QUARTER THREE *** Cut ‘n Pasters*** OFFICIAL Gossip

Hello everyone, I have some big apologies to make. I have been caught up in a big medical whirlwind of issue after issue. In July, I had a total of three falls- the first I landed on the knees, causes damage to the right patella shifting it out of place and tearing the left knee medial meniscus. These two took a couple weeks to fully come to light. The second fall at the end of July, I landed head first, would up with the concussion and needed stitches. Lovely. A week later, feeling better and stitches out, same day , I took another tumble and broke acoouple bones in the left hand! So it’s in and out day surgery to fix those small issues in the hand, the torn meniscus and stabilize the patella. Along the way, I had been sent to see a cardiologist because the insurance was giving such difficulty approving the pre authorization on a medication- my family has familial hypertriglyceridemia, and the one big med that has been the most effective is not technically on our formulary the last two years and getting has been nuts. I already take 5 other meds in combo with this and stay in the 345-500 range ( normal is less than 145) . So off to the cardiologist I go and he runs test: echocardiogram, nuclear stress test, and a calcium score heart scan. They are all subpar results with not absolute specific conclusions between the three. Next up is a heart cath. That was done on my birthday Aug 9th, yeah! And I got a big expensive present— a new stent in the left anterior descending artery (aka the widowmaker ). And started a a platelet aggregate and baby aspirin .

This was so far out in left girl for me— I walk 3-4 miles a day in addition to the 7-9 thousand steps at work. I was never out of breath. I turned patients, did one person transfers and assisted, patient care,etc. I was managing 4-5 14-16 hour days. Immediately after the heart cath stent placement, I was weak, short of breath, lost my appetite and was mentally not functioning well. I didn’t feel like me at all. I saw the cardiologist tweets post op , asked questions got some answers, and was basically told, cardiac rehab and rebuilding the strength and given an appoint date for 45 days away.

A week later I sorted running fever, bad headaches, bad cough. Same with sons. All three of us tested posted for Covid. We have all been faxed and boosted but I was a little worried still since I have RA and now this heart thing going. I was down for totally for 9 days, lost 10 pounds. Two weeks go by, three negative test, and although I have a little strength. Back, still extremely tired and short of, sometimes gasping, decrease in oxygen saturation, increased heart rate and dizziness. So a return to the cardiologist.

I am now 7 weeks post op. EKG is abnormal. VS are abnormal on exertion. After 10 minutes on oxygen, baseline returns to normal. Doc thinks the issue is the anti platelet aggregate that I am is most likely the issue. Switches to another. Tells me that people severe reactive airway disease run a 1 in 5 chance of having severe complications with the med . But, that it’s good I took it for 7 weeks which helps with stent embedding and healing Time. So I go back on Monday, and if breathing has continued to improve, he will run a couple of non invasive test (heart ct scan and another echo). If there isn’t enough improvement, I get another heart cath so he can make the stent hasn’t blocked off ! Let’s hope that is not the case!

So that how my life has been hanging. I am really sorry to have been so out of touch with you. I really appreciate grammadee and everyone else for hanging in and participating this quarter.

I am on the mend. Medication has help tremendously . Unfortunately I wound up wit an ear infection and sunse going nuts on Wednesday but at least that a thing thhappens every time we get “ a seasonal change” here
. Weather has née a lovely lower 60#
S and mild low 80s in the afternoon. That’s wild for Wesr Houston, but it won’t last😁, just long enough to play with the allergies and sinuses. I have started cardiac rehab to regain strength and some endurance and am getting back to small walks with the dog and my son—- I miss those easy feeling 3-4 mile walks with no issues ( it’s a struggle to 3/4 these days but I have improved over the barely block length and rest before tuning around).

I didn’t get to much the last two months but will get points totaled and post.

I have to apologize again for being the worst team host ever. You all are the best an did wonderful!