Guest guest Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Ingrid I am glad you are back. You certainly have had your share of problems. My m-i-l lived with congestive heart failure for at least 20 years. It wasn't that that she died from. I will keep you in my prayers. hugs nne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Lifehttp://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html Check out my breast cancer ornaments at:http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.htmlalso check out my other ornaments and lots of nice gifts at:http://www.cancerclub.com I am here. Hello everyone. Just read you're inquiries about me. Thanks so much for the concern. I can now walk and talk and breath at the same time and it is wonderful. I was in stage 4 congestive heart failure.Yes, I was in the Indiana Heart Hospital for 3 days exactly 3 weeks ago. As I said earlier I am one of the "lucky" 10% that developed Adriamycin Induced Cardiomyopathy. Evidently it usually only occures at at least double the dosage that I received.Prior to beginning treatment I notified all my health care providers about my father's heart transplant for cardiomyopathy (due to a virus). No one, especially my Onc., saw a problem. Needless to say my newly aquired cardiologist feels and says differently. Supposedly drug induced cardiomyopathy can possibly reverse itself in 3-6 months but my Cardiologist says I have 4 things against me. Breast cancer, questionable high blood pressure, overweight, and family history (DUH?). My pretreatment MUGA showed a LVEF( left venticle ejection fraction) of 49.4. The MUGA I had 2 days before hospitalization was only 23.7. An RN co worker of mine who used to work cardiac recalls 15 as heart trasnsplant candidate. Right now I am on about 6 different meds. Some we are working on the correct dosages, and increasing others over time. Each day I seem to get better and better. I have been back to work a few hours a week.I was suppose to have my lumpectomy on 02/16 but that is now on hold. It is up to the cardiologist to decide when it can be done. Now rather than outpatient, it will now have to be done inpatient and then off to the ICU I go. The breast surgeon is also contemplating mastectomy to avoid the "trauma" of radiation. I have pretty much decided I would rather still go the lumpectomy route first and then begin radiation. If for some reason it proves to be too much we could still go back in and "complete the job". Of course the final path report could necessitate going back in too.I had been extremely healthy my whole life and now at 49 have the body of a 70 year old. I was on absolutely NO meds and now take hand fulls. What was a top concern in my life (the BC) has now been moved down the list. The old "ticker" has risen to the top as far as life threatening. Some of the the stats I am finding go from "most patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure die within 1 year of their first episode, to I have a 50% chance of being alive in 5 years." Geeeeesh, I like the BC survival stats better. LOL As I said, every day gets better. I feel better and better. My energy level increases. The drugs must be working. Hopefully my heart muscle is also strengthening. I used to hate them, but now, DRUGS ARE MY FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!Again, thanks everyone for your concern. I have been reading, just not posting. Sounds as a whole most are doing fairly well. I am glad for that. For those still going through challenges, as "Dori" ("Finding Nemo") says..... "JUST KEEP SWIMMING, JUST KEEP SWIMMING.....".Ingrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2006 Report Share Posted February 18, 2006 Ingrid, Whew!!!! You gave us quite a scare!!!!!!! My ejection level back in October was 44 after A/C. It has risen to 66 as of a month ago. I went thru angiogram, nuclear stress and numerous EKG's. Now, on Herceptin, I have a Muga every 12 weeks due to heart problems that may arise. I feel your pain, and yes, my heart took "front and center" while we were figuring out what was actually wrong. It made me very sad to think how important your heart is. I will wish for a miracle for you as I feel truly blessed on my outcome. Best, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 grandma_in_indy wrote: > Hello everyone. Just read you're inquiries about me. Thanks so much > for the concern. I can now walk and talk and breath at the same time > and it is wonderful. I was in stage 4 congestive heart failure. OMG!!! =-O > Yes, I was in the Indiana Heart Hospital for 3 days exactly 3 weeks > ago. As I said earlier I am one of the " lucky " 10% that developed > Adriamycin Induced Cardiomyopathy. Evidently it usually only occures > at at least double the dosage that I received. Ok > Prior to beginning treatment I notified all my health care providers > about my father's heart transplant for cardiomyopathy (due to a > virus). No one, especially my Onc., saw a problem. Needless to say my > newly aquired cardiologist feels and says differently. Supposedly > drug induced cardiomyopathy can possibly reverse itself in 3-6 months > but my Cardiologist says I have 4 things against me. Breast cancer, > questionable high blood pressure, overweight, and family history > (DUH?). My pretreatment MUGA showed a LVEF(left ventricle ejection > fraction) of 49.4. The MUGA I had 2 days before hospitalization was > only 23.7. An RN co worker of mine who used to work cardiac recalls 15 > as heart trasnsplant candidate. I have to apologize for laughing. When I saw 'MUGA', I started thinking it was a breed of dog, that I had never heard of, and started wondering 'What does a dog have to do with breast cancer?' so, I looked it up. I found the definition. Are the HBP and, being overweight, in the family history? > Right now I am on about 6 different meds. Some we are working on the > correct dosages, and increasing others over time. Each day I seem to > get better and better. I have been back to work a few hours a week. That is fabulous!!!! :-) > I was suppose to have my lumpectomy on 02/16 but that is now on hold. > It is up to the cardiologist to decide when it can be done. Now > rather than outpatient, it will now have to be done inpatient and then > off to the ICU I go. The breast surgeon is also contemplating > mastectomy to avoid the " trauma " of radiation. I have pretty much > decided I would rather still go the lumpectomy route first and then > begin radiation. If for some reason it proves to be too much we could > still go back in and " complete the job " . Of course the final path > report could necessitate going back in too. Ok > I had been extremely healthy my whole life and now at 49 have the body > of a 70 year old. I was on absolutely NO meds and now take hand > fulls. What was a top concern in my life (the BC) has now been moved > down the list. The old " ticker " has risen to the top as far as life > threatening. Some of the the stats I am finding go from " most > patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure die within 1 year of > their first episode, to I have a 50% chance of being alive in 5 > years. " Geeeeesh, I like the BC survival stats better. LOL I have heard those stats before and, I agree with you. The only thing that sickens me is, when one health problem is said more fatal than another(don't worry, it is not being done here on the list) and, it goes back n' forth. Specifically, it is, the American Heart Association and, the American Cancer Society that do it the most. > As I said, every day gets better. I feel better and better. My > energy level increases. The drugs must be working. Hopefully my > heart muscle is also strengthening. I used to hate them, but now, > DRUGS ARE MY FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!! That is wonderful!!!! :-) > Again, thanks everyone for your concern. I have been reading, just > not posting. Sounds as a whole most are doing fairly well. I am glad > for that. For those still going through challenges, as " Dori " > ( " Finding Nemo " ) says..... " JUST KEEP SWIMMING, JUST KEEP SWIMMING..... " . > > Ingrid I have not been swimming, enough. I need to get back to the gym. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2006 Report Share Posted February 20, 2006 MY PRAYER ARE COMING YOU WAY. HUGS, JUDY COKER CLOVIS, NM Live Every Day Like The Blessing It is ! No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding.Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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