Shingles... I still hate you

Two and a half years ago, I was sitting in a Dr's office trying, to figure out what was going on with my face and eye. I had a break out on my eyebrow and forehead that made me look like a hormone crazed teenager.  My eye was blurry and the whole thing stung like a bee sting. After a look-over from my GP, I was whisked away to an ophthalmologist, where I was diagnosed with shingles of the eye.

 

It was two months of dilation eye drops, three days of the week visits to the Dr for pressure checks and to track the scare tissue on the cornea,  wearing an eye patch and hiding in a dark room because I was so light sensitive.

 

 I had been a recluse for so long that I was praying for death. I was tired of the pain, tired of not being able to see, not being able to be out in the day light. Slowly, my vision got better. But not 100%  The ophthalmologist said that it would be a few weeks to restore my sight. Over that year there weren't many changes.  I just see halos.  Similar to a full day of swimming in a public pool only with more double vision.

Fast forward a year and a half to today.  I went in for my annual vision check, knowing that I was still experiencing some residual issues from the shingles. They did a barrage of tests and the verdict was in. I have some pretty gnarly damage to my eye.

Looking at the image above you'll see white "clouding".  This clouding is the scaring in my eye.  When this developed, it squished the lens of the eye causing astigmatism.

The Dr. tested and figured out the manipulation for my new lenses.  It was kind of crazy as I sorted between #1s and #2s.  When we got to the final scrip and we did the before and after and HOLY COW!!  I was in shock.  I didn't realize how bad my eye had gotten.  You just get used to it.  So my sweet Milly helped me pick out my new frames. Here were a few of her favorites...

 Mrs.Kitty likey!

These take me back to high school.




After much deliberation, Milly and I picked out...

My left lens will be a bit thicker than the right, but I know that my vision will be  greatly improved.

So what do you think?

Rewind... {PART 2 HEART}

Echo-cardiogram Day

Sitting in the waiting room, my heart  pounding.  Legs shaking uncontrollably. I had Googled what to expect the night before, and that helped. But I still found my self uneasy.

When  they called my name, I quickly settled down and went into game mode. The ultrasound tech had me lay on the table in the cool dark room, which settled me even more.

I watched as she ran the probe over my chest, looking at all the details of my heart.  She took lots of measurements and pictures. She was so good about talking me through the whole thing.

When she was done, the tech stepped out to share the info with the cardiologist. They were very quick to share the results with me.

It was very obvious from their findings, that I had 3-4 regurgitating heart valves (of leaky heart valves). This means that the valves in my heart and acting more like a swinging door that never shuts properly.  This allows the blood flow to change directions rather than going in one.

At this time, the thought is that my issue is not bad enough to warrant any kid of intervention with the valves. However, there were still concerns about the palups and irregular rhythms that I was having.

Stress Test Day

I arrived in work out cloths, not thrilled about the test that was about to be performed.  Just walking up the stairs hurt my heart.  Running was just out of the question. Taking  one for the team. ie. my health, I put my big girl panties on and did what I had to do.

The test is simple... Kind of.   They hook me up to a heart monitor and put me on a treadmill.  For six minutes the treadmill would increase in speed.  The goal is to get the heart rate to 160 in that time.  All the while measuring the hearts rhythms.

I'll be honest.  I HATED IT!!! Why?  Because I'm not supposed to run with my back.  I was in so much pain. The tech offered to stop but I wasn't giving up.  I had to finish.  There was no way I was going to do this again... or so I thought.

When the test was over, the cardiologist gave me a run down of the results. He was bold and upfront.  my heart appears to be abnormal. But the only way to truly know what was happening was to undergo one more test. A Nuclear Stress test. He said that 1 in 10 people my age that he sees actually have something really wrong.  But I have my age on my side.  The thought is that I just have a "funny heart" and that I would have to tell any Dr that examines me this for the rest of my life.  But that 10% chance was that there were possibly blockages in my arteries that were causing these phenomenons.

Nuclear Stress Test Day

Same as before with a few differences.  I had to be admitted through the ER.  They gave me an IV that had several ports and valves.  A radioactive die was then injected and my heart was scanned by a really cool rotating machine while at rest. (wish I took a picture of it)

Then I was asked to run/walk on the treadmill just like the test before. I was sent back to the "cool rotating machine" to take images again while my heart was still active. The process was very interesting.  The staff informed me that the Dr. would contact me, though patience is not a strong point of mine.

A few days later, I received a letter in the mail from my Dr. It's lengthy and detailed. But that's one of the may reasons I love my Dr.  They all way mail you a copy of all test results so you have it for your reference.

On the second page it states

"Impression:
1. Exercise stress myocardial perfusion study demonstrates no evidence of myocardial infract or ischemia.
2. Left ventricular systolic function is within its normal limits.
3. No stress related ischemic EKG changes seen."

You should have seen the look on my face as I read it. My whole family was in the room.  I wanted to throw a party right then and there.

