Today, I saw a new cardiologist.
Continue readingNavigating Health Challenges and Family Connections
17 DecThis time of year, when everyone is joyous and excited for the holidays, is difficult for me. I have been single for over 14 years. Well, technically that’s not true, but the few flings in that time were fleeting and ultimately inconsequential. I am perpetually separated from family. They all live in Texas, which is a “Do Not Travel” state for people like me. If you missed that, you can see the latest risk map here.
Continue readingUnderstanding Arrhythmia: My Recent Experience
2 DecSaturday night late I had a fun little episode with my arrhythmia concerns. Around 9 pm, I started feeling unwell. This included a rather sudden headache that just happened to coincide with an episode of palpitations.
Continue readingCardiac Clearance Success: My Surgery Journey Begins
16 OctI woke up feeling quite nervous today. My final check box for my upcoming surgery was cardiac clearance. That appointment was this afternoon. The last hurdle to be overcome.
Continue readingSurgery preparation
11 SepYesterday, I received a call from the cardiology clinic. Anesthesiology had contacted them to obtain a clearance for that upcoming, not yet scheduled, surgery.
Continue readingPremature Atrial Contractions
22 JulThis past Wednesday morning, I experienced another period of continuing palpitations. My cardiac team got back to me this morning, and let me know that what was happening was premature atrial contractions.
Continue readingHeat Stress follow-up
15 JulYou may have seen my previous post about “Heat stress as a spoonie.” Apparently, the recent changes I demanded to the implantable loop recorder (ILR) that I received back on 30-April, have already had an impact.
Continue readingCardiac concerns as a transgender woman
11 JulSomething I’ve been struggling with lately is the intersection of my identification as a trans woman and my recent diagnosis with cardiac issues. To recap that: I was diagnosed with AFib, POTS, and an enlarged aorta, among others.
Continue readingBradycardia episode
12 JunI had an episode this afternoon where for roughly an hour, my heart rate dropped to 30bpm. This is according to my smartwatch readout. You may remember that I have experienced some bradycardia in the past year, and it’s part of why I had a loop recorder implanted in my chest recently. Never before has such an episode lasted this long though.
Continue readingEchocardiogram
26 MayI had a transthoracic echocardiogram on Monday 20-May, as a followup to my cardiac diagnostics. They wanted to check on that enlargement of the ascending aorta, as well as the aortic valve calcification. Short story: Everything is stable.
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