CARDIAC CLINIC APPOINTMENT

On March 18th I had an appointment with cardiologist Dr. Abben.  Due to my abnormal EKG showing Left Ventricle Hypertrophy and my heart palpitations I felt it necessary to make this appointment.  My family doctor has not been able to get my high blood pressure under control and that is what leads to LVH. 

Dr. Abben ordered a holter monitor for me to wear for two days and I am to see him again on April 1st for an Ultrasound and a CAT Scan.

EATING BAR-B-Q

I was getting used to being a vegetarian but did still crave meat and seafood.   However, today was the first time in 2 years that I was able to enjoy eating meat.   I had to dip every bite of Applebee's riblets in sauce so it would go down easy but had no trouble swallowing.  Had mashed potatoes with it as well as cole slaw.  

I do still have trouble eating lots of different foods especially chicken.  Rice is still a big challenge.  I have been eating bread again as long as I dip it in tea or coffee I can enjoy it.

It appears that I have had an increase in my saliva production lately.  This is probably why I can swallow some types of meat more easily.  

I feel so normal today.   Yes, today is a good day.

Going camping tomorrow.

DR. HAYDEL VISIT

Had a visit with my family doctor today to go over all that has happened since the gallbladder surgery.  He ordered more blood work and tested me for Mono and checked my white blood count.  They were both normal.  I have no bacterial infection.

He checked my stomach and asked if there was any pain on examination and there was not.

He wants  me to continue to monitor my fevers and to call him on Monday if I still have them and he will order a CAT Scan at that time. 

He wants to keep me off all blood pressure meds for a while.

I feel much better knowing that the blood work is all normal but will always wonder why I'm getting these fevers only at night.

STOPPED ALL MEDS

Since I have been having so many complications since surgery I have decided to stop taking all meds.  I am convinced that the blood pressure medicine is too strong and making my heart rate low- 52 at one point.  Not sure why no one has suggested to request a lower dose from my family doctor.  They were concerned but made no recommendations.  Seems like a simple solution to me. 

I will continue to take the antibiotic Cipro for the suspected liver infection.  Last night I had fever of 100 and took 2 Tylenol tablets which lowered the fever and I slept well without Xanax. 

Blood Pressure Readings on no meds:

150/76 - Pulse 81- 2-4-2019

135/62 - Pulse 73 - 2-5-2019

125/72 - Pulse 87 - 2-6-2019

Am still waiting for the results of my Ultrasound.  It has not yet been posted on the Portal.

Just spoke to Dr. Jukes and he said the results of the Ultrasound shows a little fluid on the liver which is to be expected.  It will resolve in time.  The fever is not from anything they can find in my scan or x ray or blood work.  Maybe just a virus.  He suggested I be checked for Mono.

I think that if it is a virus I picked it up in surgery as I have had fever ever since that day and it is now 8 days since that time. 

The antibiotics I have been given are for a bacterial infection and not for a virus.  So I will not be needing them if that is the case.

Made an appointment with my family doctor to review all of this and to get a different script for the blood pressure meds.

ANOTHER ULTRAOUND

Had Ultrasound on stomach area.  Hoping it shows what is causing the fevers.  Had lots of lab work done yesterday which came back all negative.  Chest x-ray was clear too.  So they don't know why I'm having fevers but think it has something to do with the surgery.  Maybe they are looking for a blood clot.

Last night at around 3:00am I had a temp of 100.  I have not taken any pain meds or xanax sinch day before yesterday.  Last night I had a rash that got worse since I first noticed it a few days ago.  It covered all of my stomach area and itches really bad.

Ate lunch today at IHOP.  It is just a little too soon to eat like that after gallbladder surgery.  I had scrambled eggs and grits and bacon.   Didn't eat all of it as I started getting nauseated.  Sure hope I don't have to throw it all up.  Won't be doing that again.

Stopped taking my blood pressure meds a few days ago due to my heart rate of 52.  Took 3 readings today and heart rate back to the 80 range and pressure 150/70 which is good for me especially on no meds.  I'll talk to my doctor about reducing the dosage.

My brother told me today that the surgeon told him he had to scrape the gallbladder off of my liver and that it bled.  I don't have a memory of being told that.  So now I'm kinda pissed that I was sent home on no antibiotics after a liver bleed.  

Another doctor in the clinic gave me two different antibiotics and I took one tonight.   

  

GALLBLADDER GONE

Yesterday I had my gallbladder removed.  Didn't feel a whole lot of discomfort yesterday but today am in pain.  Not many choices when it comes to eating.  Had oatmeal for breakfast and suffered for 3 hours afterwards.  My body has not had enough time to adjust to having no gallbladder.  I will have to stick to broth and clear soups for awhile.

The Hydrocodone really helps and the surgeon said I could take two at a time if needed.  He has a good understanding of the degree of pain it seems.  I'm making sure I take Miralax to prevent constipation from the pain meds.

I was informed that it would take at least 2 weeks to recuperate from the surgery and possibly 2 months before I could do any heavy lifting.  Even though it was a simple procedure it was still major surgery.

The pain today is from the incision on the far right of my stomach where they pulled the gallbladder out.  It feels kind of like the same pain I had when I had the gallbladder attacks only now I have no gallbladder.  In a week I have an appointment with the surgeon for a check up. 

On January 23rd I had an appointment with my ENT who scheduled a biopsy on the nodule on my thyroid.  Hopefully that is the last thing to do for a long time.

TWO ULTRASOUNDS

On January 4th I had an Ultrasound done in two areas - one on my thyroid and one on my gallbladder.

I had been having some slight pain where there is a nodule on the right side of my thyroid.  It had never bothered me before and the doctors were not concerned about it in the past.

I also had two gallbladder attacks in the last two months.  These were very painful and I threw up both times.  The pain lasted a couple of hours and I had my brother come over in case I needed to go to the hospital.  I was really scared.

So when I informed my family doctor about these events he ordered the two scans.

I was able to read the results on the Hospital's Online Portal.  The gallbladder results showed that I had multiple gallstones without obstruction.  I already knew I had gallstones from all of the other scans I had in the last year.  This test result does not indicate the severity of my recent attacks resulting in severe pain and vomiting and white stools for two days afterwards - indicating that my gallbladder was not functioning well.

The thyroid results showed that the right thyroid lobe is enlarged measuring 4.2 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm.  In the mid/inferior aspect of right thyroid lobe, there is a nodule with cystic and solid components, measuring 2.3 x 1.8 x 1.7 cm. This is stable in size when compared to the prior CTs.

This test result showing solid components is not a good sign.  These nodules are more likely to be cancerous than are fluid-filled nodules.  Most solid nodules are not cancerous.

My family doctor called but I missed his call and called back but could not get through.  Have not heard from the clinic since last week's call.  I guess he is not worried about the results.

This brings back those horrible memories of when he didn't think I had throat cancer and I had to have 3 biopsies before they finally found it and I could get treatment.

I know my body.  I am worried about these two issues and think I should have my gallbladder removed.  I also think I should have a biopsy of my thyroid nodule.

I will probably have to make an appointment with my family doctor in order to discuss the test findings.  At that time I will ask for a referral to a specialist - Endocrinologist.