive me, I still love you the same, and I have been crazy busy and getting caught up from day’s old calls. Then I had dinner and went to sleep, more or less. Can I just tell you it is great to have home cooked meals that I do not have to prepare! I LOVE IT!

Day 2 - May be hope?

Day 2 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ today was started at 5:30 AM, with my first appointment at 7:00 AM with Dr. Steven S. Krotzer, MD, DTMH, MPH (all that in real people terms, Consultative, Internal, Travel and Geographic Medicine). He has not only worked here, but also out in places like Africa for 5 years. This man actually had great bedside manor and has changed my itinerary again. He has taken out some test and has added in some new ones. He is very thorough and he has caught something no one has linked together, the gastroparesis, heart symptoms, and the over sweating. He stated that it could be Autonomic Neuropathy; please see the link (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autonomic-neuropathy/DS00544). What does that mean, well I have plenty of tests still and the leaving date is still looking to be the 24th. I will still see Neurology, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology. He did say that the neurologist is just to make sure we do not over look anything at all. He will be testing me for Addison’s disease, but is very confident it is not that. He said if it is that he will be shocked!

I have a new Itinerary to follow and I will say it has changed a bit. I should say it will change again tomorrow when they take the MRI off the list of troubles. This does give me hope, but my hopes are not up since we know what happened last time.

I am very pleased with this place and how nice the people are. It is amazing to see so many people in the same position and just all so nice. It is like I was morphed into the 50’s when people were polite and had manors/respect for one another. Granted there are a lot of old people there and that maybe why. Though I still seem to get the good old “you are so young”, even from people my age.

My old mission companion was going to come tonight, but well car troubles have held her up. I guess I will see her on Saturday instead. Tonight I have decided to go get a massage at the same place I have a membership in Utah. It is cheap this way. Some how I have managed to pinch a nerve…muscle in my shoulder. I am sure this is just from carrying the 2 reams of paper… called my medical records for the last 9 months. Even my doctor was shocked at the medical records and the fact not everything was there.

Tomorrow I have the second part of the stress test done, which includes running. Hello, good thing they have medication to up my heart rate just in case. It is amazing how men thing that when woman have a 2 inch slice above there breast they can still run.

I did go get a massage though and luck had it she was great! She worked the knots out and I never even had to lay on the chest in a painful position. She was a Marine as well, that made it fun to talk to her. The best part was ... how relaxed I was after!

Poked, Proded, and More Test

Day 1 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ was today…
As you can guess I was poked, prodded, and had things stuck to me, today. Day 1 was full of blood work, “other” labs, chest x-rays, and yet another ECG. No worries this time my heart rate was only 54 beats a minute and I had some arrhythmias. This is all normal for me in the last month or two, so it was nothing new. I was suppose to be there till about 3:00 PM today, but with it just being test, if you finish early, most times they will let you do your next test early. I was there at 8:30 AM and was out at just after 11:00 AM. That was BEAUTIFUL!!! Those at the Mayo Clinic were very nice and all happy to help how ever they could. I was impressed and best of all I felt “normal” over all, other than I was the only young girl in the room of at least 100 people.

After that I took time on the drive home to grab a bite to eat at a local pizza café, it was great food! Out the back window by where I was sitting you could see this AMAZING, HUGE, “water fall”.

While there, I was able to take time and just reflect on what is happening and what life is all about. For most of you, you know I do this from time to time, with all that has been happening; I have come to appreciate little things in life once again. Things like a friendly smile, seems to mean even more to me, just hearing a loved ones voice, or taking the time to enjoy what we are blessed to see every day, the Lord’s creations. When I arrived to this small whole in the wall café, I was greeted warmly (on this COLD day in AZ) by the young lady that would be my waitress. There were only 4 table total with people when I arrived, very quickly that changed to every table being full and people waiting. When I say quickly, I mean in the matter of 20 minutes. This young lady had almost every table herself. No matter what she was always asking each table as she walked by if everything was ok and if she could get them something. She always left them with a smile and a friendly voice. I would say I was very impressed, but that would say it lightly. I was not only impressed by her, but touched by the care she showed everyone. Just for one moment I was able to remember how blessed we are to have such a gesture; we use so seldom that can truly touch ones life and make it better. If nothing else just for that one moment in that person’s life, you can make a difference with a smile. She did for me and made me think.

