Life Post third surgery

It has been a long two weeks!!! I went in the hospital for one surgery and left after two emergency surgeries. After the first lead replacement, it dislodged within 30 minutes of surgery. I was placed on bed rest and hadn't even gotten out of bed and the lead had already moved from my heart. The second surgery was scheduled very early the Friday morning and Dr. replaced the lead with a heavier one and used a different technique. I followed up a week later with my Dr. and it was still in place. I had the worse pain during recovery from the incision. It was itchy and burning...ugghhhh I don't want to do this again. I'm just happy to be on the road to recovery.

I'm still so shocked (literally) that the machine saved my life. I knew there was a "chance" my heart would fail because of the severity of the weakened muscle, but I didn't think that it would actually fail!! Who would?!?!?! But God is good! I had the machine to restore normal function. When I was discharged from the hospital, my heart began to beat on it's on without having to be paced the entire time by the machine. To God be the glory! I'm grateful for my family who are so supportive throughout it all. My baby sister and cousin who are here to help me through it. I head back to the Dr. tomorrow for another follow up and hopefully clearance to return to work. Pray for the best!

Lots of thinking

As my time at home winds down, I'm wondering if I'm ready to head back to work. It's just about readjusting to the way of things. Getting rest when it's needed and knowing my limitations. The good thing is, it will be two days then the weekend is here. Then the following week we only work three days and have two days off, plus the weekend. This gives me time to adjust. Time will tell!

My Australian friend Melany is here visiting. It's so awesome to have her here. We saw each other two years ago, at her wedding in Hawaii. She's taught me a lot as I developed as a person and a friend. We have been through some serous life changes together. Thousands of miles away and we're still able to maintain our friendship. Great friends are hard to come by! Fun, Fun!

Life Adjustments

Just wanted to share my VLOG about Life Adjustments with Heart Disease. 

I've also added the link. Life Adjustments

Shots, Shots, Shots

I'm scheduled to have a Flu shot at the end of the month. This will be my first time getting the shot. I'm nervous. Because of the heart failure, I was told that I should avoid all infections. As if I go looking to catch them! So my PCP (primary care physician) is awesome and recommended that I get it. Are you getting one?

Here are some facts about the flu shot.  (Thanks Dee Dee)

Flu shots this year are a little different IF you ask for it. There are 4 viruses in the new quadrivalent vaccine if you can find it; otherwise, you will be offered the trivalent influenza vaccine. Look for the quad if you can get it. The difference? Well... one more strain of flu! The B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus is in the quad. In both, you will get the following strains:
1. A/California/7/2009 (h1N1 pdm09-like virus
2. A(H3N2) virus antigenically like the cell-propagated prototype virus A/Victoria/361/2011
3. B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus

Will this protect you from every virus? NOPE! But it will protect you from the major viruses that the CDC believes you should be protected from this 2013-2014 upcoming flu virus season. They do their best in their predictions, but there is no way for them to be "spot on". These people are professionals in their field and work daily at fighting these viruses. And as CHF patients and caregivers, you need to do whatever you can to protect yourself from whatever you can whenever you can.

Also remember to wash your hands more often during the cold/flu season and stay away from those who are known to be sick. Less kissing and hugging of people too. We LOVE those hugs but YOU COME FIRST. It is imperative to be careful.

Flu shots are ANNUAL.
Flu shots are INACTIVE (i.e., not LIVE VIRUS) and you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. If you feel you got the flu from the flu shot it is most likely that you either already had it when you got the shot OR you contracted it within the days after you got it (as it takes awhile for the shot to become active/preventative within your system).