I HAVE A FUNNY HEART.

That is all!

Yes, I'm still being treated for blood pressure and palpitations.  But the treatment has done it's job.  I'll continue on my heart med for the time being.

Rewind... health update {PART1}

It all started in February.  I began to get a tightening in my left breast. Similar to the feeling you get when your milk lets down. The fallowing week the sensation had spread to my shoulder blade and radiated down to my finger tips. Just like your arm falling asleep but it comes and goes with no real purpose.

After a few weeks it brought enough concern that I decided to go to the doctor.  I was worried that the tumor that has been living in my chest for eight years was causing problems.

I made a visit to my GP to get a physical. They started with my blood pressure.  168/130.  Sadly, this has been my normal range for several years.  The hope was that I would get my pain in control and it would come down. That was just not the case.  This high number was a concern to the DR right away.

The physical was under way.  The typical tests were done. Check my lungs, heart and motor function. While listening to my heart, she began to ask me some questions.

"How long had your BP been that high?"
"How long have you had the heart palpitations?"...

Both answers were years.

She immediately ordered a EKG to check things out further. The results of that test left her worried even more, even to the point that she ordered an echo-cardiogram for the next day. I was prescribed heart meds to help with the obvious issues.

Next the doctor addressed my pain in my arm and breast. She did an exam and noticed some inflammation in the tissue. She didn't seem to be worried about my arm at the time and more on my tumor and the tissue around it.  I was given a referral have a mammogram and ultrasound of my left breast for the following week.

A full blood work was drawn to check for a number of factors as part of the normal physical routine.

I was pleased and scared all at once.  I knew that this was the first step to getting the answered I needed.  I just didn't expect the few surprises I received.

To be continued...

Stop and stare moment...

All was quiet.  I headed upstairs to check on the girls.  When I peeked in the room, I was brought to a halt.  A suddin moment of mom joy.  The sight of my two oldest girls snuggled up together in one bed watching a movie on their kindles.  

Silly as it is, I just sat there. Watching.   Alana lifted her head and said "Hi momma!"  I melted to the floor.  I love little moments like these. The urge to climb into bed with them was unstoppable.  The loving embrace that was givin to me was beautiful.  I'm in love with my kids.  What a blessing it is to be their mother.  

I know this is a random post.  But I had to shout it out to the world that I love my kids.  

We're Building a Pool {PART3}

-Friday, June 26th-

GUNITE DAY!

6:30 AM and the gunite was flowing.  I think this way was one of the more interesting to watch.

 There's a GIANT  straw that shoots the concrete into every nook and cranny in order to make the pool solid.

The girls enjoyed watching from one of the usual look outs upstairs.

These guys have to be strong.  This thing shook  like crazy!

 It's meticulous. As one man shoots the gunite into the frame, another comes behind him and sculpts into what will be the final form.

It's dirty and beautiful.  I can't believe we're seeing so much progress so fast.  In the morning it looked like a mud pit with a bunch  or rebar.  By the end of the day  it looked like everything I  had drawn on paper. The amazing thing?  I didn't draw this till after I met with Gary.  He took what was in my mind and made it real.

To be continued...

"We're Building a Pool" {Part 2}

-Friday June 19th-

Gary came by to measure and mark out the border of the pool. It was fun to see the outline on the ground so we could get our first real glimpse of what is to come. Here's "Butt" in the spa.  He looks toasty. 

-Saturday June 20-

6:30 am and you could hear the trucks rumbling on the street.

 We were all so excited that you could see us all gathering around to watch the activities. I headed up stairs and set up my GoPro to capture the events in a time lapse.  It's the perfect view.

 By 7:30 the crew had made all their marks and began to dig.  We had officially broke ground!

 The guy  who drove the BobCat is an artist.  An absolute talent on wheels.

A few hours later, the dig was done.

...and just in time for the skies to open up and pore.

 Thankfully the rains were short lived and we didn't have any real problems.  I sent a text to Gary with this picture.  We all agreed that we had an instant pool party on our hands.  He He.

-Tuesday, June 23nd-

The morning came and I headed up stairs to set up the camera. This time I had a helper. Bubs has been so curious and really enjoys watching from any window he can get at.

He's such a persistent boy.  Bubs made it hard to be productive because I just wanted to sit and watch with him.

Rebar only took four or so hours to do. The workers are beasts to say the least.  They only used a few tools to bend and tie the metal into place.  Their hands, knees, wire and wire cutters, bolt cutters and this nifty little pole that helps with the extreme bends. A few bricks here and there to keep the shell off the ground and you have a pool frame.

Alana is so inquisitive. A question was asked about every little detail. I think she approves.

 Soon after framing was done the plumbers came in to do their first round of piping in the pool in order to prepare for gunite.

 This stage is mostly the returns in the deep end and along the sides, skimmers and spa.

 To be continued in {Part 3}...