Cardiac Catheterization

Tuesday, December 23^rd arrived, and I was scared, nervous, and very anxious about my cardiac catheterization. I entered a pre-operation room that looked like a zoo of people also having the same procedure. However, there was one big difference between myself and the others- I was the ONLY young one there! The nurses told me I was the youngest they had seen in years!

After having an IV put in and several other procedural tasks completed, I was finally wheeled into one of the hospital's “brand new” Cardiac Catheterization Labs (similar to a smaller Operating Room). I was under the understanding that I would be sedated or put into “Twilight” for my procedure….well, that never happened! This made me very scared and nervous. Shortly into the procedure, the newly installed and brand new machine that was being used for my procedure lost power! A few minutes later, the surgeon was able to get it working again- Praise the Lord! After about an hour or so of different catheterization wires being placed inside my groin which led up to my heart, various induced palpitations, chemical contrasts, and medications inserted through my IV- the procedure was finally finished!

The Cardiac Catheterization was an exploratory procedure in order to help my doctor's better understand what might be best for the health of my heart in the future. The procedure confirmed some information that was already known and revealed other information as well (more to follow in future posts).

Following the procedure, I was wheeled into a loud recovery room where I had to lay flat for four hours without moving so that the bleeding would begin to stop and the wound site would begin to heal. After a long wait, my parents and I were able to go home later that evening- Praise God!

The next few days were very painful and sore at the incision site near my groin (not an easy location to avoid when walking, sitting, etc.)! I was not allowed to take pain medications, so it took four days or so to begin feeling better. However, the joy of being with family and meditating on Christ's birth nearly 2,000 years ago certainly helped me to get into the spirit of the season.

January 1^st was the first day I truly began to feel like myself again- Praise God! I have learned to take every day one step at a time-Literally!

For more information about Cardiac Catheterizations,click here

My family and I greatly appreciate your prayers during these uncertain times- we praise God for such an incredible support system of family, friends, and the church.

December 2008

On December 14^th I returned to Connecticut and had a consultation with Dr. Horn, a Cardiac Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension specialist at NY Colombia Presbyterian/ Cornell Hospital (in NYC) the following day.

Prior to my consultation, I had a Cardiac MRI (very different from a regular MRI) which provided more information and concrete numbers on my heart function. Following the MRI, my parents and I met with Dr. Horn for three hours in order to discuss the future steps necessary to protect my heart. My doctor recommended a Cardiac Catheterization as the first step.

The Cardiac Catheterization was planned for that same week (Thursday the 18^th). However, my body had other plans, and I found myself in the Emergency Room late in the evening after my Cardiac MRI secondary to a fever of 102, chills, sweats, and diminished lung sounds. My white blood count was alarmingly high -19,000 (Regular white blood count is usually 10,000)! No one knows for sure, but speculations were made that I might have had an infection from the contrast or at the IV site during the MRI. After more IVs, blood work, blood cultures, and doctor's visits, my white blood count came back down to 10,000.

Thankfully, by Friday the 19^th, I was able to re-schedule my Cardiac Catheterization for Tuesday, December 23^rd.

See this post for information about my cardiac catheterization.

Thanksgiving Break

Over my Thanksgiving break, I came home to Connecticut from Chicago (Trinity) for ten days to go to some follow-up appointments at the GI, Pulmonologist, and local Cardiologist (and oh yea, have some Turkey with my family!)

I had been experiencing some significant changes in my health, since the summer, mainly regarding my lung and chronic cardiac issues. After additional testing, my Ejection Fraction appeared to be at 34% and I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).

My local cardiologist informed us that we needed to begin some more intensive interventions (other than increasing my current medications and doing more local tests). My cardiologist recommended that I have a Cardiac Catheterization on both the left and right sides of my heart.

My cardiologist allowed me to return to Trinity in order to finish the last eight school days of my semester before I needed to return back to have this procedure. I was sent back to Chicago with a Cardiac Event monitor (which has been used before on other occasions to document cardiac episodes).

It was difficult to return to Chicago and concentrate on my studies, but God was faithful and protected my mind and my health during this trying time.