Cat sitting, currently. So far Felix hasn't puked on anything, so that's a huge plus.
Went for dinner at Yanaki Sushi with Big D last night, and then meandered along the seawall for a while. What a stellar night. I, too often, take this locale for granted. It's a cat to clean up after, it's another six miler I have to do, where the reality is that it's a stunningly beautiful city.
Today I had my annual doctor's appointment wherein she inserts her fingers into various orifices without first taking me for dinner. Listening to my heartbeat she deduced I have a heart murmur, which is quite possibly something benign, and yet it made me bring up an odd issue I've been having since roughly the time I had that panic attack some months ago: sometimes, when I lie down at night - or when I wake up in the middle of the night, I notice that my heart is beating really irregularly, and also very hard. It's not painful and I don't feel dizzy or have any numbness, but it's a new thing and it's a weird thing. And so I mentioned this and within the next 30 minutes my doctor had sent me to UBC to pick up a heart monitor which I get to wear for 24 hours.
A lot of people decry our medical system, but I met with my doctor around 2pm, she did her full exam, sent me to UBC where they hooked me up to the heart monitor, and I was back at my mom's by 3:30.
To boot? The nurse in cardiology at UBC had a great sense of humour and it was almost a pleasant visit there, except that it was a visit to cardiology at UBC. I only hope I can reproduce the weird palpitations that I have been experiencing for the monitor, since I only have it for tonight.
I'm very grateful for my doctor. She has been my doctor since forever, she never questions my concerns and always sends me to a specialist immediately for anything outside of her purview.
I did plan to go for a run today, but since I can't shower with seven electrodes and a heart monitor on, I just watched Nashville for a very long time today.
Met C for dinner. He's moving with his family to Boundary Bay and he commented on our divergent lives. I can't imagine working full time and raising a couple of kids (or three, like SuperMommy). I can barely look after Felix. And I've still never changed a diaper.
Not sure what the point of this blog is except that being diagnosed with low WBC and low iron and now having to wear a heart monitor is kind of wearing me down.
Funnily enough, C and I had a conversation tonight about - of all things - religion (though the Boston Bruins were still discussed). I mentioned that I had been watching Comsos lately and just (as a juxtaposition to religion) how I really felt the point of life was just that we are here against such astronomical odds to begin with.
Long story short: I need to be healthier.
I'll get on that.
UPDATE: Felix just drooled all over my lap.
Dr. D says your heart thing (a technical term) sounds like AF (atrial fibrillation). I've lived with it for years and have it under control with one med. If it is AF, the upper chambers of the heart lose sync. In the long term, if untreated, it can lead to a stroke as the blood clots inside the heart . . . Lots of causes, including drug use, alcohol use, but then there's the occasional person, like me, who has it for no good reason. In fact, the med profession doesn't have a solid handle on what's actually going on (at least from my experience). With me, it has led to several visits to the hospital emergency dept. where they've pumped me full of drugs, slowing the heart rate down to where the heart finally picks up the right beat on its own. Unfortunately for me, after several such hospital visits before they got me on the right medication, eventually that didn't work, so they had to hit me with the paddles (Clear!). Burny-burny. Here's the deal for you if it is AF; the medication I'm on keeps the heart rate low, and that could/might put a damper on your running . . .
ReplyDeleteWow, that sounds really scary, especially being hit with paddles. I'm glad you've got it under control with just one med.
ReplyDeleteI don't think what is going on with me is AF, though. My heart rate isn't fast (I guess I shouldn't have use the term "palpitations") when the instances occur. If anything my heart rate is actually slow, but just really heavy and irregular. I hope it's not AF...
We'll see what they say when I drop off the lovely fashion accessory this afternoon! They will likely be stymied to find that I don't even have a heart.
Tell those griping about Canadian healthcare to come on down the the States, we'll give you something to gripe about. Hubby had no idea that he has a murmur until he was diagnosed with cancer, and you run. You're still winning.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I must say that whenever I've needed it, our healthcare has been there. It helps that my doctor kicks ass and is very proactive, but still: I don't worry about our system here.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Jody wasn't diagnosed for so long. Jeez. I'm so glad he weathered it, though. That was a scary time.
Be well Duder.
ReplyDeleteThanks. :)
ReplyDeleteOf course you get the black rice sushi at Yanaki right? If not, you're missing out!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure everything will be totally fine with your heart, but it's good that you're getting it checked out
No: I didn't try the black rice sushi. I will give that a go next time. Good place! Glad it's so close. I think sushi is good for the heart.
DeleteTheir black rice sushi is hands down the best in Vancouver.
DeleteAs for meaning and religion...
ReplyDeleteConan, what is best in life?
http://youtu.be/Oo9buo9Mtos
Wow. Conan is really mean.
DeleteHe just knows what he wants in life. Good for him.
Delete