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Welcome to the stories of my life...

I just want to humbley welcome and thank all of those that take the time to read what I write..Idon't have a particular theme at any given time...just write what I feel compelled to write at the time...Please if you read my blogs ..leave a comment..I would love to know what you think...thanks again and enjoy the journey....

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Enjoy Life while You can....my story of now..

It's been months since I've blogged about anything...recently my puter has been down..A lot of people reading this may already know what I have been going through the last few months..At the end of April I had to be rushed to the hospital because of shortness of breath...it had been going on for a few days but I kept taking cold meds thinking thats what it was...not sure why I thought that..since I am overweight and on high blood pressure meds...which by the way I hadn't been taking for a few months because my doctor wanted me to come in for a re-evaluation after being on the same meds for 10 years...I didn't want to go to the doctors so I stupidly just stopped with the meds...cause they all needed to be refilled and the doctor had to either call it in or write me a new prescription...

I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure...had a severe leaky valve and an uneven heat beat...I stayed in the hospital for 6 days and was sent home with 6 different medications to take...was told I needed open heart surgery..which entails about a 5 hour operation...on a heart and lung machine...a 12 inch incision on my chest...imagine laying in bed each night anticipating this...and to know your children are out in the waiting room waiting for some word on the progress of the surgery...just heartbreaking and I cried a lot...
After being sent home ...things changed for sure...I no longer craved chocolate like I was so addicted too..I was eating a full cake in a day by myself occassionally...every day I needed 3 3 Musketeers...now I no longer even want them...my diet has way less salt and I dont really even miss it..there are so many other seasonings you can use to make up for the lack of salt...and you just get used to it...I am eating way less only because I want less...don't for some reason have the same appetite...today is November 16, 2011..and since May I have lost 56 pounds....it wasn't even hard to do...and thats without hardly any exercise...because of the degenerative arthritis in my knees I am limited to what I can do as far as exercise is concerned...I do what I can do ....I make myself do exercise and try to get up and clean...I still get out of breath ..even just walking to the bathroom which is about 10 steps away...I get dizzy a lot and have to take lots of naps bacause of the meds....On August 11 I had an appointment with the best cardiologist ever...DR. Thomas Diaz and he did an electrocardiogram on me and came in the room afterwards with the biggest smile on his face and sat down...crossed his legs and said.." I didn't do anything...but you are a miracle...""you no longer need open heart surgery...." the leak is so small now..." Of course being the crier that I am ...I cried...I was shocked at first but cry came to me...My youngest daughter and her 2 children Dallas and Dellaney were with me this day .. they were waiting in Dr. Diaz's office for me ...I went in and told them the good news and told Dallas and Dellaney that this was because of them....and Dallas raised his right arm and said "YES"...they had the biggest smiles on their faces...it was just a great day....
I continue to lose weight and take my meds...I have a LAB TECH come out to my home once a month to take blood because I am on Coumadin and it has to be monitored...I am on the smallest amount one can take..I take 1 1/2 mg one day then 1 mg the next and so on....that seems to be the formula that works to keep my blood in check...I hope one day I can get off of some of these meds....
I am still cautious and I know that just like the leak minimized...it could maximize again...I'm trying to do things I havent done in a long time...this weekend I hope to be going to watch my granddaughter Dellaney walk in a Thanksgiving parade with her ballet class...she is 6 years old and this will be her second time walking in this parade in Mayfair in Philadelphia...its spose to be a nice day...not too cold...no rain....so hopefully that all turns out..
We will be gathering at my youngest daughters home this Thanksgiving ...so all seven of the grands can visit one another....and I miss my oldest daughter and her kids...been awhile since I've seen them....the last few years we were all just ataying at our own homes for Thanksgiving ...but this year we want to get together..and we will for Christmas like we always do....can't wait...have a new lease on life now and just want to be around family and enjoy them while I Can... ON DEC 19,2011 WE FOUND OUT THAT MY MOTHER HAD PASSED AWAY..AFTER COUNTLESS BLOGS OF HER ..SHE IS NOW GONE AND THINGS CANNOT BE CHANGED..WE BURIED HER CHRISTMAS EVE OF 2011.THE STORY OF HER DEATH IS A LONG GRUESOME ONE WHICH WILL BE TOLD AT ANOTHER TIME..WE HAD CHRISTMAS AT MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTERS HOME... today is Monday September 24, 2012 and I would like to update this story.. As of this date I have lost 90 pounds and am doing better..In january of this year(2012) I was deathly sick ..I slept for 3 days straight and didnt eat a thing..when I got up to go to the bathroom I was dizzy and needed help.My daughter (I was staying with her at this time) kept telling me to let her take me to the hospital..I kept saying "No, I will be okay">.then she called my oldest daughter and she called my primary doctor..they said to get me right to the hospital because of my heart history they didn't even want me to get a cold..so I struggled to walk 10 steps to the car ...In the Er..I was given countless tests and they found out that first of all I had pneumonia and my hemoglobin was at a 4 ..normal is 11...I had lost all that blood without even knowing it..I also have 2 ulcers they probably from taking coumadin and aspirin.I was close to death...so I was of course admitted and they started transfusing blood..I stayed a week ....as of this date I am doing better ..go to the doctors regularly, espeically the cardiologist and have tests done to keep me healthy..I eat more fruits and vegetables..I gained a few pounds back but am working on losing them and more..I want to live to be at least 90,,,I have 7 grandchildren and I want to be around to see what they do..I was blessed (and she thought the same way) to have my grandmother in my life until I was 50 and she was 90...she would still be here had she not fallen getting up off of the toilet in her retirement home ..she passed away 13 days later..one week to the day of her 90th birthday...I am thankful for each day ..I thank God every night and all through the day..and when I wake in the morning the first thing I say is THANK YOU...I try to spend as much time with family as I can....

9 comments:

  1. I can relate to your story. My husband has severe heart problems. Along with COPD he gets tired just walking around the house. The only problem he is not motivated.
    Your story is touching and I wish you the best.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your story.

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  3. Brenda thanks for taking the time to share. My mom has congestive heart failure too.

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  4. Thanks for sharing your story and prayers to you and your family

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  5. Thanks Brenda for sharing a touching story. My prayers are with you and your family.

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  6. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story. God bless!
    -Sara-
    www.insanelysara.blogspot.com

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