Good Afternoon.  Lovely day weatherwise with a temperature of plus 2. The humidity is high and is affecting my breathing.  My Respirologist asked me to put up with my breathing issues for longer. He said he had requested several tests including bloodwork and a special CT Scan.  He told me he would do everything he could to find the cause of my breathing issues. It seems I hear about a new ailment every time I see a doctor.

When I write about the dangerous results of high blood pressure I am trying to prevent others from having to go through what I have. A high heart rate and occasional premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) alerted my family doctor to a potential problem.  He referred me to a cardiologist. After two Echocardiograms the cardiologist diagnosed me with thickened heart muscles. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease in which the heart muscle becomes thickened (hypertrophied). The thickened heart muscle can make it harder for the heart to pump blood. HCM affects the left ventricle, the main pumping chamber of the heart. The walls of the left ventricle become thick and stiff. Over time, the heart can’t take in or pump out enough blood during each heartbeat to supply the body’s needs.

Congestive heart failure is a long-term condition that happens when your heart can’t pump blood well enough to give your body a normal supply. Blood and fluids collect in your lungs and legs over time. Medications and other treatments help manage symptoms like swelling. Congestive heart failure is life-limiting for many.

According to my cardiologist, I needed more pain coverage because the pain caused my blood pressure to go as high as 228/119. After adjusting my medication I no longer suffered from pain-induced high blood pressure.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease where there is scarring of the lungs—called fibrosis—which makes it difficult to breathe. This is because the scarring causes the tissues in the lungs to get thick and stiff and makes it hard to absorb oxygen into the bloodstream. An inherited genetic variant (familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) usually causes HCM. Pulmonary fibrosis is an interstitial lung disease. Interstitial lung diseases are a group of conditions that cause inflammation and scarring around the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. Inhaling hazardous chemicals can be one cause of pulmonary fibrosis. Certain diseases, medications, and genetics can also cause PF. Most often the cause is unknown. This is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

I was in a terrible state the week before my appointment with my lung doctor. I let my imagination take over and I was a mess. Turns out I got another potential diagnosis. This time the name is Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an immune system disorder in which your lungs become inflamed as an allergic reaction to inhaled microorganisms, plant and animal proteins or chemicals. This afternoon I had bloodwork done ordered by my lung doctor.  Hopefully, something shows up; something that is easy to treat.

After all these diagnoses arthritis seems like a walk in the park. The pain caused by arthritis is often debilitating but not life-threatening. With arthritis, it seems as if my bones, muscles, and joints play a game called “Where will we send the pain today.” The pain moves from my ankles, shoulders, knees, hands, hips and the list goes on.

If any of my readers have similar health issues, I would love to hear from you. Submit the story of your diagnosis and treatment. Hope you all have a wonderful week.

I wanted to include the pictures of the three Ukrainian dancers my cousin Donna cross-stitched for me. Actually, she did them for my grandson who spent 8 years in a Ukrainian Dance Group. Her cross-stitch skills are above average.  When I had my needlecraft shop, I taught cross stitch. One important skill we taught was to make sure that the back of your cross-stitch was as neat as the front of your work. Donna’s cross-stitch pieces did exactly that. Now my grandson and I have to pick out frames and have all three framed by professionals.