Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

I have had some recent developments with my congestive heart failure and the course of treatment is still in the early stages. Since diagnosis in November 2008, there has been 2 major episodes of fluid build up around my heart. My doctor has quadrupled the amount of lasiks I take everyday and added Digoxin to my daily regimen. At my most recent appointment, my doctor suggested that I go ahead and have a defibrillator/pacemaker implanted fairly soon. (As soon as the $$ is available) I was not quite ready to hear that actually, because when he diagnosed me 6 months ago, he felt as though that device wouldn't be needed for years. I guess I am progressing faster than we initially thought.

The following is some information about a possible implant that I will be getting sometime in the next few months. I'll post later about the specific device we choose, surgery times and next course of treatment.

Until then.... happy reading.

What Is a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device?

If your heart is not beating efficiently and you meet the eligibility criteria,

you may be eligible for a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) heart device.
A CRT device sends small, undetectable electrical impulses to both lower chambers of the heart to help them beat together in a more synchronized pattern.

This improves the heart's ability to pump blood and oxygen to the body.
The heart device itself is actually a tiny computer, plus a battery, contained in a small titanium metal case that is about the size of a pocket watch. It weighs about 3 ounces.

A cardiac resynchronization therapy device is designed to treat heart failure
In addition to the heart device, insulated wires called leads are implanted for two purposes: to carry information signals from your heart to the heart device, and to carry electrical impulses to your heart.

The third part of your implantable device system is a programmer, an external computer located in your doctor's office or clinic that is used to program the heart device and retrieve information from your heart device that will assist your doctor in your heart failure treatment.
There are two types of implantable heart failure heart devices: a CRT pacemaker and a combination CRT pacemaker with defibrillation therapy. Both of these devices help to coordinate the heart's pumping action and improve blood flow. They can also speed up a heart that is beating too slowly.

The CRT pacemaker with defibrillation therapy (CRT-D) also offers the ability to detect and treat dangerously fast heart rhythms, which some individuals with a damaged heart muscle may be at risk for developing. Your doctor will determine which CRT device is appropriate for your medical condition.

HGTV Teen Host - Abigail West

Clutter, Clutter Everywhere!

Never Ending Clutter!

Help, I'm drowning....

Take a minute to CHILL....

Ahhh... Progress... finally...

And for the grand finale.... we present

Teen Room Makeover

Starring Abigail West!!!

Starring... Abigail West

Videographer... Mom

Annoying Sibling... JA

Thanks to the Awesome Painter ... Dale

More thanks to the Awesome Organizer and Decorator - Meme

Special thanks to Megan, Nana, and Aunt Kim

for the wonderful decorations and bedding.

Spring Break Fun

We had a wonderful spring break and it's only half over... we have spent a day having a picnic in the park and playing, then spent a day with family and friends playing ball and having a cookout.

The rest of the week is for cleaning out, doing some decluttering and redoing my Abigail's bedroom - painting and new decorations. Stay tuned for HGTV... My Crazy Life Style.

Now, that's attractive, Laura!!

Did you know sticking your tongue out helps you run so much faster?

Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush....

Play Ball....

And she stands ready to hit a home run....

Long-Tall-Sally.... strikes a pose!

Cute sisters!

Thanks big sister for helping me get my stance just right.

Can we say future model?

Well, what can I say... he's 6 years old.

Easter Fun!

Laura had such a great time today during their Easter Celebration Party. Mrs. Dickerson, their room-mom, planned a wonderful craft, lots of fun food and games. Laura was hopping her bunny around all afternoon!
JA had a fun time making a suncatcher with bits of tissue and a black outline overlay. He is so cute, he was paying such intense attention when he was laying out those pieces of tissue.

And here is my sweet Abigail(right) along with her friend, Meranda. They did an egg drop race today and got egg on them thoroughly.

Here are all my little chickadees! That's Julie in the middle with all the little one's we teach, after they hunted eggs. I look forward to some fun with family and friends during spring break!

Redneck Fun!!!

Dale's favorite truck of the night

This Saturday, Dale and I went to watch his niece, Kerrigan, play in a softball tournament. Wow! I was so impressed at how well all of those girls played, especially Kerrigan. They played 4 games that day and it was exciting right down to the end. It was a most wonderful spring day! A nice break from all of the rain we've had lately. I can't remember a nicer day - sunny, cool, breezy - a perfect SPRING DAY!!!

Sweet Kerrigan

And as if we didn't have enough fun hanging out with family and watching softball all day (11am-7 pm).... we were on the way home and what did we pass, but a good ole' redneck Drag Race!!! YEE-HAW!!! We drove by and said "Sure, let's go watch some racin'!" I must say it was my first drag race and it was so much fun! We can't wait to take the kids back one weekend so they can see it! The boys, I know, would absolutely love it! Dale and I had a wonderful time, and even ran into a few folks we knew. What an absolutely great end to a fun day? And to top it all off - D and I went mud boggin' today - and got stuck! haha! I'd have some pictures but I was to busy helping him push, drive and get us out of the mud... needless to say - we had to do some washing of the old boots when we were done... lol! I just love being in the country!

