Week of Feb. 1 - Go RED and what else?

[Lulu54]

I'm not talking politics, I am talking RED for Heart health awareness.  Friday, Feb. 5 is the official GO RED, WEAR RED day in the US to raise awareness of women heart health.  I'll climb on my soapbox later this week to remind you of the significance.

In the meantime, we want to know what else is happening this week.  This is the place to share notices of events, appointments, celebrations or anything else you want our community to know.

I'll be wearing red all week, and not just one day.  What will you be doing this week?

[PastorDan]

Thanks, ren.  Negative for Sjogren's.  I'll confess I've forgotten the signs of lupus, but I think that's been ruled out, too, IIRC.  I'll take a look.

My pericarditis was consistently subsequent to dental work, so now I take a fist full of amoxicillin before dental appointments, and have had no problems since.  Dentists have said they're more used to hearing of some other heart inflammation -- endocarditis, maybe? -- but didn't want to argue with the two PCPs who'd diagnosed pericarditis in me.  That's been a good ten years, maybe twenty.

[rendean]

They did 5 chest x-rays yesterday and came back negative for obvious infection or cardiac enlargement. So that's why they settled on the dx of costochrondronitis. It's obviously common enough for the hospital to have pre-printed material on the subject.
He's doing better today.

Regarding your pericarditis,did they ever tell why you had more than one bout? I thought that recurrent pericarditis was associated with autoimmune disease such as lupus and Sjogren's syndrome. I assume you've been tested for all of these. Just a thought.

Thank you for the good wishes!
Ren

[PastorDan]

Hope all turns out good for him and for you, ren.

In years gone by, I had a couple of bouts with pericarditis.  From what I recall, that might be something to ask about.  In my case, chest x-rays showed fluid accumulation around the heart, but I don't recall if the EKG was any weirder than normal for me at the time, nor if they even tested for enzymes.  I know the pain was bad enough to get my attention.

[rendean]

New doctor's appointment for DH. Made a trip to the ER this morning for chest pains. He had an abnormal EKG but the cardiac enzymes came back normal so they settled on inflammation of the sternum where the ribs attach and prescribed anti-inflammatories. Still doesn't explain his shaking and chills alternating with flushing. He's home now resting.

Thursday is follow up with the PCP and he is to make an appt. with a cardiologist for a stress test.

Nice timing of DH to have symptoms considering it's Heart Health Awareness Week but he didn't need to recognize the event so dramatically :-)

[PastorDan]

DV1 (& everyone else in the snow belt), given that this is Heart Health Awareness Week, PLEASE pace yourself while shoveling snow.  We will pray for your mother.  I was unaware that bypasses were being done that way; that sounds like good news.

LauraLu, congrats on the unchanged MRI; this is definitely good news.

Once again, I'm not ever saying I have a quiet week in store.  Phone rang off the hook last night.  One of our senior members who is bipolar is getting manic again, and wanted to talk -- a LOT.  I'm trying to reach his daughter; he's going to need intervention.

Then late in the evening, the oldest girl in an Iraqi family that's been coming to our church was struck by a car while walking along the road near their home.  Turns out she has a broken nose & some cuts on her lips, and is likely to be very sore for quite some time, but will recover.  They were planning to keep her overnight for observation.

Between her mom & siblings, they were able to pool enough English to be able to communicate with the ER personnel, especially thanks to their local sponsor, whose native tongue is Spanish.  Yes, she hears their strongly-Arabic-tinged attempts at English, and is able to better understand them than most, since she's been around them so much.  She then explains their statements in Spanish, which many of the ER staff have had to learn in recent years.  I think it's getting to where the Iraqi kids' English is better than their Spanish-speaking sponsor's English, so they will hopefully soon have fewer barriers.

Mazel tov.

[doublevision1]

Work, work, work.  And shoveling snow.

The timing of Heart Health awareness week coincidentally lines up with my mother's double bypass surgery - actually, scheduled for next Monday.  Turns out they are going high tech and she will be having the endoscopic procedure, meaning they don't have to tear her chest apart.  She is very relieved by this.  So this week I will be awaiting to her updates of her pre-surgery testing.  The surgeon was interested in her history of ITP, which seems to have been in remission for a few years.  Hopefully this doesn't put a wrench in things and she can get those nasty arteries dealt with.

[Lulu54]

I saw my neuro today for a follow-up to my MRI two weeks ago.  It was a great appt - leisurely, all my questions were answered.  There are virtually no changes from my MRI last year.  The copaxone must be working  .... :-)

For now we can stay the course.

Lulu

[tarter]

Going to GP to sort out on going problems!

tarter

[Wobbly]

MS clinic on Wed for update etc..

[sllowe]

LoL!!!!!! I get it!  Tooo funny :)

[HVAC]

Went to New Neurologist today
Appointment with Psychiatrist Tuesday
Thursday Counseling
Saturday Boomer gets his stitches out

Alex

Shell she means getting their blank together

[sllowe]

Guitar guuurrrlll - FMC'd? Oh, what the heck have I been missing?

And, your starting your infusions? This is the 1st? I'm sorry I've missed a discussion along the way. Knew you were lining it up, but didn't realize the time was here.

Will send you a prayer PastorDan, always.

I'm on my semi-regular daily schedule. Ha/ha.. saying it that way, I need to figure out what the heck guitar girl is saying about coagulation.

-shell :)

[Guitar_grrrl]

Tues. & Thurs.:Yoga
Wed.:Tysabri Infusion if the powers that be have gotten their fecal material coagulated...

[PastorDan]

Different, even.

[PastorDan]

Applying for a job today that would be a major turn for me.  It's a form of ministry, but I'm not sure how the prospective employer will see my credentials and experience in light of their needs.  Kinda diffeent.  Those inclined to pray would be appreciated if they do.

Nothing else scheduled yet.  Keeping an ear on the rail.