May's Chat

[mousecrazy 2]

I have to agree with whoever talked about stress and restriction...for sure, if I am upset or stressed and try to eat, I get the golfball feeling, and it hurts. Since the PBs happens when we're in a hurry, stressed, or really hungry, I think that has a lot to do with it...if you know you are not "over-filled."

6 days to go!

Just saying hi to everyone...nothing exciting around here!

Hugs, Cindy

[Dutchgrl59 2]

Hey cindy.... you've lost weight and have like 6 days of school? We have 27 left! OH Well.

Thanks for all the love.... I called the psychs office and they didn't fax anything because they didn't know who my Primary was.... lies. Then she said well have the primary request them... uh NO. Oh yes, heres his name... we don't have a fax number, but will try to call. You, do that I said, but I will be calling you in the morning to see that everything went as planned -- THANK YOU! She will be hating life when I walk into the office. Insurance people have been wonderful.... it's everybody else that wants to play God. The girl at my Primary dr clearly doesn't like that I am attempting this.... because it's too expensive and people who pay for insurance don't deserve expensive things.

I'm gonna have to spoon feed all these people until I get what I need.

On a brighter note: Lewis is on a field trip and he was over the moon about taking a sack lunch and showing off a new shirt.... he even got up before 6 to wait for Mama's special banana pancakes! He's just too cute! I promised to pick him up and will be ready to hear all about his adventures! Hey, gotta scoot!

[Mita 2]

Patty - You go Girl!!! In other words if they were doing their JOB right you would not have to hold their hand.. People like that make me mad..

Your almost there...

Lewis is going to have so much fun. He is just so grown up.. To Cute ~ Today was field day for Cristian but I could not be there and feel sad about that but if Dad does not come to pick them up on Sat I have a special Day planned for my Boys.

Cindy - Sounds like you get some nice play time with Hubby.. And no Migrain that is great. I keep forgettin mine will be out of school on the 25th. I have not even planned summer activites yet.. better get busy

[ReneBean 3]

Hey guys,

Another busy day... but I thought I would check out the latest.

Sherry - Hugs - hope you get over the traumatic trial, soon.

Everybody else - Hugs to you too.

bye!

[nightingale2u 42]

Mary... It really sounds like you might need call your doc... (sorry...don't bonk me in the head) *ducking*... from what you said it seems as if your saliva isn't going down? I'm getting a little worried about ya... are you keeping fluids down?

Patty... I bet Lewis had a terrific time! I can only imagine how excited he will be to tell you alllll about it!

Donna... Sorry about your hubby's back... I hope everything turns out okay. (((Hugs)))

Eileen... I don't think anybody will want your hand-me-down pants here on LBT... we know where they have been.... hehehehehe.

Well... I didn't go to Curves but I took a nice long walk with the puppies out in the sunshine... AHHHHHHHHHHHHH... I needed that and so did the pups! I do plan on going in the morning though... I'm almost afraid to take a day off for fear that I will stop exercising!

Off to my daughter's track meet...

[Mita 2]

Latest Update.

I have an appt with my PCP Friday am. I really think my sinus are infected. So I will start the cheapest route first. I do not have any pain in my band area. I can drink sips but not gulp Water. I had some coffee this morning and it went down fine. For lunch I had a few tablespoons of Peanut Butter and it all went down fine. Took My Nexium just fine ~ Just do not know girls???

I want some antibiotcs and see if the salt taste goes away in my mouth. I know that when my sinus drains and infected I get tighter. Lord only knows why since I have no saline? I am just weird I Guess..

Darcy - I am jealous Girl - I would be love to out and about.. No need to duck I hear you...

[Kat817 19]

Hi everyone...sorry, I will get back on track with the personals, as soon as things calm down a little.

