Shelba

PT-INR levels tested at: Boring

I have not been posting a lot, because I really don't have anything interesting to tell you. And this post is not very interesting, I'm warning you now. I'm doing fine. I had a check-up with my surgeon and everything looks good. I have one more appointment with my cardiologist next month, and after that I might be able to go back to seeing him twice a year.

However, I do pay a visit to coumadin clinic once a week. And I will have to have blood tests at least once a month for the rest of my life.....unless they come out with a new drug that requires zero monitoring.

Having a mechanical valve means taking the anti-coagulant, coumadin. The last thing I want is a blood clot forming on my sweet, new valve, because that clot could cause a stroke.

When I was in the hospital, they started me out on a high dose of coumadin. My PT-INR levels were through the freakin' roof. This is why I was kept in the hospital longer than intended. Releasing me could have been dangerous. Since my blood was extra, super thin, it was risky. They gave me a transfusion and that brought my PT-INR down to a therapuetic level.

Now, I have to go to a coumadin clinc for a weekly finger prick to have my INR tested. Since being released from the hospital it has been too low. For the past two weeks it has been at 1.2 when it is supposed to be at 2.5 to 3.5. When I was in the hospital, it was at 7.

Today, I went for my finger prick, certain that I was going to be therapeutic, but no luck. 1.2! DAmn! Not to worry though, this is not abnormal. Some people are therapeutic from the get go, and other people take long time to get straightened out. Once I get therapeutic, my blood tests will be moved up to once every two weeks. And if I maintain a healthy level after that, once a month.

I hope I didn't make this PT-INR thing sound like a pain in the ass, because it isn't. The coumadin clinic is right down the street from my house, the nurse is a pleasure to talk to, and the test is painless. I like painless!

So, that is it. That is what is going on with me.

Oh, and I'm excited about scouting out cute onesies for Mollie's babyshower

I Heart Krista

I called Krista (KJB) last night. I felt like a giddy teenager calling a crush for the first time....."Ohhh, I'm going to talk to Krista!" "Oh, Krista is sooo cool. I hope she lets me sit next to her at lunch."

Me: "Hi, Krista, can I sit next to you on the bus tomorrow?"

Krista: "What? Who is this?"

So, then I freaked out and said nothing, but my f'n valve gave me away.

So she said, "Michele, I know it is you, I can hear your valve ticking."

I freaked and hung up. Five seconds later, the phone rang and it was her.

"Duh, I have caller ID."

Busted.

Anyway, Krista is just as amazing on the phone as she is via email. I'm going to send her THIS and ask her to be BFF.

Krista has a funky heart too. She is going to see a doctor today about the trouble her heart has been giving her lately. I hope that he can tell her what the F is going on with her ticker. Answers! We want answers!

Hang in there, Krista.

It is not THAT loud.

I had a check-up with my cardiologist today. While the nurse was typing my medications into the computer, she asked me, "Do you have a mechanical valve?" I said, "Yes." And she said, "I thought so, I can hear it ticking." I think she is a dirty liar.

She was looking at my medical records when she asked me this. I'd be willing to bet that this info is in my chart. And I was in for a post-op check-up. And she asked me about my coumdadin....which I'm on because of my mechanical valve. And she was sitting a good five feet away from me, and my mouth was closed, so I KNOW she couldn't hear my valve. DIRTY LIAR.

When she wasn't looking, I whispered, "Dirty Liar" in her direction.

She asked, "What?"

"Huh? I didn't say anything. Must have been my valve," I replied.

Anyway, everything looks and SOUNDS good.

Oh, and my bones are staying put. THANK GOD.

She's come Undone

I've been laying low since returning home. I am tired, but I feel pretty good. I freaked out for a couple of days because I was certain that my sternum had come loose. This made me nervous because I was convinced I was going to have to go back in the hospital to have it rewired. Every time I moved, I could feel the bones in my chest shifting and moving. It was creepy. It didn't hurt, but it was disturbing.

