SVT & ME.... no more!

The day has come... it's time for me to pack up and head to the hotel so I can wake up in the morning and go have my Catheter Ablation procedure.  I've had a lot of people ask me about the specifics of my condition and the specifics of the procedure... I thought I'd write it out here...

The way the specialist explained SVT to me made the most sense in my head... "Everyone has an electrical highway in their heart. We all have exits where the electrical current travels. Your heart has created one or more extra exits, and when the current goes there... it gets stuck, unable to complete it's normal loop."  When that happens, my heart rate goes above 250 beats per minute, I feel light headed, my chest feels "funny," it gets a bit tighter to breath and eventually other things start to hurt if the episode lasts too long.  I can cough, I can "bare down", I can put my face in a bowl of ice water... those things are supposed to make my heart get back in line. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, and the episode continues too long, or I start to feel bad etc... I have had to go to the hospital. They have a medicine called Adenosine (sp?) that stops my heart for just a second and allows it to start back up in a healthy rhythm. I'm told I'm lucky to have this condition in today's day... "back in the day" I would have had to get "paddled" each time. Ouch! ha ha

So... the procedure....

The dr will insert a catheter into my groin area. The catheter has a camera that they get up into my heart and then induce an episode. While the episode is happening, they are able to see where my "extra exits" are. They then use a catheter to cauterize the bad exits and leave only the good one(s) intact. (I've never asked how many healthy exits there are! lol)

Concerns during the procedure:
If the Dr accidentally cauterizes the highway as he's taking care of the bad exits... I could end up with a pace maker. The chances are 1/200... when he first told me that, my eyes welled up with tears. I had a vision of my church (which I can see 200 people in), and it just wasn't enough odds! ha ha I'm thinking, "If I knew one person in the room was about to get zapped with a pace maker... I'd run!" ha ha  As I got a bit emotional, Aaron said, "Nicole, that is only 1/2 of a percent." Then, I was fine. It's all in the presentation! ha ha

I've been blessed with a lot of awesome clients who have kept me busy and kept my mind from having too much time to wonder.  I can say I haven't had too many "moments" concerning this... I've had some, and I just limit myself to say a good 5 minute cry! Then it's time to move on. :)

For my boys... you bless me. Your concern shows your love, and I pray I've done well explaining to you and helping you to know only God can take me out of this world. :) Joe, you asked me, "Mama, what if the Dr's mess up and you die?"... I'll tell you, my eyes really WANTED to cry at that moment, but my "Mama hat" was on. I told you then, "Well, we're on this earth to do a job and only God knows when our job is all done." I looked at you up and down with a funny face and said, "Do YOU think my job here is done?" We both had a good giggle and it looked like the weight you had packed on your shoulders was lifted. Matthew, you've just needed a few extra "Kisses & Hugs" and you did ask what would happen if they couldn't fix it... I'm praying for you both today that the Lord would overwhelm you with His peace, that your behavior would SHOCK everyone (in a good way) that is around you today... and that you'd find many reasons to giggle over the next couple of days. I love you, and I'm very much looking forward to life with out heart episodes to enjoy with you and Dad!

Thank you to everyone who has come alongside me and my family over these past 5-6 years of SVT. With each episode, I have had people there to get me to the hospital, to watch my boys etc etc... It's been such a blessing. I'm looking forward to an entry that shares the success of my procedure... and an entry next year that confirms NO MORE episodes!! Praise the Lord!

Off I go.....