Jill D the_daughertys@prodigy.net Marshalltown, Iowa age 31 Committed to Mike Alexis, age 8 & Sabrina, age 5 a beagle named Daisy 2 cats named Chubs & Amigo

Before CHF

I was diagnosed with viral DCM and CHF with an EF of 10%, which the cardiologist said was a kind estimate on January 21, 2001. I have a hard time believing I was that sick. I remember when I was in the ER of the third hospital in 4 days, saying "You aren't going to catheterize me!" I guess it's a good thing they did since I lost 12 pounds of fluid in 24 hours! Finally, at this hospital they knew what was wrong with me and how to at least relieve my symptoms. I couldn't believe this happened to me me. My heart, and I'm only 30 years old and have two little girls ages 7 and 5. I recently reconciled with my ex after a divorce of 3 years. God is really testing me.

My CHF

The cardiologist waited a week to do an angiogram (cath) with biopsies. My cardiologist said I was way too sick to put on the table for the procedure. The 12 days that I was in the hospital I lost all modesty. I remember the day a male nurse came in to give me a bath. Now I know how men feel when women give them baths!
     I learned I am a very hard poke with an IV needle or even to get blood test samples; with several nurses having their try with my veins. My cardiologist and myself decided against a pik line because of the risk of infection. I did have a midline for a few days but refused to go home with lines hanging out of me because of our daughters and our pet beagle, Daisy.
     On February 2 of 2001 I went home to 3 times per week infusions of dopamine and debutamine for 8 hours at a time. it seemed like I was at work as much time as I was spending at the hospital. The infusions slowly tapered off, with me having my last infusion on May 18, 2001. In the meantime I have been so busy with doctors appointments and cardiac rehab that I couldn't imagine going to work but somehow I went back to work April 30.
     My last EF was 17%. My cardiologist sent me to Iowa City Clinic to see about placing me on the heart transplant list. So far there is no talk of that. The next scheduled procedure is one I really hate - arterial blood gases - so I have to think about it for the entire month! Then they are talking about a Swan-Ganz cath (a right heart cath procedure through the neck). I still can't believe I am so sick from a virus! There was apparently nothing I could have done to prevent it.
     I am now a 31 year old who really never drank but a few drinks per year and am a non-smoker but I am overweight. Sometimes I think we want to think if I wasn't overweight by 50 pounds maybe I wouldn't have gotten this, but that is not true.

My Meds

My Outlook

I have to live. Who else are my girls going to be mad at when they get to be teenagers? <g> I've got to have a positive outlook and I guess Disability denying my application means they have a positive outlook on this also! I am going to keep trying, and "wasting time" as they told me at the Social Security office. ;-)

Jill - May 25, 2001

All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. No one here is a doctor. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. This web site and all its pages copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Jon C.