What should I write?

Allrighty, It has been four years since I last posted so I doubt anyone will actually read this but what the hay. I guess I should update from the last time I actually posted. I no longer have acid reflux. How? you ask. Surgery. Worked great except the Doctor cut a section of my spleen, and it broke loose so I don't have that anymore.

Moving on, We recently added a new kitten to our household and she is a bundle of energy. I had forgotten what it was like to have one around. She is currently testing her limits. Cats are not allowed on counters or tables in our house. She seems to be learning the "do it" while no one is looking routine. As soon as she saw me this morning she sprinted off the table and stood there looking at me like she was wondering what would happen next. Of course, I admonished her for getting on the table, but she is so darned cute.

I didn't mean to disappear that long

I hope everyone is doing well. I didn't realized I had waited so long between posts. I guess when you fall into a funk and don't care anymore, these things happen. Yes, I've been depressed. You know this is not how I intended to start out. Oh, well.

I've been through bookoodles of tests for the Dr's over the last few monthes and been given a couple of diagnoses the only one that I think is completely off is the hyperventilation syndrome. It's real, but the treatment didn't work on me, in fact, it made things worse. It's hard to explain to people sometimes that being sick makes you anxious and depressed not always the other way around. I'm taking anti-depressants these days. They have helped volumes.

I do have severe acid reflux with a hiatus hernia. If you had told me at the beginning I had this I would have laughed and blown you off. However, it has been confirmed with both a barium swallow and an endoscopy. I am beginning the journey of living with this stuff. No alcohol (at least not much) for me. Another toughie is not eating right before going to bed. I had no idea how tough that one would be until I discovered myself getting hungry every night. whimper. I'm taking prilosec and nexxium each once a day. Don't worry the GI specialist told me to. I also have mild gastritis. The nexxium should take care of it. At least I don't have any ulcers.

The hiatus hernia may be causing the chest pain and pressure. still not sure about the shortness of breath and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), but it's probably connected.

I saw the Endocrinolgist and had lots of blood work and lab tests done. My Endocrine system passed the tests. In other words, no thyroid problems or endocrine cancers. That was good news.

To other news, we had a wonderful Christmas here. Everyone had a good time. The kids got most of what they wanted, but I didn't get them a WII. I'm thinking about getting it mid-year when they may actually be on the shelves again. I got a BIG surprise from my husband. He got me a new digital SLR. Yippee!!! Now when my new lens and flash arrives (hopefully today) it should all work well. Apparently, my old lens was malfunctioning and won't work with the new body.

I also received a pressure washer. I can't wait to use it. Now your thinking "she's excited about pressure washing?" (scratching head). Yep, I always borrow my Dad's and wind up keeping it too long. Look out drive way here I come. Yeeha!

update to the update

Well, I got a letter today from my Cadiologist who basically told me I'm fine, but please keep taking that calcium bloker anyway. NODAMMIT! I'm not going to keep taking a medicine I don't need and isn't working either. I'm so pissed right now I'm seeing red. I feel like these people don't know me and think that they do. My holter monitor showed that my heart rate ranged from 61 (can you say asleep) to 138 (can you say "too damn high") with an average of 95. That's what it has been for the past few weeks. I was at work and not busy there was no reason for my heartrate to go that high. Nevermind, that my normal heartrate was previously in the 80's. I'm tired and I still can't breath. When I ask people all those fun questions at work I get out of breath. It's getting to be ridiculous.

In fact, the verapamil is supposed to control heartrate and it's side effects include rapid heartrate and shortness of breath. How am I supposed to know if I'm reacting the meds or if I'm just having the same problems.

