So I made my sixth month visit to my cardiologist this past Tuesday. Hoorah for me, everything looks good. So far there have been no new changes for the worse in my situation, which is awesome.
My doctor even discontinued my daily aspirin, and I am very happy about that. One less pill to to swallow. Now I only have to do something about the other 41 pills I shove down my throat everyday. LOL
All in all everything is looking great, especially when you consider that my road to heart health has been quiet bumpy, with giant holes in the way. Ah, there's nothing like a little success in a situation like what I have been dealing with over the past 19 years with my heart "problems".
Here's how you know what a real blessing looks like, knowing that the odds were against you and yet, you're still here. Now that's a fine life.
Be happy with what you know to be your blessings.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Happy hugs,
CJ
Friday, December 12, 2014
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Let the games begin
As I await to make it to my first appointment with my new physician I find that I'm feeling a little nervous. How crazy is it that I have an appointment on the 8th of this month to see my new family physician and on the 9th I make my way to my cardiologist for my year ending check up.
I love health care, NOT!! If anything the mess that we now have in this country is absurd.
Somehow people continue to talk about affordable health care and yet my husband will have to pay more out of his check for our "affordable"coverage. ???? Hum... how does that work President Obama, Oh Bomb My health care, sir....
I just hope that everything that I've tried to improve on my health will keep me going for a while longer. Will shall see, right Mr. Prez.....?
So, off I'll go to my new physician until he decides to leave the practice because of the "Affordable"health care program.
Wish me luck, sounds like I'm gonna need it.
Till next,(if there is one). Peace people, it works...
CJ
I love health care, NOT!! If anything the mess that we now have in this country is absurd.
Somehow people continue to talk about affordable health care and yet my husband will have to pay more out of his check for our "affordable"coverage. ???? Hum... how does that work President Obama, Oh Bomb My health care, sir....
I just hope that everything that I've tried to improve on my health will keep me going for a while longer. Will shall see, right Mr. Prez.....?
So, off I'll go to my new physician until he decides to leave the practice because of the "Affordable"health care program.
Wish me luck, sounds like I'm gonna need it.
Till next,(if there is one). Peace people, it works...
CJ
Monday, November 17, 2014
On The Losing End
It may not seem like much of a difference to many people, but to me this is just "heart" breaking as today was my last official visit with my primary care physician.
After 12years of office visits to have my blood drawn, finger poked, listening to my heart, checking my ears, nose, throat and throat glands, talking about my weight and my diet, prescribing medications when I was well and most especially when I was sick, my doctor is leaving the group.
Realizing that nothing stays the same, I know that for whatever reasons he has there is a defining factor in his decision to leave after having been here in this place for so long, but alas, my heart is still breaking with his departure.
He was not able to disclose to any of his current patience what his plans would be in the future, but thank goodness for google. Starting December 1, 2014 we, those of us who would like to see if he is available to take on on again, can google him.
That doesn't help completely, because if he decides to begin a new practice in an area that I can't drive to or my insurance won't cover, then I'm out of the best doctor that I've ever had in my adult life. Part of his reason for leaving is in part due to Obama Care.
How this new insurance for all will work is beyond me, but I do know that it has greatly impacted my private insurance coverage as well, and not for the better either.
There are big changes coming in this country, ones we can't fix or stop. These choices that our government officials make don't always work the way they think they will. Americans unfortunately pay the price, one way or the other.
For me, I have to go on with my life and what I have left to choose from for a new doctor. It is certain that I can't do without a physician and so I will just melt into the flow of what's to come.
My husband and I have wished our parting physician the best that the good Lord has to offer. We hope that whatever he chooses to do in his future that only great things come his way and in the meantime I still feel like I'm on the losing end of all of this, but hey, it's life, moving on.
CJ
After 12years of office visits to have my blood drawn, finger poked, listening to my heart, checking my ears, nose, throat and throat glands, talking about my weight and my diet, prescribing medications when I was well and most especially when I was sick, my doctor is leaving the group.
Realizing that nothing stays the same, I know that for whatever reasons he has there is a defining factor in his decision to leave after having been here in this place for so long, but alas, my heart is still breaking with his departure.
He was not able to disclose to any of his current patience what his plans would be in the future, but thank goodness for google. Starting December 1, 2014 we, those of us who would like to see if he is available to take on on again, can google him.
That doesn't help completely, because if he decides to begin a new practice in an area that I can't drive to or my insurance won't cover, then I'm out of the best doctor that I've ever had in my adult life. Part of his reason for leaving is in part due to Obama Care.
How this new insurance for all will work is beyond me, but I do know that it has greatly impacted my private insurance coverage as well, and not for the better either.
There are big changes coming in this country, ones we can't fix or stop. These choices that our government officials make don't always work the way they think they will. Americans unfortunately pay the price, one way or the other.
For me, I have to go on with my life and what I have left to choose from for a new doctor. It is certain that I can't do without a physician and so I will just melt into the flow of what's to come.
My husband and I have wished our parting physician the best that the good Lord has to offer. We hope that whatever he chooses to do in his future that only great things come his way and in the meantime I still feel like I'm on the losing end of all of this, but hey, it's life, moving on.
