January 2008
29 posts
Moving On
Ok, we have an answer… Biopsy results are in and the heart scarring was not caused by a toxin (medication). So, we do not have any official answer as to why this has happened to the Ticker. The best I can do is be positive and happy and that will have to be enough to prevent any more progression of whatever this is!
something to think about while we wait
A common theme in my blog/life throughout this whole “event” has been waiting. I would say the most challenging part has been patience and finding ways to entertain the mind as you await news. For me waiting is the toughest part and it’s no different today. Although I have kept my mind busy it’s there… the question in the back of my head nagging at me… what...
Baby Steps
It may be cheesy and cliche to say this but when you go through rough times the people in your life make all the difference. I can’t let any more time pass by as I “speak” to you all every day over this blog without saying thank you from the bottom of my Ticker. It is an absolute truth that all of you and your support is what keeps me going strong and cultivates my iron clad...
Kicking It in NYC
Hello Everyone. I needed a couple of days of rest before I got back to blogging. But, I’m back! It was the greatest feeling to be home and get into my own bed. I already felt so much better having done that. I left the hospital in a tornado… after thinking I would spend another night there the docs came in and told me I would be able to leave. Turns out, what I was experiencing...
Quickie
Update: I am home! There is so much to write and I have a great post to come but first, Rest! I am exhausted and my Kicker is causing a lot of pain as it gets settled in. I am going to relax and write when I feel a bit better. I just want to let everyone know that I am back in NYC. I am feeling really weird today, it feels like the last 2 weeks have been some crazy dream. Like, it...
I'm a patient patient I'm a patient patient I'm a...
Well, in true Lauren fashion it looks like things will be delayed (again). I was so happy to be discharged this morning but I had a couple pf strange episodes over night and the docs will not discharge me until we get to the bottom of what is causing it. Basically I have not slept at all. The first time I had fallen asleep I woke up suddenly to catch my breath and saw that my heart rate was 132...
It's Been Real
Thomas told me yesterday after my procedure that this has been an amazing trip. I took a while to think about that statement because my definition of an amazing trip would never usually include a hospital stay, medical procedures, Cleveland Ohio (sorry, but it’s true) or any of the like. But when I got to thinking about it I must say that Thomas was absolutely right; it’s probably the most...
The Kicker has Landed
Celebration in room G91-02 tonight! G for Gangster of course because I must say, I was tough in there. I have to make this one short because I am in pain and on a lot of loopy narcotics. Most importantly I am checking in to let everyone know that the procedure was a success. I was in there for a little over 3 hours. The doctors and nurses were true professionals and I felt safe at their...
Almost there
The Kicker has (once again and hopefully for the last time) been postponed! The doctors have decided it best to wait another day to be sure that I am 100% healthy before they put the Kicker in. Kicker + infection = Bad news so their decision is OK by me! In the mean time I have been reading up on the bivalve pacemaker/defibrillator (Kicker). They are giving it to me as part of Cardiac...
7 Days, 3 Rooms, and 5 IVs later.....
Today seemed like the longest day ever. Not much happens in a hospital on a Sunday it seems; no tests or procedures today, not many doctors coming by to visit like usual. The hours seemed like days. Both Thomas and Cyn are coming down with colds so they kept away for most of the day. Actually, Cyn did stop by but she wore a mask so she would not infect me with her cold. Yes, a surgical...
The Ticker rebels
Hi everyone! So we last left off the day before my heart biopsy. From the very start I was terrified weary of what would be involved in this procedure and I was totally anxious the entire day yesterday as I wait in my hotel room to be taken down. I was told at 11 am I would be taken “soon”, then sat here trying to keep cool for hours until they took me around 4:30. Now not to brag...
This Just In
News! The procedure has been delayed. I willl not be getting the Kicker today. I found this out at 6 this morning, my cardiologist called me to say that he spoke with some other doctors who are seeing me and they think it is best I get a biopsy of the heart before proceeding with the pacemaker/defib. As I’ve mentioned before, no one can explain why this has happened to my heart and my...
