So, in the hospital, I was taken off the calcium channel blocker the next day and a cardiology specialist (an electrophysiologist) visited me. He and the attending cardiologist discussed my case and thought I should know my surgical options.
Doing something called an electrophysiology study would help map the heart and show where the problem was, allowing the doc to ablate it. I agreed that it was worth trying, especially if it was successful and could free me from symptoms and meds.
After that week, I never improved and I remained on medical leave, on near bed rest, while I waited for surgery.
A very LONG 6 weeks spent sitting in my recliner or napping (I tried to keep the bed rest/napping to a minimum...it was bad enough that I couldn't walk to the bathroom without feeling faint, but I didn't need my heart getting weak from positional change as well). I gained 12 lbs because I was getting absolutely NO exercise - I let the dog out to pee 2-3 times a day and microwaved food a few times a day, but that was it.
My parents came into town for surgery. They picked me up the night before, I went to the hotel with them, and they took me in early for surgery.
I got in at 0630, went through pre-op tests, labs, questions, etc. Busy morning. And a very helpful and committed group! They answered all my crazy questions and did everything they could be accommodating to my EDS and other concerns.
I was taken to the procedure room at 8 and a thousand stickers for mapping, monitoring, and cardioverting were stuck to my chest and back. My fluids and potassium were started, I was given an oxygen mask, and finally, a fun little cocktail of propofol and fentanyl (it's hilarious because I knew this time what to expect from the propofol...you only get a second to experience it, but there's a wicked floating, tingling, spinning sensation right before you drift off, and you wake up very quickly afterward).
My parents were given an update at 11 that the trouble was located and two spots were ablated. I was waking up as I rolled into recovery at 11:50. By noon my eyes were open, no oxygen, and I was talking (poorly...because the intubation really did a number on my throat). I was also shaking violently. I was conscious, not cold, not in pain, but my body wasn't ready to wake up without a fight, so I got some additional fentanyl to take the edge off and was much more comfortable after that.
So then I just had to survive the bedrest part of the recovery. Perfectly flat for 5 hours. Not something EDS joints want to hear.
By the time the 5 hour mark was nearing, I was being wheeled to a cardiac floor for a couple hours monitoring. And I was in pain. And I had to pee. And especially that I had to pee (my belly was distended and it HURT). I tried the bedpan in recovery, but between laying flat, anesthesia, and being cathed in surgery (so I wouldn't wake up with a full bladder), I was very unsuccessful. Even after I got upstairs with an additional half liter of fluids added to the 1.5 I'd had already so far, it took me a while to go on the bedpan. I didn't empty my bladder until I got up though.
Then I got to eat. And lo and behold, I was ABLE to eat. So apparently a lot of the stomach and digestion issues were hidden beneath a heart issue for a long time. (granted, I'm still adjusting to a lot of foods and things because I haven't really eaten much in the last 2 years)
Got to go home that evening with a prescription for aspirin to help the vein and artery heal, orders to take it very easy for 5 days, and return to work in a week. First couple days were rough because not being able to bend and twist and get comfortable in weird EDS ways was painful. But once that was over, I was great.
I went to my GP and got a new script for physical therapy, and was able to get in my first session that same morning. So I returned to work Sunday with no restrictions. It was certainly a rough day given how sedentary my life has been this year, and because I started my period (I don't have periods anymore, so this was not expected nor well-tolerated), but I survived it. I was in a TON of pain, but I survived it.
I'm still having some issues with my heart, some mild palpitations a few times a day, and my resting heart rate is much higher than it's ever been (about 80), so any activity brings it up quickly (yesterday that was irritating because I start feeling jittery around 100 and I was busy enough that it was up most of the day). But given that my heart has been through the wringer, I've gotta give it time to adjust before I go getting worried. Every surgery has a recovery period.
Other things related: I had my doc do some blood work. I stopped taking my vitamins a few months ago because my GI doc was finding minimal signs of malnutrition/malabsorption and taking a junk ton of pills every day was only contributing to the nausea. So I stopped. And asked my doc to check to see what was necessary and what I could do without and in between. I know I need magnesium back. Bad. I've had constant muscle twitches/tremors/spasms for months. But I don't want to go popping a ton of mag if a little will do the trick (mag is very nauseating).
Got back into PT, as mentioned. I was only in it for two sessions before I had to be discharged for medical leave. For my initial eval the first time, I saw a part-time/fill-in named Jen. She did all the fun "getting to know you" stuff and set up my treatment plan. For my second session, I saw my regular PT, Laura. This time, Laura got to do the initial assessment. And boy did she have fun with it. She's never treated someone with EDS before. She got a kick out of the fact that she didn't have to strain to get normal range of motion out of me, and that I just kept going past normal. I told her I was made of rubber, but she just didn't believe me HAHA So we got me all lined up with a plan, and she referred me to a hand therapist for the tiny joints that need some help (she said she doesn't do anything smaller than simple wrist fracture therapy, anything smaller, she sends to better specialists).
I'm also seeing an orthopedist next month to evaluate for braces, splints, and other external joint support. I'm greatly looking forward to this part of the process, because I think there would be a lot less pain in my lower joints if they could support any weight without bending in 8 wrong directions. Plus, I need them to not be so worn out this early in my life. I have a lot of years left and I can't be killing my joints in the process.
I've been signed into blogger for quite some time now trying to get this all written and chat at the same time. So I'm going to resume my restful day (first day back at work after 7 weeks of sitting will take it out of anyone) and chat for a bit longer before I tell myself that bedtime must be reinstated (it must).
