Snow, Power Outage and Congestive Heart Failure

This weekend was very busy for me. There was a break in the weather for a few days. Then the snow returned on Friday. We received another 15 inches of snow. The heavy snowfall led to a power outage and no internet. With no internet or power I wasn't able to finish my post for Frugal Friday Tips.

During the outage I helped my son with homework, until I received a call about my 91 year old friend. She fainted at the assisted living facility where she lives. She lost her pulse for a few seconds and the staff had to perform CPR on her. They called an ambulance and rushed her to the local emergency room.

My son and I went to the hospital to be with her. She was sleeping peacefully when we arrived. Her pulse was regular but her blood pressure was very low. The staff took a chest x-ray and drew several vials of blood. When the doctor came back in, he gave us the diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure. He wanted to admit her to the hospital but she didn't want to stay. He called her family doctor and they all decided to send her home with a heart monitor and new medicines.

After they applied the monitor, I drove with her to my house to pick up what I needed for staying with her for the night. I brought my personal items and clothes, and of course I had to have an animal with me. My male dog Max was the chosen one. (Max is the mildest of all my animals and he knows my friend well. She was delighted he came with.)

Mild Max

It was a long night. I was able to rest but not sleep. My friend kept getting up to go the bathroom and almost fell twice. Max every few hours would jump in bed with her to make sure she was ok. Then he would come to me, then back to his spot on the couch for a few hours, then would repeat the same routine.

This morning I took her to the pharmacy to pick up her prescriptions of Lasix and Potassium. I didn't want to leave her for fear something would happen or she would take off the heart monitor.

She was doing well by mid-morning, so I decided to make arrangements with the staff at the facility for her care and went home to sleep for a few hours. I went back to check on her this evening and she was doing fine.

Most of my career as a Registered Nurse has been in home health and hospice. I have taken care of many patients with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). I used to do education on the disease process, signs and symptoms, management and medications.

The disease process is caused by the heart not being able to pump the blood as it should. Several reasons can cause this: heart attack, congenital heart deformities and even smoking. When the heart can't do its job, the blood can overflow into the lungs. This leads to the patient being short of breathe, white frothy or foamy sputum possibly blood tinged, swelling of the ankles and feet, because of the poor circulation.

General standard management of the disease at home (not in an emergency situation or acute exacerbation) includes: decreasing salt (salt can increase fluid retention and make symptoms worse), frequent rest periods, alternating rest periods with activity, possible fluid restriction (this would be prescribed by the doctor), elevating feet to help circulate fluid back to the heart where it can be pumped and then be excreted by the kidneys.

Medications can vary widely depending on the patient's health, medications that are already prescribed and other factors that need to be determined by a doctor. Because of various factors, medications will not be reviewed in this post. I recommend for medication education to talk to your pharmacist or physician.

These are very general tips usually applied to the disease. If at any time you have symptoms of CHF you should be seen immediately by a physician. This post is not intended to replace doctor's orders or a doctor's exam but only to provide very general information of the disease. Each patient is an individual and care needs to be individualized for each person who has been diagnosed with CHF. Doctor's orders should strictly be followed to better health, prolong life and decrease chances of complications.

January Knee Update

I went to the Orthopedic this past Wednesday. My knee is improving. I'm now allowed to do light-weight bearing on it, as long as I don't have pain. I have isometric exercises I have to do for strengthening. I'm to wean my self off the brace. For those who know me, of course I took the brace off immediately and walked out of the doctor's office with it in hand.

I still have swelling. He said another part of my knee is inflamed. (I forgot what he called the area.) I'm again applying ice (even as I am writing) and heat to get the swelling down. It is a little tender today. I had two teenagers from our church here today to help me clean and of course I had to hobble around showing them what to do.

He basically told me to listen to my body. If it hurts, slow down. I'll try to do that. Sometimes I get so busy, I don't realize until it is too late, I'm hurting and should have stopped sooner. Nurses don't like to be stagnant.

Not climbing stairs yet. 