I called my surgeon's nurse about it. She said it is normal. It takes a while for the bones to heal and stay together. And I talked to some other valve replacement people and they said that they experienced the same thing. Whew.

Good news, I no longer feel the bones in my chest moving around. What a freakin' relief.

I'm Back!

I'm back! I'm home! I'm here! And I'm drugged into near oblivion. I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the skyhighhhhh.

They let me out yesterday. And I was ready, let me tell you. I was going to post last night, but I was out of it. I am sooo happy to be home. I was in there a bit longer than I planned to be, and it was a bit more difficult than I had anticipated. I am thankful I went with the mechanical valve, because I do not want another heart surgery. EVER.

First, I need to send a shout out to my brizzle, Michael. Thank you for posting on my blog while I was out for the count. I love the superfriends dancing. I'm going to learn that dance if it kills me.

And to all of my friends in the computer....I love you all. Between the surgery and the drugs, I have been very weepy and when I read your comments I cried. You are wonderful. And as I type this, I am crying, because of how sweet you all are, and because I am drugged to the moon.

And Ray. He slept by my hospital bed every night I was in there. Every time I had to get up to pee, he would fly out of the recliner to help me. Whatever I needed, he provided. I am lucky a girl.

Anyway, I have a lot to say. But it is time for my next dose of happiness.

Good night! Ta TA! Toodles! And Au revoir!

Shelba update-Ray

Hey, its Shelba's husband, ray.

Shelba is getting better and better every day. Today I read your responses to her over the phone, and it picked her right up. If it wasn’t for your support leading up to this, I know she would have been in much worse shape (emotionally) going in.

Aside from a excellent doctor and support staff who kept her parents and I updated in the waiting room, there was a nurse who earned major karma in my book. “Nurse-Molly”, who works at night in the ICU was unbelievable. The hospital we went to, specialized in cardiac care. And while the floor was crowded with people that had the same types of care issues (some in much worse condition!), Molly made us feel like Shelba was the only one there. She was patient with questions, always smiling and was there to do so many little things that Shelba in her state, was probably unaware of.

If you ever have to bear something like this yourself, I wish all of you a hospital full of nurse-molly’s.

More Shelba news (nothing bad!)

Shelba's brutha here again-.... first, thanks for all the feedback you guys, she does appreciate it!

Michele was and may still be delayed from going home just yet. She's still doing well, mind you. I just want to alleviate any possible fears about her situation (and how come she hasn't updated this herself yet) as her stay in the heart clinic progresses. I saw her today in person and she seemed like herself, all good.

So for kicks, I'd like to close with a follow up to my last dance party....

Shelba's A-OK

Hello folks,

(I'm Michele's brother. I tried to post this as a visitor but something got all screwy)

She asked me to post a post-surgery update last night, and the news is good- everything went well! Right now she's still medicated, so she'll be out of it for a few more hours. You probably know that she went with the titanium alloy valve The Beatmaster™ (© 2004 Cyberdyne/OCP), and it's working as planned. I don't know when she'll be able to update this thing herself, but surely not long from now. If not, I'll keep you posted if I can. Again, things are looking good for Michele, so...

celebration, holla!

I'll Be Back

Thank you for all of the kind words, hopes, thoughts and prayers, I will carry them all close to my heart (no pun intended) during my drug induced slumber. How I love all of my, as Julie's husband Paul puts it, "friends in the computer." Your sweet comments made me misty eyed....I am vaclempt. I can't wait to get back home, break out my laptop, and catch up on what is going on with all of you. Oh, and someone will be posting updates for me.

By this time tomorrow night, my surgery will be history. I will have a new valve, and my new life will be born. I have zero worries about my surgery, because I'm in good hands.

I hope to feel like the little Shelba that I used to be. Tireless!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will see you soon! Bye!!

Love,
Michele

The Calm Before the Storm

Okay, I'm not nervous anymore. After talking to the anesthesiologist I feel calm again. They gave me a spirometer and some special soap to wash with. I had several vials of blood drawn, and that was it. Easy.