Echo, Echo, Echo...............

Today was a big day - Echocardiogram  @ 9:00 a.m.  Cardiovascular Consultants - Federal Way -Echocardiogram or Echo -  is a ultrasound that looks at the function of your heart, valves, blood flow, etc. You undress from the waist up, put a gown on and the Tech takes it from there.  They place sticky patches that they attach wires to, 2 upper chest, 2 lower.  They put that lovely gooey jell on the doppler and take images of all the important stuff.
One of the views they will ask you to take a breath,  hold it,  release and breath normal - That's it - 20 minutes and done..        
By noon thanks to my caring sister Kathie, who knew I would be stressing until I had my results, called with a preliminary result "Everything is looking good" So what that means is -  the RP has not progressed to the valves of my heart. This will now be my baseline that they will compare my yearly Echocardiogram to.  Another yearly exam??!!?? - This one I don't think I will postpone quite as much as the mammogram...

I just received several responses from a blog that I posted to a few days ago. This response unlike yesterdays was very positive - I have never met John Miller - but he is my new best friend... He has had this disease since 2007 - has had some serious bouts and totally gets it when I told him, the pain I have is like when you have the flu, your body aches all over - but never goes away -  He knows what I am talking about!!! He has a good, positive attitude - I so love a good attitude! He has told me several medications that worked and did not work for him so I have some research to do.
John Millers Medication - Methotrexate  first med, Dapsone - terrible, Cellcept no big deal.

I also asked him about "The Diet" he said he had asked his Doctors about it and they said it is untrue, it will not help, but it is important to have a healthy diet. I must ask, if this diet has not been clinically tested - how do they know it is untrue? I will continue with "The Diet" It can't hurt me any more then this disease is, so why not try?

John also told me when people are given a diagnosis like this it brings family's together  and your "true friends" will be there  - I do have amazing family and friends - I thank God for all of you everyday. Today that is what I am going to list as my thing I am thankful for - Family  & Friends - Thank you for your thoughtful caring words and support, I love you all - And Thank you John Miller!

My lovely Mother suggested I note what I eat each day in case my symptoms should increase it would be easier to track - today was not a good breakfast day so do not judge please.

Breakfast - Cup of coffee with creamer -which I am trying to wean myself off of and about 15 - 20 mini gluten free pretzels.

Lunch - Steamed cauliflower, carrots and cranberries and a couple gluten free pretzels.  cranberry juice

Dinner - YUMMY black bean, Avocado, tacos (3) of course gluten free taco shells - have to watch those labels, it is amazing how many things have wheat/gluten in them....

snack - 1/2 of a gluten free lemon cookie.

Thanks for Reading.

God Bless Us All.

Nancy