Long Overdue Update...

Okay, here it goes! If you will please pardon my severely medicated brain… I’d like to add some recent diagnosis information, updated medicine regimens and long-term outlook.

Let’s start with some great news… the left ventricular apical thrombus (blood clot) has dissolved! Praise the Lord! When first diagnosed in November, the doctor immediately started me on heavy doses of Coumadin in hopes the clot would begin to dissolve in 6 months. It has only been 4 months and it is completely gone! Definitely a reason to be praising the Lord.

Below, I have decided to give you some information from the Merck Medical Dictionary. I will make notes in bold italics, to help you understand my specific condition.

First a quick recap…
Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a group of heart muscle disorders in which the ventricles enlarge but are not able to pump enough blood for the body's needs, resulting in heart failure. Usually, the first symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy are becoming short of breath during exertion and tiring easily. Looking back, I have probably had this for quite sometime and just ignored it because I am a single mom, always tired, always busy, always something! They result from a weakening of the heart's pumping action, which is called heart failure (see Heart Failure). Whatever the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy, if the heart damage is severe enough, the heart rate eventually speeds up, blood pressure is normal or low, fluid is retained in the legs and abdomen, and the lungs fill with fluid.
Because the heart is enlarged, the heart valves may be unable to close normally and often leak. The valves most often affected are the mitral valve, which is positioned between the left atrium (upper heart chamber) and the left ventricle (lower heart chamber), and the tricuspid valve, which is positioned between the right atrium and the right ventricle. During my last echocardiogram, March 18, 2009, it was discovered that my mitral valve has some mild leakage. Leakage causes murmurs, which doctors can hear with a stethoscope. Damage to and stretching of the heart muscle may result in abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), which may cause awareness of heartbeats (palpitations) or death. I have been noticing palpitations for over a year already, prior to diagnosis. The leakage of the valves and the abnormal heart rhythms may interfere further with the heart's pumping action. Blood pools in the enlarged heart, increasing the risk of blood clots forming on heart chamber walls. The clots can break into pieces (becoming emboli), travel from the heart to blood vessels elsewhere in the body, and block them, causing damage to the organ they supply. If the blood supply to the brain is blocked, a stroke can result. This is what has just dissolved in my heart. Because of the continued risk of a recurring blood clot, my doctor and I have decided that I will permanently be on Coumadin.

Now onto the medicine regimin:
1.Vasotec 2.5mg (2x daily)- is an ACE inhibitor. This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors help relax blood vessels. ACE inhibitors prevent an enzyme in your body from producing angiotensin II, a substance in your body that affects your cardiovascular system by narrowing your blood vessels and releasing hormones that can raise your blood pressure. This narrowing can cause high blood pressure and force your heart to work harder.

2. Coreg 3.125mg (1x daily)- is a beta-blocker. Beta-blockers reduce the workload on the heart and help it to beat more regularly. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. When you take beta blockers, the heart beats more slowly and with less force, thereby reducing blood pressure. Beta blockers also help blood vessels open up to improve blood flow.

3. Coumadin 10mg/7.5mg (1x daily) - is an anticoagulant. It is used to treat or prevent clots in the veins, arteries, lungs, or heart.

4. Spironolactone 25mg (1x daily) - is a diuretic. It helps you make more urine and to lose excess water from your body. This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure, and edema or swelling from heart, kidney, or liver disease. It is also used to treat patients who make too much aldosterone or have low potassium.

5. Asprin 81mg (1x daily) – is used to additionally thin the blood.

6. Fish Oil 1200mg (1x daily) – is used to raise the good cholesterol found in your body.

Long-term outlooks can be hard to swallow sometimes. I am already in heart failure. Eventually, I will be in complete congestive heart failure. This will require a heart transplant. The doctor has been clear that I probably have a long road to that point. But that it will be inevitable one day. Cardiomyopathy is a disease that progresses at a different rate for different people. Statistics show that 70% of people die within 5 years of their first symptoms, unless they receive a heart transplant. Because I am so young, there are not a lot of statistics on survival and long-term diagnosis. My doctor is hopeful that with medication and good health, I will have a good 10 years before any major heart failure. Of the 4 classes of heart failure, I am only in Class II. That is encouraging… coupled with the fact I have no other heart failure issues: no clogged arteries, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, no long-term alcohol or drug abuse. The longer I can stay free from other health complications, will help my heart and my chances of a heart transplant when the time comes.

Yes, all of these facts can be very hard to swallow most days. However, I know the great physician…I know the creator of my body, soul and spirit…I know the Sovereign God who ordained not only my eternal destiny, but also my physical destiny… I know that as easily as the Lord gives me life, He can heal or take my life away. Were it not for my absolute faith in My Lord and Savior, each day would be hard to live. Psalm 118:6 – “The Lord is on my side, I will not fear; what can man do unto me?”

Coming soon to a laptop near you...

Just so you don't grow weary waiting... I thought I would let you know I am planning a new blog entry... to be released in the next few days! Aren't you excited? I went back for a visit to my Cariologist this week and have some interesting things to write about... so come back ya'll for a new update on My Crazy Life!