Sadness over diagnosis

Hello. My name is Karen. I have asthma and bronchitis I've had since I was 21. I'm now 60 yrs old. I was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia a fast and irregular heartbeat. Its not as serious as Afib but can turn into a Afib with time. I had a procedure done called cryoablation the part of the ventricle that is causing the heartbeat to race is frozen.and the heart is 'reset' in a sense. Afib is treated in the same way. I cracked multiple ribs 6months ago and some of them are slow to heal and the pain is relentless esp from coughing from my asthma. I finally went to a orthopedic Dr and was diagnosed with osteopenia and degenerative disc disease. Not a diagnosis I'm happy with but at least we're on the right track with being treated for the right issues. Hope everything works out for you.

@catmom777 I can completely understand how devastated you must have been, but it is something you can live with for quite a while. My brother was diagnosed with afib when was 65, and he is now 78. He is in rough shape now, but there are other factors, and he has not taken care of himself nearly as well as he should have. If he had followed the lifestyle that he was told to follow, I am sure he would be going strong. His diet is not good, and he has gotten very little exercise.
JK

@catmom777
I am so sorry for your diagnosis. I know how scary it can be when you have a dx and know nothing about the illness. Knowledge is power, so find out all you can about all you have, how they work or do not work together and get support either from on-line supporters (like us) or by a therapist.

I understand how you feel defeated. You've probably feel like all your life (or at least the mature parts) you've done the right things in taking care of yourself and then you are slammed with something like this. I feel the same way. For me, it's been like a domino affect. I get one thing, deal with it, get another, deal with it and so on and so forth. I am only 64 and I feel like 164. For me, I suppose the fact that my mom got sick at 64 and died at 66. Guess it is in the back of my mind.

I really don't have any terminal illnesses, but I do have conditions that are impacting my ability to walk. I am seeing doctors and being tested for a variety of possibilities, but all I am thinking about is that I already HAVE TO WALK WITH A CANE and that soon I might not be able to walk at all! That is my fear!!! Yes, I know things could be A LOT WORSE, but this is not the direction I saw my life going in. The impact on my honey is horrible and it is written all over his face. He watches me like a hawk and when I am not in his sight and he hears a sound, his heart drops. My daughter and her family live down the street and I see it pain in her eyes and that of my 8 year old granddaughter.

I wonder, as all these things happen and people check on me, I wonder if they have had enough of asking me or my hubby, "How is Ronnie doing?" Do they really want to know??????

Just thinking...……..
You ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Exactly. That is what is hard to deal with most--being gobsmacked by the diagnosis and wondering if I'll be disabled at some point. I live alone. I worry too about somebody turning me over to a guardian who will dictate what I do with the rest of my life. There are all kinds of scary scenarios that run through my mind--none of them anywhere on my radar even six months ago. My grandmother on my dad's side was walking and fine until she fell when she was in her early 90s and then had to be in a wheelchair the rest of her life, but she passed away at 102. I always thought I'd be like her.
I think being raise in a smoking household, having a lot of bouts with bronchitis, and then getting smoke inhalation is what did me in. I drank wine every night, but so do millions of people will no ill effects. Otherwise I was a textbook health nut.

I am sorry about your mobility being impacted. That is very scary. You are in fact too young for that. I am glad you have a husband to look out for you and a supportive family. I know it hurts you to see them worry, but you have to keep up hope. We can't give in to our fears.

Thanks for the reply. The positive stories of resilience will help me deal with this. I saw a woman at a local health food store who was using a portable oxygen pack and asked her to talk to me. She was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension 21 years ago. She said she went on oxygen in 2007. She travels, she gets around, she does what she wants, so that encouraged me also. She looks healthy aside from the oxygen pack. I gave her my number in case she feels like talking to me more about it.
It's one challenge after another, isn't it? When I feel real badly (I haven't felt good since my diagnosis--I think it's the Eliquis they put me on), I berate myself for getting smoke inhalation, for not taking more care not to get sick from clients, for drinking wine every night with dinner, and think "I am SO sorry for whatever I did to bring this on myself." It's true that once you lose your health there isn't much left. It's a challenge to get through the day now between the crazy heart and difficulty breathing, which I'm sure are connected.

Yes, exercise is important. My sister has been after me for decades to get more exercise, join a gym, do yoga, whatever works. I have ignored her. I wish I hadn't. I hope to live to 80 or 85. I have a new grandson and want to see him grow up.
Thanks for the reply.

@catmom777
Congrats on your new grandson.
Grandchildren certainly do put a whole new perspective on things.
About 5 years ago, the doctor told me I had nodules on my lungs and she wanted me to see a pulmonologist.
I went crazy! I started crying that I had lung cancer and I was going to die.
I wouldn't be around to see my babies (grandchildren) grow up.
Forgot to mention that my mom, a non-smoker, died of lung cancer.
Thank goodness everything is OK and I get checked every 6 months.

Do what you need to in order to see your grands grow up!!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@catmom777
Blaming yourself for your problems is counter-productive.
How ever and why you have the issues you do is in the past.
It is time to look forward to the future!
It is what it is and the best thing to do is to try to live each day to its fullest.
Funny, I guess I need to take my own advice, too! lol

Be Happy!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@catmom777 Good morning Yes exercise helps all around we do chair exercises where I live 2times a week keeps you young Go on You tube you can find alot of diff types Jackie Tally chair exercises are good and easy to do

@grandmar I can understand your fears. I actually never expected to make it to 70 since my parents were 65 and 67 when they passed away, and none of my mother's siblings made it into their 70s. I will be 72 this year, my sister will be 75. We both feel that if my parents had lived as we do, a better diet, getting exercise, they would have been with us longer.

Your husband obviously loves you and hates to see you going through this. My husband was so concerned when I had cirrhosis, he really thought he was going to lose me, which he never said at the time. I actually wish he would have acknowledged to me this possibility, it would have validated my own feelings. Try to be hopeful and positive, I really feel that contributes to how well we do. I can imagine not wanting to have to be in a wheelchair, but it beats the alternative.

@catmom777 I too didn't bother with exercise for years, and let my weight get out of control. I know the weight and diet were responsible for my diabetes and cirrhosis. I hope my son and daughter will learn from that. I exercise at least six days a week now, alternating pool exercises with gym exercises, and if I don't make it to my health club, I do my recumbent bike at home. I do berate myself at times for letting this happen but mostly I just move forward. It's not too late for you to start exercising, even if it's just walking. If you have a health club with a pool though, water exercise is very good, and non-impact if that's a concern. Yesterday in my water aerobics class my BPM was up to 140! I can't even get it that high on the elliptical. You can start slowly and gradually increase. I generally do about an hour and a half in the water. First I go to class which lasts for about 50 minutes to an hour, and then I do enough more water jogging to be in the water for an hour and a half. I have gradually increased the weight on the machines at the gym, and have gone from about 10 pounds to 40 - 50 depending on the piece of equipment. Don't give up.
JK