Next appointment will be March 21st. We will see what happens then.

Knee Update

I returned to the Orthopedic Doctor this past Wednesday for my monthly checkup. I shared with him I've been having increased pain on the outer aspect of my knee. I pointed to the area; he examined it and I grimaced in pain. He decided to do another X-ray to make sure the fracture had not shifted. If there was a shift it would result in surgery to repair. At present I have not heard back about the results. I am taking it as 'no news is good news.'

During the visit the doctor repeated previous instructions; the fractured bone is the second largest bone in the body and will take a minimum of four to six months to heal; stay off the left leg, and no returning back to work until at least April 1st. He also provided a signed application for a temporary handicapped parking placard.

To be able to get through my day I use different things to help me. I use a brace which keeps my knee mobilized for protection, crutches to walk or should I say "hobble" around, a wheelchair as needed to get around and elevate my leg if pain increases, a stool to sit and do dishes, and my husband chauffeuring. It has been a real loss of independence.

I do have a few exercises I do for my legs, which consist of: bending and flexing my left knee so it will not lock up, elevating my legs, holding them in place to the count of ten, ten times in different positions. These exercises will hopefully help me regain the muscle tone which I've lost in both legs, helping decrease therapy time in the future.

Healing a fracture is slow process but I am positive I will make progress each month, returning back to normal at God's appointed time.

The Culprits

Water dog Max. He was on a fishing trip with his boy Chris at Eagle Lake

Princess looking everything over to make sure it is up to her satisfaction. Can't have a grass blade out of place. 

After writing my first post I realized I had neglected to introduce you to "the culprits" who assisted with my fall and my fractured knee. I love animals and have several. Max and Princess both were rescues from the local dog shelter. Max was obtained for my son Chris and the 2 are in-separable. Princess was to be a playmate for Max and a companion for me. Even after the accident I still adore these dogs. Max is extra loving, mild mannered and loves to run. Princess is high strung, independent and tries to be the boss. Yes both dogs are black. I didn't plan it this way. Honest.

Beginning My Journey

I can't even remember when I first started desiring a simple life. All I truly remember is most of my adult life feeling rushed and overwhelmed with my busy life style. Not having time for the priorities of my heart. Or should I say the priorities God spells out for us in His word.

All that changed when I had an accident hiking on a trail near our home. It was September 22nd and I  just had my 2nd mammogram. A previous one earlier in the month revealed an "increase in density" in my right breast. Needless to say I was pretty scared and stressed out for a few weeks. Thankfully the 2nd mammogram came back negative for cancer and changes.

After the x-ray I chose to take my dogs, Max and Princess on a hike. I was in prayer to God trying to de-stress when my pups came out of a high grass area bounding my way. I wasn't paying attention to them because the trail was familiar to us, we have walked it so many times before and I never thought they would run into me. But that is exactly what happened. The dogs came up from behind and knocked me down sideways on my left leg.

The next morning at about 1:30 A.M the pain was so severe and my left knee swollen to the size of a cantaloupe I had to go to the local emergency room. By myself I may add because my son and husband were out of town for a guys night out in a nearby city. I went through the routine things at the hospital and did all the follow up doctor appointments and x-rays and found out I actually have a horizontal  fracture in my knee. This particular type of fracture will usually take 6 months to heal if not longer and can't have any weight on it.

My fast paced, rushed life of work, housekeeping, extra activities to care for my family, caring for multiple animals, frequent shopping trips and traveling out of town was over. Temporarily I now use crutches, walker or wheelchair to be mobile. Talk about a slow pace life. If I go out shopping or to the post office I need some one with me for help, gives new meaning to "family time".

The most important thing through this all is God is revealing His priorities for my life. When I was working full time and traveling 3 hours a day to get back and forth to work it was absolutely draining me, I didn't get to see my family or be the wife and mother I needed to be. Nor did I spend time with God as I should.

 Through this blog I will be sharing over time of my healing; spiritually, relationally, and physically and things I am learning to do to change to a simple life. Please join me on my journey.