Latest latest!
Doc said even if by thurs, the PVCs (the extra electrical signals) still can't be curbed, I will be discharged. Mainly because, with the PVCs around, the MRI can't be done accurately. I just wonder why the damn medicine didn't work on me. If i can't do the MRI on thursday, what the doc suggest is to let me take home a small equipment (HL called it the "pager") in which it will record my heart rythm 24 hours. And i will have to go back to his clinic for follow-ups, which means I have to be grounded for a month. OMG.
I just wish all these tests and results can be done more quickly so that I can have a peace of mind. Well, actually, I'm not that worried. It is my mum who is very worried. She also worry about my younger sister who will be coming here for the same check-up in Jan next year. it doesn't make her feel better when my elder bro kept poking fun at my sis that she will be going thru the same treatment as me. hahaha.
All right, let me get this straight or else I will get confused again.
Doc told me he suspect ARVD but the chances are low. However, he still need to be precise. That is why i still need to go thru all these. I did a research on ARVD and this is what it stands for: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia. Simply put, ARVD is a genetic, progressive heart condition in which the muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fat and fibrosis, which causes abnormal heart rhythms. Although it is a relatively uncommon cause of sudden cardiac death, it accounts for up to one fifth of sudden cardiac death in people under 35 years of age. (More info at http://www.arvd.com/q_a.html )
Sounds scary, isn't it? But HL told me his specialist also told him that he suspected him having ARVD too. But thru many tests, it still can't be deduced. In his perspective, he doesn't believe it coz he has been living well without any symptons.
I, then asked the doc, what are they looking for in the MRI. In the ARVD case, there are looking for any abnomality in the heart, eg, extra lump or missing lump. With the MRI reading, they can have a better and detailed picture of my heart and hence a better diagnose. So what if they found nothing abnormal?? Which means i only have PVCs? I have read that PVCs by itself is pretty harmless. Only when it is coupled by heart disease, it could be life-threatening. So perhaps I'll be fine. However, a check with the doc, she told me that my PVC is not really that normal coz it happen rather frequently. With these extra electrical signals, it might, in the long run, burn some holes here and there. Don't ask me what and why? I don't know..If i know, i won't be serving in the air. Oh wait, I haven't gone for the screening for the Marfan Syndrome, a congenital heart disease which my bro has, Hmmm....what are my chances?
So, what is exactly wrong with me?????????????????? This is getting irritating.
*********************************
He and I have different views when it comes to my condition. He felt that my parents should go for the ECG check as well. As long as the ECG indicate that my parents have the same damn thing, it means that it runs in my family. The fact that my parents have been living like this for the past 50 over years with no symptons, it simply means that i'll be fine too. In addition, before this, I have been living normally and heathily without any symptons or pain. So after i discharge, he felt that there is no need for me to go thru any more test and live life as i have before. He also doesn't like the fact that I am eating those damn medicine which is directly targetting at my heart, the vital organ of a human body. As the doc said, the medicine might cause a further uneven heart rythim, he's even more worried that some other complications of the heart will appear. Besides, after some research, we found out that there is no known cause and no known cure for such conditions. Hence, he felt that the doc could be just using me as an experiment, number that adds to his statistic.
However, I beg to differ a little. I feel that every individual is different. Even if my parent does have the same thing & nothing happens to them, it doesn't mean that it won't happen to me. Not finding out what exactly it is, doesn't put me in a safer position coz apparently, there is something abnormal. If i dun find out what is wrong with me and take preventive measure, the day when i find out what exactly is wrong, it would be the day i collapse. So would it be better if I find out now... or later?
Yes, the doc may not have come across what I'm having now as he said it is a rare case (HL said every doc also said it's a rare case. haha). Yes, the doc may be just using me;may be doing these trial and error tests, just to find out what exactly is wrong. In the end, I may be just a number in his statistic. BUT, isn't it good for the mankind? If one day, he ever discover what is wrong, then future patients will have an easier time, isn't it?
Oh well... we'll see. More updates later....
Stay healthy and be safe people.
Cheerios.
06 December 2006
04 December 2006
:: Ward 56, Bed 11 ::
EERrr...NO, u didn't see wrongly. I'm STILL here. Just that i have shifted to Bed 11.
Why????? Well, that depends on whether u wanna hear the hospital's reason or our very own deduction.
Hospital:
They changed the medicine that is needed to curb the PVCs that I'm having in order to have a more accurate MRI test. Apparently, the medicine previously was not able to curb it, even with an increased dosage. How stubborn my heart is!!
The MRI is tentatively set on Thursday but they are trying to push for tuesday which is tommorrow. The MRI is to find out the structure of my heart..to see if they are normal. I did the ultrasound on saturday..and the report said that it is good, except that one of my valve is not working properly...but that's fine.
So.. they have changed to a stronger medicine, and with that, there might be some side effects. Hence, i still need to stay on for them to monitor. The medicine was said to cause a more serious uneven heart rythm if taken long term. But the doc assessed the risk, and felt that I won't be affected.
