Since my goal is to be in remission I want to share a recent experience that tells me remission is near. If you are struggling I hope it gives you encouragement to know that one by one we do get better.
My husband had a surgery to correct atrial fibrillation on the 13th of December at the Univ of Kansas Medical Center. We were in the best place for this type of care. Surgery went well-- it was a procedure called a mini-maze where they went in through his side to burn scar tissue on his heart and around the arteries. Scar tissue prevents the problematic electrical current from crossing over and messing up the heart rhythm. For the first 24 hours Brett was in sinus rhythm and everyone was very pleased with his progress and he was going to move out of ICU. But after that he had tachycardia and his heart started to beat erratically, even the meds were not able to regulate it. So we went from thinking we would be dismissed to scary stuff-- the staff looked worried, teams of doctors were streaming through brainstorming, etc--- There were concerns that if they used the meds they needed to keep his rate from going to high, then they'd suppress it too much and it would get too low. His heart had stopped during surgery and they didn't want to go in that direction again. Brett was in a lot of pain during this time too. The solution (after 2 days of trying other alternatives)? A pacemaker to prevent his heart rate from going too low. So this was his 2nd surgery in 6 days and all total he was in ICU 8 days- twice as long as we thought we would be.
This was a high stress time for all of us. I was staying with my daughter and spending the majority of my days sitting in ICU. At least i was able to fix the foods I needed at my daughter's house, but I don't have to tell you my insides were tied up in knots just from the stress. I worked hard to stay hydrated, packed deli turkey and rice cakes around with me, bought fresh fruit from the cafeteria, practiced a lot of deep breathing, and made sure I went to bed as early as possible. By the time we'd been there 6 days I was running out of clean clothes, food, cash, and my own meds, but managed to make it all stretch. the day of his pacemaker surgery I really felt rough in the morning but that resolved and nothing come from it. Brett was dismissed last Thursday and I drove us out of KC on snow packed and slushy I-70 going 35-40 mph for the next 40 miles until we reached areas where the roads had been cleared.
Did I mention that 4 days before Brett's mini-maze I caught the worst stomach bug--I'm talking horrid symptoms that went on for 24 hours? so I went into all this already a little weakened. Yup, all of that in about a 12 day period.
Now for the impressive part
I DIDN'T FLARE!!!! In spite of a stomach/intestinal virus, followed by an 8 day ICU hospital duty with many scary parts--- I did not flare. Can there be any better sign for progress than this??
And anytime-- every time-- I go through something like this and I realize how far I have come, I always thank you guys-- each and everyone of you who have taken the time to share your knowledge and answer my many questions. I know I would not be this far without you. Just know that you do make a difference.
Carol
It's been 18 months since the big flare and diagnosis, and there were many times that I just couldn't see getting my life back even this far. As Gabes said it's times like this that you know the sacrifices are worth it. I would have been devastated if I could not have been with Brett during this ordeal. And since you asked, Brett is doing well and says today he's feeling the best he has since this started. 