Other then that I came back to the house since it is so cold outside here. Look it really is cold, I am not just saying it, it’s only in the 40’s today. I thought I was at least coming to the warmth…man I was jipped.

Here are some pictures of my new “home” that I get to wake up and go to each morning for the next 10 days. The other 4 are just things I found today on my drive home.

The front of the Mayo Clinic is Scottsdale, AZ


The Cool Water Fountain


No matter where you go there is a Veterans Memorial to be found!

Finished the Drive and in Mesa

Well, I made it from Page to Mesa today in 5 hours! That was great timing considering for 63 miles I was driving on ice or between ice patches. This part of the drive, past the canyon and Flagstaff, was just boring, so I have no pictures really. Between the night of next to no sleep, nightmares, the neck hurting from where they went in, and the left chest hurting from the 2 inch whole they put there, I was not comfortable in this part of the drive and just wanted it to be over with. I can't say it was pain, Heavenly Father answered my prayers there to take the pain away with out pain medication. For that I am very grateful! Plus nothing bad happened on the way here.

Once, I got into town I had to deal with Costco, yes on Sunday, I know how horrible of me. If you read the earlier blogs you will know that the Magilin GPS unit from the road team at work, went out in Kanab and I was on my own from there. No worries I am great at finding things fast (sometimes... this time). Long story short after 45 minutes messing with returning the thing and getting the money on a gift card (i.e. In store credit) I ventured to find another one, which they were fresh out of the one I needed. The next best one was much less in cost and product. So I got the Garmen Nuvi, that was suppose to be the same as the Magi just with bluetooth, and ONLY $149.99 vs. $215.00 the company paid for Magi. I was happy and so was work! Till I went to check out that is, the two guys that helped me sold me on the one that was really $249.99 and told me it was $149.99 and gave me the "card" to check out with. Needless to say I was not happy and I told them it was only the lower price, they went and got the "card" for the lower version that was that price, I was really not happy at this point. Connie you would have been very impressed I was very nice and polite to all three of the check out people. They got the head manager since I told them I still wanted that one since they told me and handed me the "card" and said it was just $149.99. Needless to say the manager knew who it was right away when I told him what happened, these two guys do it all the time, and he honored the $149.99 price for the $249.99 unit. The company just got one nice unit for cheap! Now why did I not get me one at the same time... DANG IT!

I arrived to the Clawson Family home and was warmly greeted. It was great! This family is really nice and sweet! Ann, is the sister to my Bishop's wife. Hope you followed that. We had a very nice dinner and I found what I want for my kitchen table one day so you never have to pass anything! We visited and got to know one another and they are great!

I am settled in and ready for the Mayo Clinic tomorrow. I will have to head out at 7:30 AM to me there by 8:30 AM. Crazy, I know! I just have blood work, labs, x-rays, and an ECG tomorrow though. WOOOO HOOOO!!! This mean I get to done at 3:00 PM and can eat twice in one day! Sad thing is ... that will be the last till next week. All this week I only get one meal a day, good thing I don't have much of an appetite anyway!

Well, since it is getting late, I am off to sleep! Now the "fun" starts... LOL... lets see which doctor can put me back together again?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Thank you everyone for your calls today and all your prayers, it really means a lot to me! I love you all!

First part of the Drive to Scottsdale AZ

I started to drive to Scottsdale, AZ today! Yes alone and yes I am doing well. I will say my left shoulder is a little sore, but the drive was beautiful.

