What Is It That I Can Do To Help Myself?

Lemons aren’t perfect, and lemonade isn’t always perfect either. I got atrial fibrillation (AFIB) when I took myself off of oxycontin after a broken arm. Since that time I have been on heart medication to control the AFIB.

I have had lots of weird side effects that will come and go and not many are even really connected to heart conditions. Like constant burping every day. Like having an itchy neck, or episodic puffy hands or feet. Not both at the same time. Oh, and the most troublesome is bone aches in feet and legs.

Then what is consistent and can be related to the heart is tiredness and becoming out of breath with very little exertion.

Depression is a symptom and some days are worse than others, but who can’t say that since the pandemic? I went to a medicine man and was given a couple of teas to drink and I am much better.

So, I have had a stress test, blood work, and CT scan. And I am scheduled for an echocardiogram soon. They have looked at the plantar fasciitis I was diagnosed with this year and neuropathy in my hands and feet but say it is more than that causing the bone pain.

The physical therapy (PT) person I was referred to by the cardiologist for an exercise routine said, ”It is more than plantar fasciitis or neuropathy.” PT gave me a couple of months off to figure it out. Then I got another referral to pool therapy from my primary physician.

I think they believe my being out of shape is giving me breathing difficulty. Rather than my breathing difficulty means I couldn’t get over 10–15 minutes on the treadmill. Less now. I get it as I have gained weight, which is also a side effect on the list.

Before I broke my arm, I was walking 60–70 minutes a day on the treadmill. The surgeon asked that I stay off of the treadmill while healing and being on pain medication.

My concern was cancer until a friend said she got her husband’s heart medicine changed when he could no longer go up and down the basement steps. I instantly knew I couldn’t go up and down basement steps either if we had them.

Okay, so the medication change happened. I was taken down from one and a half pills to one pill. It doesn’t appear to make a huge difference. Some may be but not enough. I am tired of all the side effects that come and go. And they are guaranteed to come back.

I have a new prescription for the other heart med and that was reduced a bit too. From 360mg to 240mg. Crossing my figures and hopeful that will help. Already it seems to have helped a bit!

The cancer concern was ruled out last week as I had the blood work and a CT scan and nothing showed up. I thought it was cancer as I had to sleep sitting up before the diagnosis as I couldn’t breathe when laying down. It wasn’t ruled out as the oncologist suggested a PET scan.

And he suggested going back to the gynecologist, as they are watching something on my ovaries. I told him I didn’t know if my insurance will cover a PET scan with no blood work or CT scan showing a reason to look further.

I have another oncologist appointment coming up too. The specialist is located at the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center.

The pharmacist suggested it may be my other heart medication as it has some similar effects. He said that I am on a high dose of that and maybe that is causing some of the side effects. I let my cardiologist know. He changed the medication. Not sure by how much.

I don’t want AFIB back either.

I have a pulmonology appointment next month. I am feeling like a hypochondriac because of all of the complaints. I haven’t looked at the side effects of the medication before because of that fear. I don’t think I am a hypochondriac but that is probably what they all say right?

I am suffering and there is something and just because they can’t find it doesn’t mean it’s not real.

So then, I will keep working at making lemonade out of the lemons I have been dealing with daily. And flowers will help me too!

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Published first by Penny Press on Medium