Well we went to the cardiologist, and DH has a floppy Mitral valve. It is allowing a large amount of blood to wash back, rather than it all being pumped forward as it should. So the lackof oxygenated blood is what is causing the fatigue, and the shortness of breath, then as it tries to "catch up" is when he gets the pounding palpitations. He had mentioned this to the Dr. who has done his DOT physical for the last 2 years, but he only mentioned that "we aren't getting any younger". So who knows how long it has been going on, the Dr. today said it could have been gradually getting worse for years. So, they did an hour long echocardiogram....and the floppy valve is very evident...where the other valves they showed us were working in perfect unison...kind of like automatic doors, open then close, together. The mitral valve is just flopping around without ever meeting to fully close, when they finally manage to come close to closing, it looks like it is just by chance. So the murmur is very loud, and it is allowing a lot of blood to flow back to where it just come from, and is making his heart work harder, to pump more blood, since so little of it is actually being pumped and pushed on. So they put him on a halter (sp?) monitor for the next 48 hours, to see if there is any kind of pattern of how long it takes for his body to react from the loss of oxygenated blood, and whether normal activity is affected. The halter monitor is like a portable EKG machine, he has all the EKG like leads hooked to his chest and a little unit about the size of a gameboy it feeds into, which he wears hooked on his belt. He cannot bathe or get it wet...he is gonna smell pretty by Saturday!!! We return to the Dr. on Monday, by then they will have analyzed the monitor he is wearing, and had further opportunity to examine the echocardiogram. And will know whether they can try to repair the valve, or if it will have to be replaced. And if it has to be replaced, they will discuss with us our options of mechanical versus biological (made from a pig aorta). Depending on what they say, we will make our decision of whether to stay here, or to go to Albuquerque. We are in a rather rural area, and we want experienced Dr's going into this. It is still scary as hell, but now it is almost scarier to to do nothing, because I have seen how badly malfunctioning this valve is!

He is freaked out, he saw my Dad when he had bypass, and he is not pleased at the thought of open heart surgery, but he also knows he needs it. Will let you know what we find out on Monday.

Thank you so much, all of you, the support has been awesome. I find it strange that I felt so connected to all of you, without having ever "met" any of you! My DD and I had a talk about it. She has several wonderful friends she made on her pregnancy boards when she was expecting the granddaughter, and she is still in touch with the same group of girls, both on the boards and by phone, even went to see one of them. The pregnancy boards, were divided up somewhat by due dates, so she ask me how these were done, and wondered if we grouped by how much weight we each wanted to lose. I told her no, and explained how I ended up on a NJ board, when I am in NM. And as we talked I realized, I look at your tickers and cheer you on or try to give support depending on which way they go for the week, but when I "talk" to you, I see in my minds eye, the smiling face in some of the avatars, and big hearts, I have no "body image" in mind of anyone!!! I then decided, I just hoped you only thought of me as a smile and a heart too....no one needs to remember this belly!!!

Once again, thanks for being there....and keep the prayers going, we have a long road ahead of us. It does help knowing that you'll be standing on the roadside cheering us on. BIG BIG hugs to all of you!

Kat

[NJChick 3]

Good Morning,

Today is the run yer head off like a dang fool to get party supplies for tomorrow's surprise party for my DH lolol, I'm playing hooky today and dh doesn't even know it neener neeener neeeeeeeeeeeeener he thinks I'm in an all day computer class at work snort ~ :guess

But first !! I must check on my widdle friends here.

Kat, I'm so sorry to hear about DH but at the same time, I'm thrilled that they know whats wrong and can correct it before something bad happens. When my uncle had his bypass, they took the veins from his neck and leg.... can I ask why they are going to use a placebo one or pig for your dh? You know your DH's regular doc who dismissed his symptoms is an ASS!!!! sorry but that makes me angry when they blow you off. Your post was lovely and I agree with you 100 % when you said we are all connected w/out even seeing each other. I visit another board where I have met lots of the women there, they have traveled from canada to meet and boy, its awesome to have such nice friends cyber or not. I hope to some day meet you all because your all so special. We're glad your here

Mary, I'm glad your off to see the wizard, I mean doc good luck and I'll cross my body parts that its something easy peasy for them to fix. I'm glad you got to eat a little... HUGS

Darcy I' so proud of you for exercising, and yes, don't take a day off until your comfortable that you can get back there the following day. Fear is a great motivator huh... Oh come on... you don't want my old jeans :thumbs_up: LOL... it'll be a cold day in heck when I don't wear undies let me just say that for the record LOL

Patty you go getem girl... show those docs and insurance people who's boss !!! Sucks but ya really have to.

Cindy, is today #5 of your count down LOL !! how are you feeling lately hon?

Donna, will you be up in this area long? it would be awesome to get to meet.

Sherry, uhhh you poor dear. I'm sorry you had such a horrible case to listen to. Really ... I wouldn't be able to sleep. Hugs and kisses to you. How are you doing / feeling ?

Beanie babe :kiss2:

Anne, oh Anne, where for art thou? whats up chicklet, where have you been?

Betty.... don't let work swallow you whole now. Come up for air soon.

Pat????? hey woman, whats been shakin with you? how goes work and the witchie pooh saga... how are the grand babies?

Becky good luck at the doc's today. I hate going to my doc b/c I'm losing so slow.. .and its my fault :thumbs_up: oh well, no one ever said it was easy huh lol.

Tammy where have ya been girlie.... how' things?

Ira, how goes things with DW? is she getting nervous/excited? when is her date?

