Hello! I cam here from Jon's site and am still checking in now and then. One reason that I haven't been here more often is because at Christmas we had our own little miracle. Let me explain by giving a little history of my husbands CHF.
He was first diagnosed in 2000 and it took quite some time for it to sink in. He had been in law enforcement it was hard to believe he wouldn't just get well again. He did go to all his appointments and did what the doctors said. As time went on though he continued to go downhill. In 2002 he had a pacemaker implanted and felt much better for the first time since his diagnosis. He still wasn't able to work but he was able to live a quiet life. He began getting worse again in January of 2004 and by June, we weren't sure if he would survive the summer. A group of doctors recommended a biventricular pacemaker to be followed by a heart transplant but with no insurance, we couldn't have it done at that hospital. They sent their recomendations to the VA hospital where he had been treated and in July they put in a BiV pacemaker. The third wire couldn't be attached at that time so they began a transplant evalutaion. He was approved and we went to Virginia for a final evaluation. While there the doctors told us that the third wire would really improve his quality of life and they wanted to attach it. He said yes and in a two hour operation, they were able to attach the lead. They also put him on the B transplant list.
That little wire has made a tremendous difference. He is no longer in his wheelchair and is able to be up and around. The doctors told us that it might only help for a couple of years but his quality of life has improved so much that it was well worth it. He is remaining on the list and will be evaluated ever 3-6 months to see if he starts to go downhill again.
Because he is feeling so well, I haven't been here as often but I still check in now and then. If all of this has taught us anything, it is to perservere. Not every treatment is right for every patient but sometimes a little thing can make a big difference!
Posted on Jan 28, 2005, 7:41 PM from IP address 216.139.126.33