With all these going around, i suddenly forgot why I need to go thru all these testings. Why ah? What are they trying to achieve or determine?? The cause of my obstinate PVCs? Or if i have a heart disease?? EERrrr?
Our own deduction:
Hospital just want our money. Ok, as simple as that. Need more explanation???
************************************
Got bored in the room and we started playing with my web cam. Some pictures that we took. Do I look a BIT SICK at all?????
Hahahhaa
Why????? Well, that depends on whether u wanna hear the hospital's reason or our very own deduction.
Hospital:
They changed the medicine that is needed to curb the PVCs that I'm having in order to have a more accurate MRI test. Apparently, the medicine previously was not able to curb it, even with an increased dosage. How stubborn my heart is!!
The MRI is tentatively set on Thursday but they are trying to push for tuesday which is tommorrow. The MRI is to find out the structure of my heart..to see if they are normal. I did the ultrasound on saturday..and the report said that it is good, except that one of my valve is not working properly...but that's fine.
So.. they have changed to a stronger medicine, and with that, there might be some side effects. Hence, i still need to stay on for them to monitor. The medicine was said to cause a more serious uneven heart rythm if taken long term. But the doc assessed the risk, and felt that I won't be affected.
With all these going around, i suddenly forgot why I need to go thru all these testings. Why ah? What are they trying to achieve or determine?? The cause of my obstinate PVCs? Or if i have a heart disease?? EERrrr?
Our own deduction:
Hospital just want our money. Ok, as simple as that. Need more explanation???
************************************
Got bored in the room and we started playing with my web cam. Some pictures that we took. Do I look a BIT SICK at all?????
Hahahhaa
01 December 2006
:: Ward 56, Bed 14 ::
Right..I can't believe im writing this in NUH..at ward 56, Bed 14.
Im tapping on NUS network. Thank goodness there is connection or else i'll be bored to death.
Ok..so u wanna know what happened?
It began with a simple goal. To go for the check-up which my bro's specialist suggested.
You see, my bro was disgnosed with a congenital heart disease called Marfan Syndrome..and its hereditary. Hence, the specialist would like us to come for a check-up. And so that's what i did. ( more info on the syndrome - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4672)
Little did i know that my ECG reading turned out ABNORMAL. The doc explained to me...but..hmm...i can't really explain it here. He warded me and put me under observation for 24 hours..in order to gather more info. It may or may not be a life threatening issue... I may seem fine now but its hard to say. So they would like to find out the cause and do a risk assessment for me. And so that's why I'm here.
They hook me up with a portable equipment which i duno what it is called. Anyway, it is supposed to monitor my heart for 24 hours...I can walk around coz its wireless!! SO cool!
I thought after the 24 hours monitoring, they would conclude and discharge me today. But little did i know, the consultant who specialised in heart rythm told me they found some extra "thingy" on my 2 lower chambers of my heart. it could be potentially dangerous. oh..its called the "PVC"...Dont ask me what does it stand for. They would like me to go thru ultrasound and MRI testing... They wanna see if my heart is normal...So this means,,,I have to stay for another day!!!!
Boring!!!
Oh..and the best thing is...they said this could be a standalone case!! Not related to the Marfan syndrome! Which means that i have to come back again to go thru the Marfan Syndrome testing next time. Hmm...but then again, it could well be related...coz my bro has an abnormal ECG too!
Oh well...i dunno...Just hope everything will be fine.
Im tapping on NUS network. Thank goodness there is connection or else i'll be bored to death.
Ok..so u wanna know what happened?
It began with a simple goal. To go for the check-up which my bro's specialist suggested.
You see, my bro was disgnosed with a congenital heart disease called Marfan Syndrome..and its hereditary. Hence, the specialist would like us to come for a check-up. And so that's what i did. ( more info on the syndrome - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4672)
Little did i know that my ECG reading turned out ABNORMAL. The doc explained to me...but..hmm...i can't really explain it here. He warded me and put me under observation for 24 hours..in order to gather more info. It may or may not be a life threatening issue... I may seem fine now but its hard to say. So they would like to find out the cause and do a risk assessment for me. And so that's why I'm here.
They hook me up with a portable equipment which i duno what it is called. Anyway, it is supposed to monitor my heart for 24 hours...I can walk around coz its wireless!! SO cool!
I thought after the 24 hours monitoring, they would conclude and discharge me today. But little did i know, the consultant who specialised in heart rythm told me they found some extra "thingy" on my 2 lower chambers of my heart. it could be potentially dangerous. oh..its called the "PVC"...Dont ask me what does it stand for. They would like me to go thru ultrasound and MRI testing... They wanna see if my heart is normal...So this means,,,I have to stay for another day!!!!
Boring!!!
Oh..and the best thing is...they said this could be a standalone case!! Not related to the Marfan syndrome! Which means that i have to come back again to go thru the Marfan Syndrome testing next time. Hmm...but then again, it could well be related...coz my bro has an abnormal ECG too!
Oh well...i dunno...Just hope everything will be fine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