I was blessed to wake up this morning at 5:30 AM and sit and think (never a time I want to be awake!!!). For some reason I could not sleep so I just thought about random things. I got up and went to breakfast with Teno, you are a champ Teno! When I went to leave it just started to snow, I was able to get in front of the storm on the way to Provo. I spent time with Connie, since I will not see her till after the New Year, thank you Connie for your time! It was wonderful to see Teno and Connie before starting this trip; it calmed my nerves and put me at ease for the trip.

I stayed in front of the storm and snow all the way here to Page, AZ. I have some pain in the left side, but I am sure it is just because all the driving in strong winds. I got to see some beautiful views, enjoy the drive and time in peace and quiet, and stand over the Lake Powel Dam. Can I just tell you how muck I love Dam’s and Bridges. The bigger the better, here are some pictures from the first part of the drive.

more pictures

Two surgeries, One week!

Here I sit in a hotel in Page, AZ. Why you ask? You see I am on my way to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. I know, I know, I had the second opinion cardiologist that though he knew what was wrong. All I had to do was have a test where they would go in the grown and neck, into the heart, with jumper cable looking things, check the nodes, and put in a pacemaker. So simple right, guess not! I went into the hospital on Monday for this test and while there were in the heart, they could not find significant traces to do an ablation. They also could not find significant arrhythmia to put in a pacemaker.

No worries since I only signed for these to procedures, they “woke me” till the next day when they could put in a permanent heart monitor in my chest. Like me signing this paper while still on sedation, pain killers, and nausea medicine was any different then them just putting in the darn thing and having me sign later?

Needless to say I had two surgeries this week, the first one on Monday, second on Tuesday, and I was home on Wednesday. I did go back to work for Friday though! After that I was told I would have to still go to the Mayo Clinic since they have NO CLUE what is happening. I packed Friday and did all I needed to and said by to Rachie-Po at dinner, since she will be moving before I get back. That is why I am in Page in a hotel to get some rest before the other 6 hour drive to Mesa where I will be staying.

Maybe the Mayo Clinic doctors can put “humpty dumpty” back together again. Can some one please tell me what wall I fell off of so maybe the doctors can find the missing piece?

You all have no worries; I managed to do some really funny things while on all the medications in the hospital. I have some pictures; some are to embarrassing, showing evidence to the most embarrassing thing I have ever done while in that situation.

Here are some great pictures from there so you can see some amazing pictures of me at my “best”. Some are just of the slicing they did to my body.

This is the Loop Recorder that is in my chest, not the exact one, just one equal to it.


Here is the whole in the neck...


Here is the place where they put in the permanent heart monitor...


Colleen and I ... Colleen those pictures on my camera... found them... WOW!!! SORRY!!!


This is me after they put in the permanent heart monitor... icing the chest!

A long with with Doctors!!!

Ok, it has been a week since I have made an update to my “Why a Heart” blog, which has come to fit quite well! Seeing how each day brought a new challenge and a story I just did not have the time or energy to blog. Now that I am sitting in the ER, not for me this time, I have decided to use my time wisely.

I will take it from the top and say this week started out with a “2nd opinion appointment”, you know those “let’s make sure we hold you up and see if your doctor missed anything” appointments insurance makes you have? Well, mine was with a cardiologist on Tuesday, I was not so hopeful you can say. I was more in the mind frame of praying that this doctor would not try and play super hero, “here I come to save the day”, running 300 more test or repeat those I have done, just to see if he can solve this mystery puzzle.

Surprise, I really like this doctor and guess what…he did find something they over looked! OK, OK, now burst your bubble of hope, I will save you the agony I have dealt with of thinking there was a light at the end of the tunnel and a trip to the Mayo Clinic being canceled.

He told me he thinks that it is the electrical system of the heart. More specifically, the AV node not working correctly because of “the device” (PFO Closure) they have placed in me. If this was to be the cause of he said that the "easy fix would be open heart surgery to remove the PFO device. He wanted me to have two test ran, a cardiac MRI, then if needed an EP study. I was in his office from 130 till about 430 that day, he was that detailed and attentive to what was happening, and he took time to educate me on everything so I would understand what he thought was happening in side of me. Needless to say just 10 minutes after leaving his office, I got a call from him stating that he would like to do an EEG first, which was the next day on Wednesday. I love Sister Mary Clifford for being there and taking me! She is truly a ward mom!

