I
I started my day today with a quiet and calming walk. The sunrise must have been amazing since the sky was pink and purple at my house and at 8:45 the sky at the beach was still pink. Beautiful.
Today was a long and taxing day to say the least. Local Dr appt at 10:45 with my primary care. I see him at least once a month or more if needed. Today I needed a pep talk as to what I should say to my cardiac /pe dr who I was seeing at 3:45. He helped me understand from a Dr's eye, which was good. We also adjusted my water pill and took blood to make sure my levels are good in the hood. I have to admit, the first time I met this Dr was a week after my week in the hospital. I cried when I left his office. He was a new Dr to me since I had seen his nurse pract that summer and before that I had the same dr for 10 years. I kinda disliked him the first few visits but we got to know one another and now I love him. The cardiac dr.....thats another story.
While I was there I asked for a smaller sling for the injured toddler and I came home with a adult small. Sonofabitch. Kurt is doing better when he doesn't fall or hurt his shoulder!!!!! There is NOTHING WORSE THAN YOUR CHILD CRYING IN REAL PAIN!! I would do anything for that not to happen. Everyday is one day closer to being healed, thank goodness.
So the hubs and I head up to Brigham and Womans for my 3:45 appointment with Dr blood clot. Im not too happy with this Dr or office since 3 weeks ago I was called with the results of the bike ride test. Remember that?
This rig in my neck while riding a bike!
Basically after 6 months, 4 tests, multiple echos, ultrasounds my Dr tells me over the phone that I do not have Pulmonary Hypertension and my blood clots in my lungs are still there but are not causing anything so we are going to let it be and not go in and remove them. BUT your a rare case in that your oxygen levels go to low when you exercise or your heart rate goes up so we need to figure it out and find out why your legs are retaining tons of fluid causing knee pain. So he was ordering a bubble test of my heart and a full pulmonary test. I never got a call to set up these tests.
Whos the cute kid with the sling:)
We get to the Brig early, I text Miss Laurie ( a close friend who works here and I see every visit) but she is home today, bummah!!
Good news, we check in at 3:15 and are called in at 3:16. Sweet. Dr blood clot is in the hall and walks us to the room. He says " so how were your tests". Me: nobody called to set the tests and thankfully I called last Wed since I had not had a reminder call or any idea about this appt, Im not pleased".
Dr . BC : I am so sorry, I requested these and now your set back a month. Ill make it up to you". How can he make up a month?
After 10 minutes of talk we come to this:
My blood clots damaged my veins in my legs so the swelling of flluid is going to suck for a while until it heals so I need to continue to wear my compression socks and get a new pair every 3 months. I need to elevate my legs 4 x a day ( this is going to be easy with a 3 year old , wtf?).
The tests will tell us if I have a hole in my heart or my lungs are not getting enough oxygen.
So we wait.
Im not satisfied but Im happy with the results of not having pulmonary hypertension. My lungs have somewhat healed since August and my levels are much better which is good.
We set my tests for April 2nd. I will continue to walk, elevate and keep positive which has helped me 100%.
Its a good thing warm weather is on its way, the beach has been slick but still beautiful!!
This is my bff Frank. He lives across the street from me, hes 76 and the best gardner Ive ever met :). This picture was taken last fall when we went clamming ( well one of the times). That day Frank needed to stop 3 times to catch his breath. A few weeks later we were coming up the stairs from his shop in the basement and he could not catch his breath. Ok. Whats the deal with writing breath and breathe. I looked it up and it said either one is right? Bogus. Still not sure.
I asked Frank to see the Dr. but never did. Franks a tough cookie. He is old school and stubborn and a bossy pants lme kept telling him to call the dr. Nope. He never did.
Now about a month ago he tells me he finally saw the Dr and he had a lung infection and was put on a 10 days of antibiotics and steriods. After 5 days there was no change so I asked Frank to call the Dr. Frank : Erica, I will wait till day 11 then see how I feel. At this point he is pale and looks like hell.
Every morning I would send him a email checking in how he felt since I know hes checking his stocks online in the am. I would call as well and I would always say " I will take you to the Dr anytime"
Last friday morning I got a call from Frank " It's me, can you drive me to the Dr to get a chest x-ray". Me:" I will be ready in 10 minutes"
I back out of my driveway right into Franks. He took about 12 steps to get into my car and I thought he was going to pass out. He was so pale, no energy and could not breathe. Before this I walked in the house and he shows me a hole in the kitchen wall " Erica, I passed out last night and hit my head on the wall and was out cold for 10 minutes"
Me: " why the hell didnt you call me? Helga, why didnt you call me? Why didnt you call 911??? What is wrong with you two!!!!!!!!!!! ( Helga is Franks wife. They met when Frank was 23 and stationed in Germany. She left her family in Germany to marry Frank and live in the US)
Helga only does what Frank says so Im sure he said Im ok don't call. Which has since changed!!
The entire ride to the Dr I was freaking out. All I kept saying in my head was " dear lord sweet baby jesus make it to the Dr". The rest of the ride I was schooling both of them that they need to call me asap no matter what or 911 from now on. They both agreed. Thank God.
We get to the Dr. Frank was not seeing the Dr, he was just getting a xray then headed home. I was not ok with this. I ask the woman " so no vitals, just x ray? Lady: yes.
Me: Im going upstairs to get a nurse. Frank was not happy , he actually told me to stop talking but I didnt care.
Nurse comes down. Franks oxygen was 85. Shit! So we bring Frank up to his Dr. 5 min later his Dr tells me Frank needs to be seen in the Er and asks me to drive him over.
We get to the ER. They get Frank in the back. Within a few minutes hes hooked up to the heart monitor, Ekg machine rolls in, Dr comes by, asks a zillion questions. I walk to get Helga a coffee and when I get back the Dr tells us Frank will spend the night for observation since he passed out the night before.
I bring Helga home. Frank does not want anyone at the hospital. Frank calls a few hours later, they are sending him to Beth Isreal. The next day I was sitting in their kitchen and Frank calls from the hospital and says" Erica, its me, I have Leukemia". My heart stopped. My eyes filled. I was soo sad. Sad for him. Sad for her. Sad that my friend was alone. Sad I was not there with him.
Mind you he is old hat. His wife is to stay home. Thankfully I am not working and I go over a few times a day to check
On Helga. Frank and I talk at least once a day. He is on a 10 day chemo cycle.
He suffered a mild heart attack that first night in the hospital since he was down 4 quarts of blood, his body was not good.
We are told by the Dr that if Frank was not in the hospital that first night they dont know if he would have survived the heart attack at home. How lucky that he asked me to drive him and I went up to get a nurse. Someone was looking out for him. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Frank has been in the hospital since Friday 2/28. I visited him last night after my appointment at BWH. It was a nice visit. Frank looks great, has a positive attitude but is lonely and my heart breaks for him. He is there at least a few weeks. I will continue to visit and check in with Helga daily.
Remember to check on your older neighbors. Some don't have family around or any friends. It could save a life by just talking a few minutes out if your day:)
If you pray or send out positive thoughts, please include my friend Frank. Thank you:).
I have not blogged in a while as I have been dealing with my own health, my sons shoulder and Frank. I actually wrote this post on my phone. Its taken me almost 3 days to write it. Forgive the typos, bad sentences and run on thoughts.
Everything works out in the end and I know we all will come out of all this better than ever:)
Xoxoxo
Erica
My website is up! Check it out
Www.luckyladylafrance.com