Time to make DD Breakfast and get my fat arse dressed.

Have a wonderful day everyone

[Iluvharleys 15]

Howdy Y'all!

Just stopped to let you know I am still alive and kicking. I have just been so busy I had to ask my DH what day it was yesterday!

I will try to catch up with y'all on the weekend.

Kat - I think about you and DH daily, my prayers are with you. Keep us posted on how he is doing.

Eileen - A party! Heck, I wished I lived closer, I would come and party with ya! Opps, I meant I would come and help you! Enjoy some of your time off today!

Hello to everyone else, have a great day!

[Mita 2]

Wow a Party - Have Fun ~ take a lot of pictures so we can see...:Banane20: :Banane41: :Banane41:

Kat - My heart literally goes out to you and Hubby. Now from what I remember about the same kiinda scenario was going on with Ex He actually had an extra route that was open and they had to sew it shut but all around the loss of oxygen and fatigue was all there. They went in through the left side so that they would not have to open his rib cage. Is that a possibility?? We have a great heart Surgeon in Ft. Collins Colo if you are not satisfied with the one in Mx. My house is your home Ok..:grouphug:

Betty - Hi there busy girl -- Glad to see you stopped in..

Beanie - Darcy - Becky - You go girls with that exercise thang :thumb:

Annie - Pat - Jersey Tammy - How are you all doing??? Everything ok???

Cindy - One more day closer - 5 days to gooooooooooooooooooooo:ip:

Patty - How was Lewis field Trip?? Did he have a blast? I am sure he did. Cristian was very excited to tell me how much fun he had at his field day and of course about his girlfriend Gracie. :love:

Well the meeting went fine with the Lawyer and he is going to call the Dark Side today and see if they will agree. I have not option but to file Bankruptcy sometime in the near future but am still holding out hope that maybe I can start to catch up. Don't know yet.

I go here in a bit to the PCP and see what she says but I know it is my sinus.

Other than that not much happening except work. Sat is Childrens Day around town and there are alot of places having different things. I am hoping Dad does not want to take the kids so that we all can go around and have some fun... Over the Hedge Starts today and they have been asking to go see that - so maybe tonight after work I will take them. We will see

I planted Corn and watermellon and pumpkins for the boys. I might even go get some chili and tomatos and other things that we can have during the winter months. Just call me Joe Farmer

Well gotta go - Have a good day

[Kat817 19]

Thanks so much Bubbame....we haven't got into specifics about how they would open him up, they did say it would be open heart with the heart/lung bypass machine, so I just figured it meant all the way down the middle of his chest. Maybe not, I hope not for his sake, it would be a long time then before he could be on his motorcycle...akin to death for him. I really appreciate the offer of a place to stay, and if we find out the best Dr. is there, I may be hollering! We have family in and around Denver, and as I say Albuquerque has the Heart Hospital, and I am thinking that is likely where they will send us. It is the closest large city. It is 180 miles away. We live in a small town of 7200 people here in the 4 corners area of New Mexico, we have another town nearby, 11 miles, which is where his Dr. is, and it is in the neighborhood of say 60,000 people. It has all the necessary things....Walmart, Target, shopping malls etc..!!! It also has a state of the art hospital, BUT...I still think we need bigger and more experienced! We will have more of an idea after the next appt., I mean they may not even do open heart here, I have no idea. I will let you all know as soon as I know more. Meanwhile, we have thought about Colorado...we have family all over the state. Grand Junction, Meeker, Ridgeway, Englewood, Littleton, Golden and Denver....maybe more if I thought about it!!! Will definitely let you know, and thanks again!!!

Kat

[Dutchgrl59 2]

Morning all! It's Friday! :kiss2: :kiss2:

Lewis had a fabulous time at the Discovery Science Center. They brought him back dirty and tired. He fell asleep on the carpet by 4pm... woke up, fell back asleep and we had to wake him for dinner! Boy was he disagreeable this morning - too much fun.

Tomorrow we get to go to CAMP del CORAZON this lovely group of folks run a Heart camp for kids out on Catalina Island every summer. Campers with heart conditions go for free. Lewis is still too young to go but, this weekend they are having a symposium. The parents are invited to attend seminars all day in the hotel and the counselors whisk the kids + siblings to Universal Studios for free! When I regisitered by phone I kept asking the girl, what do I need to bring? She said nothing. How much for parking? She said nothing. I was dumbstruck, and feel truly blessed to get to meet other parents and kids living with CHD. I hope that Lewis makes some new friends so, that when he gos to camp that he already has friends that he can hang with. They take kids age 7 to camp, which would mean next summer.... that is if I am brave enough to let him go. Harder for the Mom than the kid.