I also did some research and found out to the meds I take, one to control my bursitis and the other to control my essential tremors, don't go well with this drug. He knew I was on these meds too. He told me to stay off my Adderall too. I had already quit taking it, but if my heart is fine I need the stuff. My brain feels like it's fried because I can't concentrate and from what I've read verapamil will contribute to that. This drug just isn't something I should be on. I wondered why my pulmonologist looked at me funny when I told him about it, but he didn't say anything. I guess second guessing the other Dr is bad form. Right now I'm pissed and I can't call them until Tuesday because of the long weekend. They sent a copy of the letter to the wrong Dr. and I'm ready to tell the nurse what I think. Maybe it is a good thing I can't call right now.

update on Dr visits

I went to a cardiologist the day after I got back from GOG and he told me my mitral regurge and thickened valve (first time I heard that) were normal for my age. I didn't argue, but I think next visit I'm going to ask is it normal for someone who never had it before? I went through a stress test on Friday and then wore a 24 hour heart monitor. He said he it was possibly my thyroid so he ordered a Thyroid panel. I got a letter from him yesterday. Guess what it's NOT my thyroid. Damn. That would have been easier to treat. He was thinking hyperthyroid, BTW.

The stress test was different. They put an IV in me. The tech forgot to tell me the jacket laying there was for me to wear over the transparent hospital gown. I walked around for a while braless in a see through gown before I realized all the women had on the damn jacket. I thought about it and it only bothered me when a man leaned in for closer look and I wanted to swat him. The test itself was no fun. I warned the tech I would have and asthma attack on the tread mill. Guess what, I did. I'm glad I had my inhaler to resue me. They told me the EKG looked fine, but I saw it and the couple of abnormal heart beats didn't look "fine" to me. Though if they had been really bad I would have been taken to my Cardiologist ASAP.

At the end of the treadmill part they inject you with a tracer and send you to the next part. They put you in a scanner and you have to lay still for about 25 minutes. This is not easy for me. Stop laughing. I actually dozed off during the procedure. They told me my scanned showed no blockages. That was good.

I met this woman who is younger than me who has the rare condition of having all her organs in the reverse position. That causes all sorts of health problems. She was very sweet. I don't think people respond well when she mentions it because she seemed pleased that it fascinated me. She was cool.

After that they fitted me with a 24 hr holter monitor. It's a EKG that monitors my daily heart rate. It was annoying to wear. Only a sponge bath and don't get it wet. The girl who hooked me up to it went so fast I wanted to reach over and tell her "you can do this and still be friendly." They are busy, but too much speed makes a person feel like a number. I turn the monitor in tomorrow. I go back in two weeks for the results. Until then I have to take a calcium blocker that should slow my heart rate. I started that last night after I took the monitor off.

my sweet family

When I arrived home my family was waiting for me with flowers. Noodle told her Daddy that they should get Mommy flowers so they went to the store and got me roses. She also wore a flowered dress (that actually matches the flowers). She called it her welcome home dress. She told me that she should wear it everytime that we welcome someone home. She is so sweet.

Home

Back home from GOG and I'm wiped out. Who knew that hanging out with your best friends could be so exhausting. Thanks ladies.

Sunday Siren and I hit Sea World so I'm including a pic of that today. I didn't take any other pics that I can share on my blog. ;) This baby stingray kept sticking his head above the water and looking at everything he could. He was checking out Siren and myself. It was great.

My flights home went smoothly, but my flight down was different. Before boarding the first leg of my flight they announced that the lavatory was broken and everyone might want to use the restrooms in the airport before departure (it was a short flight). Then we noticed that the plane's air was warm. The flight attendant said the a/c wasn't working well and he hoped the air would move forward and cool things down. This left us wondering about the plane. During the landing the wheels went down with a thud. I heard the guy behind me say "It's just the wheels." I guess he was trying to make someone feel better.

The new school year has begun.

My kids started back to school this week. It was noodle's first, well second, day. I forgot the camera on the first day. Bad Mommy. They look cute don't they. They both like their teachers and seem happy with their classes. It's going to be a busy school year though. We have soccer practices on Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights, dance class on Thursday. Of course, we will also have soccer games on Saturday mornings. My husband will stay very busy actually. My work will only allow me to do some of it. I hate that. I want to go the everything.