Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

And a little bit of a health update.  I recently had an EKG & appointment with my heart doctor at our hospital...and the results were not what I was expecting....

I assumed everything would be fine & be advised I was recovering.  That was not the case...it's taken me a bit of time to process everything.  The EKG results were "not great".....in processing this information I didn't ask for further clarification...I hope to in the future.  My heart is not healing as hoped...I'm a mystery to the cardiologists apparently.  They cannot determine what type of heart attack I had - I wasn't aware there was more than the usual type...where a blockage(s) is found limiting blood flow to the heart...thus causing a heart attack & damage to the heart.  I've had two coronary stents for a number of years....

Since a clot buster was administered in trauma....did it flush out a blockage?  Maybe.   They've determined I did not have a Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as originally suspected (brought on usually by a stressful event).   I did not fit the criteria for that type of heart attack....although my heart was under a great deal of stress...

In December I'll undergo CT scan where an IV with dye is administered & the heart is scanned to hopefully diagnose what the problem is...

Fun times.  In the meantime...I begin the cardiac rehabilitation program next week....two hour classes twice weekly for twelve weeks.  Part of the program involves exercise on various equipment, walking, guest speakers (such as pharmacists, physiotherapists, dieticians).   My initial assessment was done last week....along with bloodwork & visits to Public Health nursing for vaccinations....

I'm feeling fine....tire quickly though & a friend commented I must be "so scared".  I may be foolish not to be....but I've never let fear dictate how I live.  It serves no purpose & offers little help.

On a quick note...I want to mention....none of the typical heart attack symptoms presented themselves to me...yet it happened.  Sitting quietly entertaining friends....when it came on....such an immense pain in the centre of my chest....so intense morphine, demerol or dilaudid didn't decrease the pain....perhaps the three sprays of nitroglycerin administered the ambulance might have helped a bit....

I thank my devoted husband for not allowing me to go to bed (which was my plan)....after checking my blood pressure and heart rate...he immediately called 911....

And I've live to meet another day!  That is where I am currently at...looking forward to the upcoming holidays.  Two months from today-is Christmas Day!!  Speaking of Christmas....we spent a few hours going thought our Christmas decor....and this is heading to daughter's home....I know grand daughter will immediately claim the gingerbread.....

We plan to have grand daughter for an afternoon of decorating a few cookies...(unlike her other grandmother....I no longer bake).....but icing a few cookies should be fun....

And a Halowe'en Kit Kat house?  This is going to be fun to assemble....I'm not certain the smarties included will make it into the decor...but that's ok...they are tempting!  And that pretty sweater underneath?  Only $18 at Wal Mart!  We plan to bake a home made pizza for supper....her Mom & Dad will join us....

I've purchased an abundance of warm sweaters for fall & winter....being anemic...I am cold 99.9% of the time!  Reynaud's Syndrome causes my fingers & toes to turn white & go numb when I'm cold or anxious.  It is so annoying....and painful.  I'm hoping these magnetic rechargeable hand warmers from Amazon will keep my hands warm....I'll try anything....

It is very, very windy here today!  They are forecasting rain/snow mix the middle of next week.  Ugh. We still have an abundance of leaves on the trees yet....

Thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me!  Wishing you an awesome weekend!

Til next time.....