Kat: It sounds like you had a very informative Cards appointment. Don't look up too much on the internet... there is misinformation and you need to keep a clear head. Please private message me. I have some insight on suviving in a hospital without going crazy. With Lew's surgery we were stuck there for 9 days... shorter than most people but still very stressful. Our hospital never told me about the free nutrician trays for nursing Moms. Lewis was just 4 months old and I was still lactating. I had to ask for my food tray with juice/milk and muffin so that I could keep making milk. The only way I knew about this service was from another Mom. I learned about where all the pumping stations were and how to label and freeze milk. I'm only going into detail because.... THEY NEVER TELL YOU THIS, thats why. When I discovered that every room had video machines I packed all our Disney sing-alongs and movies -- heck the kid next to us wanted to know what we were watching! The boys and I have your name written on our prayer list. You still have alot of information to process.

Hey Everyone, Have a great weekend.

[Mita 2]

Wow Elieen they really do alot for the kiddos - That is just awesome:)

I know that we would have not picked this path that we are on had it been our choice in the healthy lives of our children BUT I am so touched by the many new familys I have personally met and the children that they have with all the different needs. My eyes see alot more now than ever. :angel:

Just got back - yep Sinus Infection and more meds - that is good news for me. One thing I did find out and this is from her. Mucus from your sinus has protien in it. When it is going down the back of your throat to your pouch - Your tummy thinks it needs to break it down so it generates more stomach acid thus more reflux thus more tighting in our band area.

I feel alot better this am but am taking it slow. Just sips and maybe I will do somemore Peanut Butter for lunch again today..

[nightingale2u 42]

Hey guys...

Just a quickie. :Banane20: Went to Curves this morning and did 3 X's around the circuit because we were all laughing and talking so much that I lost track of time. :Banane41: Now that's my kind of exercise! I came home and took the pup for a 1/2hr walk... WHEW... I feel GRRRRRRRRRREAT!

Kat... It sounds like your bubby is in good hands now which must help reduce the stress... your primary care M.D. needs a little talking to and I think you are a great one to give him exactly what he needs! Sorry you are both going through this and I agree... this is a wonderful group and I am going to have to kiss Betty's feet for inviting me to join in. :Banane41:

Mary...WHEW... glad it was just a sinus infection and that is great info for any bandster to know... AND... I really think you should post it under the main forum just incase others aren't aware. Hope the meds have you feeling better soon!

Betty... Glad to see you are alive... you aren't holding Pat captive are you?????

Eileen... You crack me up girl... No pun intended. :grouphug:

Patty... Glad Lewis had a good enough time to be plum worn out and crabby.

Okay... I have to go get some veggie plant for the garden boxes and then I have to pack our stuff for going to the shack for an overnighter. Have a great weekend everyone! OH... and I plan on taking a nice long bike ride at the cabin along with the yardwork that will need to be done so I won't be a slouchin!

[ReneBean 3]

Hi All.

Darcy - an actual walk counts for exercise - just the same as a treadmill walk... :] Rock on with three times around at curves! Have a great time at the "shack". Hugs!

Mary - I hope you can avoid the infamous BK. Christian has a GF?!? Wow~ - young love. Have fun with the garden. Watch those pumkins... they will take over the world if you let them. I hope you feel better, soon. Hugs!

Kat - hugs, hugs and more hugs! I bet your DH is scared. Nobody wants to have their chest cracked open. What are the options on valve replacement? Is Pig Valve the only choice? I think that they may be the best choice - since pigs are so genetically close to humans - but is there any chance of a HUMAN valve? Or do you have to have the whole heart replaced to get human parts? I am thinking only the best thoughts for you and your hubby. We all love you too.

Eileenie - hope you have a fab party. Enjoy your crazed day of hooky. Hugs!!

Betty - TGIF! Hope you get to relax a bit this weekend. Hugs!

Patty - You will let Lewis go to camp when the time comes. You won't be able to resist when he wants to go. Glad he had fun on his field trip. Hugs!

Pat? Anne? Cindy? Ira? Becky? Donna? Sherry? Dianne? Tammy? Zannie? (wherefore art thou, Zannie...) We miss you... Y'all Come Back, now, ya hear?

Well - no news on this front. scale is hovering in the 316-317 range for the last couple days. I went to the gym on Monday & Wednesday and plan on a visit there tonight - so that is all in line. Nothing exciting going on at all... just the way I like it. Work is busy - but that's life in the big city.

This weekend is the pirate invasion at Scarborough Faire - so we will definitely be going out. DH particulary wanted to see the pirate show. What's everybody else doing this weekend?

Love you guys!

Irene