Like Christmas Eve
When I was a kid Christmas Eve was always my favorite. It was so magical to me, I was so anxious to get to bed so it would be morning already and we could go downstairs to see what presents awaited us. There have been other instances like this, where you are so excited and anxious about the following day that sleep seems out of the question; before I leave on a big trip (I remember I could never...
"I'm not wearing any panties!"
Not me …. not me!! That is exactly what Thomas and I awoke to suddenly at 5 am! It was my hospital roomate and it was an experience to say the least. More on that below….. Day 3 of Cleveland Clinic. Well peeps, I am still here and today was just as eventful as the last. Let me give you a full report: They have now moved my procedure to get the Kicker to Friday afternoon. The...
Admitted....
Never a dull moment. Last night after I posted my blog I wasn’t feeling so well. I had bad chest pains. Now, I’ve come to know my body pretty well and these chest pains were different than what I usually get so my mom and I thought it would be best to head to the ER (located literally a minute and a half from the hotel). The chest pains turned out to be just that… pains but,...
A spoonful of sugar helps it go down...
hi everyone It has been quite a long long day here. We started out at 7 am and just got back to our room around 5. Plus, I did not sleep last night so it feels like it is 3 am right now. Wait a minute… 3 am for me used to be getting home from some fun lounge or club and heading to la esquina for a late night taco so I guess it really doesn’t feel like 3 am…. haha Here is the...
sleepy in Cleveland
Well, we are here! Not much to write aside from the fact that we landed, got settled into the hotel (very nice btw) and I am so exhausted that I cannot wait to hit the pillow. Oh, and we went to dinner. We were sitting next to a couple who came here from Australia!! Yes, they came from the other side of the earth to this clinic for his heart surgery… First appointment: 7:30 am...
Making moves
Sorry I didn’t write yesterday! Crazy day…. Ok, one more day until our big trip! I never thought I would be so excited to go to a hospital. I am planning to bring my lap top so I will be blogging from Cleveland. Check in for updates. I will also try and take some fun clinic pictures for you so you have the complete experience. I am going with my mom and we are happy about it. ...
Little things we take for granted
A month from now, I want all of these aches and pains to be behind me and I want my Ticker to have shown that it’s starting to kick back into gear. I don’t want to be in bed anymore. I want my quality of life back. I am doing everything I can to make this happen. It has been a really really hard couple of months… It’s the little things like being able to wake up, get...
Cleveland vs NYC round 1
I’m off to middle America. Yup, off to Cleveland Clinic. Woooo. I will be going from Sunday 1/13 through Tuesday 1/15. I have appointments on Monday and Tuesday all day long. Fingers crossed that we get to the bottom of things! I spoke to the cardiologist that I will be seeing there and he seems ready and able. We had a long talk and there is a team of researchers behind him that will...
A day in the life...
Just to give you an idea of what goes on all too often. i had a nice day planned. looked forward to getting outside. now, i am in bed, cannot move and am in a lot alot alot of pain again. i called the doctors, they cannot explain it. it came on so fast that i had to cancel my day completely and now i must journey to the upper east side to be examined. i am going to try and avoid the hospital at...
My first and forever love: Sleep
Get ready to celebrate… I actually slept through a full night last night! This is rare for me these days. I either can’t sleep, or get to sleep and then wake up after 2 hours and stare at the ceiling —which just leads to crazy thoughts flying around my head. This is not because I am not tired, it is those annoying anxious thoughts and mainly the fear of going to sleep and not...
The Waiting Game (or Criminal Activity)
And so it is, my very first post. I don’t even know where to begin. The title of my tumblog is a great place to start. If one more doctor/ receptionist/ lab technician/ pharmacist sends those words in my direction once more I will go batshit crazy on them smile and simply say “neither do you!” What does sick look like exactly? Yea, I’ve got a few kinks here and there...