Needless to say I am counting my lucky stars today!
The ultrasound showed that there was some slight damage done to the mitral valve of my heart (I have "leakage"), but doctor is optimistic that I should make a full recovery in 6 months. I ACED my treadmill test too, and got the thumbs up to resume my normal schedule (including exercise!!!) in one more week. Did you hear that?! Only one more week of bed rest (now really more like 6 days!)--not three more weeks or three more months! ***Yippee!!!*** Sooooo happy about that! (I ran out and had my hair colored RED to celebrate my re-entry into the world :)!).
The only bad news is that I have a chance, especially over the next 3-5 years, of this returning. We're waiting on my blood work to determine what the course of action will be to keep that from happening--because it usually isn't as nice when and if it comes back for round 2.
Just want to thank you all again for the well wishes, the concern, and especially the prayers. It's been encouraging to have so many along for this wild ride back to good health!
Now go eat some fruit, drink some water, go for a walk, and get lots of rest so you can stay WELL!
*p.s. I was just doing a little more research on rheumatic fever--guess I need to know more about it to make sure I'll have a lot of bad dreams tonight :)--and I found out that it's what most likely killed Mozart. Now I feel ultra 18th century glamorous!
*p.s.s. I found the problem with my link and fixed it, so if any of you want to learn about rheumatic fever--learn away :)!!!
20 comments:
So weird! Glad things are better, but try to stay healthy, okay?!
uuuggghhhh, I am down right now with the worst case of strep throat that I have ever had.....so much pain that I have had to alternate vicodin with my ibuprofen. I do have a call in to my doctor to insist a referal to an ENT because no ones tonsils should look as nasty as mine do! Glad you have been given the green light........take it easy though!
Oh my holy hot water! R Fever is bad!! Good thing you live in 2008 and not 1908. I've always been prone to strep myself, and had to get HUGE shots in my toockus(??) when I was in second grade every ten days for three months to try and get it to go away. I HATED that doctor.
I am sooo glad you are going to recover. You go with that feisty Lucy hair and knock those bad bugs out!!!!
Yeeeshhhh! I thought we were bad with scarlet fever, but you NEVER hear of rhuematic fever anymore. I guess never say never, eh?! Glad they FINALLY figured it out.
I am so glad you are on the mend. I didn't think people got rheumatic fever anymore. Isn't that something we vaccinate for? Crazy. Praying against it ever returning.
Smiles!
Praise God! So glad that they figured out what it is, and you will be on the mend soon!!
Glad to hear you're on the mend!
Jennifer,
it just comes from untreated or undertreated strep--sometimes even the strep you have that has no symptoms--so there isn't a vaccination against it (except antibiotics). Maybe I'll get my chemistry degree and invent one though :)!
Thank you so much Wendy and Paperjunk!
Elena,
I didn't know you guys had scarlet fever. So scary! I remember that that's what made Mary Ingalls go blind!
Trish,
Hope you get better soon. Medication is good--but those narcotics are certainly mind altering!
Emily,
Having never been one to get sick in the first place, I hope I stay well from now on :)!
Kristan,
I was just thinking the same thing! And I promise my hair isn't THAT red! I wanted it to be, but settled on a nice auburn instead. Maybe next time :)!
jennifer, I'm so happy that you have a diagnosis, but so terribly sorry you've had to go through so much the last few weeks.
my thoughts remain with you and your family.
xoxoxo
steph
Hi Jennifer! The link to what you have doesn't work, but I gather you have rheumatic fever??? Wow. I thought that was eradicated! I will have to google it. Glad you got a diagnosis and can figure out where to go from here. Oh and don't worry about stirring the pot on my page. I love lively dialogue....and I agree with 100% of what you said. I did respond to your comment. And let's discuss this RED hair...you need to post a picture! Take care my bloggy friend!
♥ I tried clicking on you link but it didn't work! However, scary that it was rheumatic fever! No kidding on the 18th centruy comment! That's just crazy! I'm glad things are looking up for you! And I hope that it stays AWAY!!!
sorry the link isn't working. It comes up as a live search on mine, then you follow that to the mayo clinic page. www.mayoclinic.com. and search rhuematic fever. I like the mayo clinic page better than web md (which has become nothing more than a glorified drug advertiser in my never be humbled opinion ;)!).
Oh Wow!!! I'm so glad you have a final diagnosis and are on the mend! Its amazing when you think you are just "sick" and end up being SICK!!! So happy that you will be better soon!
I am so happy your on your way to feeling better...It is very serious to let strep go...but it does catch us off guard these days. arg and yuck!!!
~simply~
Your link wasn't working. But when you said 3rd world illness....my first thought was "well you are in Boise" :)
Don't over do it on the exercise! I'm so glad you are feeling better. Mags went in the mail yesterday.
Your link has one to many "http"'s in it, take one out and it should work, I did look it up by taking one out..........
Trying to get in with an ENT because I don't think my tonsils should be looking worse after three days of antibiotics, but they do.......fighting with my HMO......frustrating when I can barely talk in the first place!
praying for you!
deb meyers
wow! That's crazy. I haven't been on my computer too much lately. I knew you were sick, but not that sick. Glad they figured it out and that you will be off bed rest soon! Feel well soon!
Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! That is scary, but you have a positive attitude and I know it will all be okay! Wow I'm glad you're better!
Wow. It kind of sounds like the type of thing a lady in a Jane Austen novel might suffer from.
Glad to hear your heart will heal.
Let's see the new red you.
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