CJ
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
It's Not So Bad
Learning to live with heart disease really isn't all that bad. When I hear the news that someone I know has a family member diagnosed with stage four cancer, or cancer of any type I am truly sad.
It is especially hard when I have a family member that is also diagnosed with cancer. For me, having heart disease, even though in it's own right presents its own problems is still quiet taxing.
Some how through the years I have learn just how to manage my everyday exsistences. For anyone with a horrific health issue day to day living is a challenge.
I don't know how people who have been told that they have stage four cancer get through each and everyday.
Understanding that our lives are constantly changing and not always for the better is difficult at best. I only know that if I didn't have some form of faith to see me through each day I doubt that I would push myself as hard as I do to make every single day as good as it can be.
Living with any type of disease is hard, but thanks goodness my faith gives the strength to endure.
I pray for all of those around the world that are enduring difficult times right now. I hope that each of you can find just a small ounce of your own hope to hold on to.
Until there is a cure for what ever ails you, may God be a guiding force behind the sunshine that still burns brightly on your spirit and soul.
One thing I have learned, having heart disease isn't so bad, after all I could be dying for cancer.
So far, so good.
May the peace of the Lord be with you all.
CJ
It is especially hard when I have a family member that is also diagnosed with cancer. For me, having heart disease, even though in it's own right presents its own problems is still quiet taxing.
Some how through the years I have learn just how to manage my everyday exsistences. For anyone with a horrific health issue day to day living is a challenge.
I don't know how people who have been told that they have stage four cancer get through each and everyday.
Understanding that our lives are constantly changing and not always for the better is difficult at best. I only know that if I didn't have some form of faith to see me through each day I doubt that I would push myself as hard as I do to make every single day as good as it can be.
Living with any type of disease is hard, but thanks goodness my faith gives the strength to endure.
I pray for all of those around the world that are enduring difficult times right now. I hope that each of you can find just a small ounce of your own hope to hold on to.
Until there is a cure for what ever ails you, may God be a guiding force behind the sunshine that still burns brightly on your spirit and soul.
One thing I have learned, having heart disease isn't so bad, after all I could be dying for cancer.
So far, so good.
May the peace of the Lord be with you all.
CJ
Friday, August 1, 2014
The Pains of Protein S Deficiency
Not many people in the world actually know about Protein S Deficiency. For those of us, and the percentage is very low that have it , it can be quiet painstaking at times.
In short having a rare clotting syndrome is hard to deal with.
So many cardiac patience are use to being on anticoagulants. Many patience may take Warfarin or Coumadin. Some people may only have to take an aspirin, or may be just a baby one at that.
For me, having this strange and very untreatable clotting disorder requires me to take 3 anticoagulants daily. Not so bad some of you may say. Perhaps not, but think about this.
For the last 15 years almost every week of my life I have had to go either the hospital or to my doctors' office and have what is known as a Pro-time in order to make sure that first of all I'm not on the verge of bleeding to death or that I'm not at the point of maybe throwing a clot, which by the way would be very bad for me. I'm always worrying if everything is okay.
I can not tell you how many times I have shown up for my Pro-time only to find out that I indeed was in a very bad place clotting wise. You see there is a scale that they use for my clotting time as it is called. In order for me to be safe my blood should begin to clot or thicken between 2-3 seconds.
So what you might ask? Then there could be a chance that I am in danger of something pretty awful happening to me if I'm out of sink with that clotting time.
Having heart disease can have so many faces. Not only do I worry about the possibility of having another heart attack, but I also worry that at anytime my blood could also become my enemy.
There's no way around what I must do to insure that I have as healthy of a chance as I can to survive. Going as often as I need to in order to check my clotting time is just one small part of the whole program that allows me to continue to live.
One thing that I've learn from my experience with heart disease is this, I will do whatever it takes to insure that I do have another chance, to be a part of this life I have. This includes Protein S Deficiency and all that comes with it.
Looking forward to my next finger poke in a few days, until then I'm staying on the good side of life.
Peace out....
CJ
In short having a rare clotting syndrome is hard to deal with.
So many cardiac patience are use to being on anticoagulants. Many patience may take Warfarin or Coumadin. Some people may only have to take an aspirin, or may be just a baby one at that.
For me, having this strange and very untreatable clotting disorder requires me to take 3 anticoagulants daily. Not so bad some of you may say. Perhaps not, but think about this.
For the last 15 years almost every week of my life I have had to go either the hospital or to my doctors' office and have what is known as a Pro-time in order to make sure that first of all I'm not on the verge of bleeding to death or that I'm not at the point of maybe throwing a clot, which by the way would be very bad for me. I'm always worrying if everything is okay.
I can not tell you how many times I have shown up for my Pro-time only to find out that I indeed was in a very bad place clotting wise. You see there is a scale that they use for my clotting time as it is called. In order for me to be safe my blood should begin to clot or thicken between 2-3 seconds.
So what you might ask? Then there could be a chance that I am in danger of something pretty awful happening to me if I'm out of sink with that clotting time.