As for the test, I HATE it! Not only was I awake for it the following morning when he did this, but the great fun of vomiting several times during the procedure. That made for a great voice for a couple of days. No worries all that stress with a tube down my throat made my chest just feel “wonderful” for the next few days.

Since he did not see all he needed to, he ordered the Cardiac MRI, no worries right, I have had MRI’s before with contrast! HA, that is what I thought as well till Friday morning. I found my self in the “tunnel” just starting to relax, when BAMB! They trigger the machine to flush saline solution in me, no big deal right? WRONG! A few drops of the contrast were in there and my entire head, face, and throat went HOT! I thought I was on fire! All of a sudden I started sneezing, the tech kept asking if I was alright, all I could say was yes, till it dawned on me I could be having an allergic reaction. But what could it have been, I asked the tech if they had injected something and she answer “yes just saline solution thought”! I all of a sudden realized my tongue, lips, throat, and face was swelling. So I thought I should tell them I needed out of the “tunnel” and something was happening. All I could hear is “a couple of drops must have got in and she is having an allergic reaction to it”. Not so comforting since I was strapped down and could not move at all! No worries the nurses were great, they got me an inhaler. She re-started the test from the beginning and half way through that it got worse, so they shot me full of Benadryl. WOW, that stuff is strong through the IV. I was knocked out cold for about 2 hours while they observed me. Here is the fun part; I have become fatally allergic to the contrast. Seeing that is what happens with a few drops compared to the 36 cc’s they would have pumped into me just a few minutes later had I not had a reaction to the contrast, it was a good thing. Needless to say I will not be having that done to me unless, I am pretreated!

Now, backing up as you know I was suppose to be leaving for the Mayo Clinic on Sunday, yet still needing the approval. The doctors got everything read and a new plan devised but 200 PM! This was so they could say yes for the insurance to send me to the Mayo or not. Well, it was a big fat no once again, after I was told yesterday I would know today after the MRI. Come to find out not only did the EEG and MRI come back saying that the PFO device was “well seated” and completely covered with growth, but that it “more than likely” was not causing the electrical system to still be messing up. Instead that it was probably “just” damaged from the medal. So no open heart surgery and on to plan "B". As you can see this is where my hope of them finding anything went down hill.

I was then faced with, do I just go to the Mayo Clinic on Monday and say no to the EP study for Monday or do I stay here and have it. I needless to say decided that what the heck I better stay here and have it because it would suck to go to AZ Mayo Clinic just to find out that it was able to be treated here. I am now scheduled to have the EP study on Monday, they will more than likely keep me over night since I seem not to do so well when they go in the artery in my leg! You should look up the test, it is quit interesting.

So, here I sit with little hope of them solving this and just another week wasted. I also get to have the weight of “if it is the electrical system” you can have the pacemaker put in at the same time, or wait till Thursday and have it put in. Needless to say, it looks like I will have the EP Study done Monday, recover from that and work for a day, then have the pacemaker put in if needed on Thursday. This allowing Mama Claire, to make it here and me having the feeling of complete safety with them doing this. No worries I am not completely ready for Monday knowing what happened last time and being with out Claire or Connie this time. Jessica (my roommate) is going to be there on Monday and part of Tuesday between working. This will help so I am not alone.

Needless to say, I get to “relax” this weekend and hope for the best, expect the worst, and prep for the test. Then if it is not the “fix” to it all, fight with insurance to have them get everything approved for me to leave next weekend. Oh, the joys! I am staying as positive as possible trying to always see the good things, like the fact this could be over next week!

I have been blessed with great doctors and the Lord watching over me. I know it may not seem like I am positive with all this happening, but I am!

Now if you made it to this point you now have the update! Congratulations you made it to the end of the novel now go take a nap!