Having heart disease can have so many faces. Not only do I worry about the possibility of having another heart attack, but I also worry that at anytime my blood could also become my enemy.
There's no way around what I must do to insure that I have as healthy of a chance as I can to survive. Going as often as I need to in order to check my clotting time is just one small part of the whole program that allows me to continue to live.
One thing that I've learn from my experience with heart disease is this, I will do whatever it takes to insure that I do have another chance, to be a part of this life I have. This includes Protein S Deficiency and all that comes with it.
Looking forward to my next finger poke in a few days, until then I'm staying on the good side of life.
Peace out....
CJ
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
The first clue
As I think back about my medical history I often try to figure out what was the first clue that I possibly might end up developing heart disease.
For me I believe that it all started when I was diagnosed with hypertension at the age of 35. I suppose back then, which has been 23 years now I never thought that my hypertension could lead to something even worse. Had I known back then what I certainly know now, chances are I really would have taken a whole lot better care of myself.
I guess I should have stopped long enough to think about how having hypertension and the life style choices that I made would effect me. Also understanding my family history could have given me a better clue into to what I might face medically in my future, but that meant paying close attention to all of my bad choices as well.
In reality, there's no way to know what the next minute will bring and for sure no one knows what the next few years will reveal. It is the one reason that I take such great care now to pay attention to every aspect of my life.
Understanding how important the first clues are to what might possibly happen in years to come in vital in learning how to handle your disease in the present.
These days I'm all about clues and how to use them to better my health and my way of thinking.
Learning to live a good life even when disaster strikes is a great lesson. Like I always say to people that I share my story with, experience is the greatest of all teachers.
Pay attention to everything that affects you and your health and recognizing the first clues that things might need to change for the better. You never know when it just might prevent some serious downfalls in the long run.
Take care and know the clues.
Peace to all.
CJ
For me I believe that it all started when I was diagnosed with hypertension at the age of 35. I suppose back then, which has been 23 years now I never thought that my hypertension could lead to something even worse. Had I known back then what I certainly know now, chances are I really would have taken a whole lot better care of myself.
I guess I should have stopped long enough to think about how having hypertension and the life style choices that I made would effect me. Also understanding my family history could have given me a better clue into to what I might face medically in my future, but that meant paying close attention to all of my bad choices as well.
In reality, there's no way to know what the next minute will bring and for sure no one knows what the next few years will reveal. It is the one reason that I take such great care now to pay attention to every aspect of my life.
Understanding how important the first clues are to what might possibly happen in years to come in vital in learning how to handle your disease in the present.
These days I'm all about clues and how to use them to better my health and my way of thinking.
Learning to live a good life even when disaster strikes is a great lesson. Like I always say to people that I share my story with, experience is the greatest of all teachers.
Pay attention to everything that affects you and your health and recognizing the first clues that things might need to change for the better. You never know when it just might prevent some serious downfalls in the long run.
Take care and know the clues.
Peace to all.
CJ
Monday, July 7, 2014
Truth
Is it ever easy hearing the truth about your condition? Does being well informed really make you feel more secure? Can anyone ever make you feel safe or whole again? How will I survive all of this? How long do I have?
These were just a few of the questions that ran through my mind mind when I was first diagnosed with with Heart Disease. Cardiac Vascular Disease at thirty nine? How? Why? What happened?
This blog is devoted to writing and sharing my journey into heart disease. It is the number one killer of women today, exceeding all known cancers currently. I don't have cancer and can't even begin to talk about surviving that disease, however living with heart disease is something that I have educated and practiced very well.
My hope in writing this blog is to help inform and simply simply share with all of you how your life doesn't have to end, but rather find a whole new purpose for living.
Truth, it can either set you free or keep you in the dark letting the fear of the unknown rule your life. I choose to be free to live fully, happy and as healthy as I can.
Please join me in this journey into the unknown where unlocking the doors of darkness lets in the light of your inner survival. There can be life after heart disease. You just have to reach out, be brave, be bold and take it.
I always say, "I am the captain of my ship, I and I alone will pilot her."
Never give up, never give in into the disease.
Be blessed.
CJ
These were just a few of the questions that ran through my mind mind when I was first diagnosed with with Heart Disease. Cardiac Vascular Disease at thirty nine? How? Why? What happened?
This blog is devoted to writing and sharing my journey into heart disease. It is the number one killer of women today, exceeding all known cancers currently. I don't have cancer and can't even begin to talk about surviving that disease, however living with heart disease is something that I have educated and practiced very well.
My hope in writing this blog is to help inform and simply simply share with all of you how your life doesn't have to end, but rather find a whole new purpose for living.
Truth, it can either set you free or keep you in the dark letting the fear of the unknown rule your life. I choose to be free to live fully, happy and as healthy as I can.
Please join me in this journey into the unknown where unlocking the doors of darkness lets in the light of your inner survival. There can be life after heart disease. You just have to reach out, be brave, be bold and take it.
I always say, "I am the captain of my ship, I and I alone will pilot her."
Never give up, never give in into the disease.
Be blessed.
CJ
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