2018 --- A Year I will NEVER Forget --- Part II

One of the many roads I traveled in 2018;  This was at Mammoth Cave National Park,  Kentucky in July.

Dear Friends,   Two weeks ago,  I published  Part I of my Journey with A Fib.... IF you missed that post,  please  click HERE to read it first...

Today I'll share more of our 2018 adventures  despite my health problems.  In Part I--I featured   January-June,  so today I'll share a bit from July -December...

The family of Ken Adams at his funeral, July 16, 2018.

In July,  we took two short trips.  The sad one was when we drove to Indiana for the funeral of George's brother, Ken.  Ken had suffered with Cancer for a few years ---and no matter how hard he tried to beat that disease,  he lost his battle on July 9.

The happy July trip was to Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky,   where we spent a couple of awesome days with our good friends,  Neal and Patti.

In August,   George took me on my 76th Birthday Trip to Mount Pisgah along the Blue Ridge Parkway, west of Asheville,  North Carolina.   We stayed at the Pisgah Inn and enjoyed this view from our room.  It was such a wonderful and relaxing  trip!

Our 'big' trip for 2018 was a wonderful journey out west from September 6-17.  We visited  South Dakota,  Montana  and Wyoming.  There are so many highlights that it is hard to narrow it down to one or two... The picture above was taken on our amazing journey across  the Beartooth Mountain between  Red Lodge,  Montana,  and the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Another highlight for me was seeing the Grand Teton National Park.   This picture was taken at the Schwabacher Landing ---as we looked at the mighty TETONS...  I always tell George that THIS is my favorite place in the world  (after our Great Smoky Mountains here in Tennessee)... ha

The only long hike we took on our West Trip was our hike around String Lake in the Grand Tetons.   What started out to be a 'short' hike (so our hiking book said)  turned out to be a LONG hike ---since when we thought we were lost, we back-tracked a couple of times... My A Fib really caused me to struggle on that hike --but with George's wonderful help,  I/we made it back to the car!!!!!  We can laugh about it NOW --but at the time,  I was SCARED that I couldn't make it out of that area!  But ---isn't it gorgeous (when looking at the picture)?????

Soon after getting home from our Western Trip, we made a trip to BILTMORE to see the CHIHULY Exhibit there at NIGHT.... Wow---what a highlight for us!   (We had seen the exhibit during the day when we were there in August --but just HAD to see it at night.  it was SO awesome!)

Here's one more picture showing some of the awesome glass displays at Biltmore.

October  brought our annual Autumn Trip with our friends,  Neal and Patti.  This year,  we spent several days in Maggie Valley,  North Carolina  checking out the Fall colors,  the views,  the food (ha), the Blue Ridge Parkway,  and, best of all---- just having fun together.  One of the highlights of that week was seeing the ELK at Cataloochee.

On October 28,  with my son's encouragement,  George and I went with Mark and Diana to Elkmont in the Smokies and hiked to the AVENT CABIN.   I wasn't sure I could make that hike since it was 4 miles round-trip plus some elevation changes.  BUT--I was willing to try it  and I DID....  I made it and was so proud of myself....

Although I did many short hikes and walks this past year (and did fine),   this  one  and the long hike in the Tetons were the only two that I would even consider hikes more than 2-3 miles...   Since  I did TWO of these hikes in 2018 ---my goal is to do at least FOUR in 2019....  Can I do it????  I hope so.

November was family month ---and I was thrilled to have all 3 sons  together here for Thanksgiving.  It is so seldom when I can manage to get them all together ---so you can imagine how happy I was!!!!

December was our annual trip to OCEAN ISLE BEACH.  Like Pisgah Inn (in August),  this is another trip which we can truly relax and enjoy every minute.   It was wonderful to see the Sunrise from our balcony...

Another big highlight of the year for me was our special trip to Asheville,  North Carolina,  to attend CHRISTMAS at BILTMORE.   What an awesome evening.   This was taken inside the Biltmore Mansion.

Before we toured the big home at BILTMORE,  we walked around the front and captured this photo.

After our tour of the BILTMORE House,  we drove to the Antler Village area which was also all decorated with many lights.   This was the first time we have seen that area at Christmas.   Since there was a little snow on the ground,  it truly felt like Christmas.  What an awesome evening we had...

But---December wasn't over!!!!   On Christmas Day,  we drove to Georgia and had a fantastic dinner with son Jeff and daughter-in-law Dawn,  along with Dawn's parents.   Thanks be to God also for all of our family which we saw off and on ALL year,  not just during the Holidays.

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WELL ---that's my/our year in a nutshell...   As I look back on everything we did ---I am amazed at how little the A Fib affected me most of the time.  BUT---I also know that I still do NOT have the energy or stamina that I used to have.  I have really slowed down --and it has been frustrating not being able to do what I want to do.  As I have mentioned before,  my medications keep me alive but they all do have side effects...

Knowing that I cannot walk these big hills in our area anymore,  we knew that we still needed to find ways of getting  'real' exercise while here at home.   SO ----we bought a fantastic STATIONARY BICYCLE  in December.  We both use the bike  ---and most days we both do 2 --30 minute rides per day... This new purchase is sitting right in our Living Room ---and is very convenient (especially after/during all of the RAIN we have had this winter--which keeps us inside)...

Working on our health is the most important goal for 2019 for both George and me.  Right now,  besides putting a priority on our Biking,  we have changed our eating habits so that hopefully,  we both can lose some of this weight we have gained this past year.  As I talk to others with A Fib,  I know that one of my medications  (a Beta Blocker) does cause weight gain in many...   Getting the 15 pounds off that I've gained since getting A Fib in Feb., 2018 would surely make me feel better.   I'm TRYING!!!! At least,  I do NOT want to continue gaining!!!!  Grrrrrr.....

WELL my Friends,  as I write this,   things may change quickly this week.   I have an appointment with my Cardiologist on Thursday,  and both of us see our regular family doctor on Friday!!!!!  These are our 6-month check-ups.    We'll go to the Lab tomorrow morning for our fasting blood work.   I would appreciate prayers as we go through this week.

I don't know if any of you have A Fib  --or know someone who has it,  but just remember that A Fib is DIFFERENT in each of us.  My A Fib is called  Persistent A Fib ---and I am 'in' A Fib constantly (rather than others who may have occasional episodes)...  Each type is treated differently.  So far,  mine is being treated by 4 different medications...   Be patient with us ---since even though we all may look the same as we did,  most of us have had a HUGE lifestyle change.

Hugs,

Emoticons

2018---- A Year I will NEVER Forget --Part I

Two People in Love enjoying the fireplace  (March 2018)

Holy Cow,   Has it been a year??????   YES --it has!   At this time  in 2018,  I was not in a good place!!!! First, I was in the hospital with a very serious stomach infection (Jan. 30- Feb 1st).    I went home for a few days and then from  Feb. 5-8,  I was back in the hospital where they diagnosed me with Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib).

I had had stomach problems off and on for years --but never any indication of heart problems.  I was shocked to say the least.  There are no heart problems in my family.   You might ask what could have caused this to happen to me,  a relatively healthy and active woman who has never been in the hospital other than surgeries  (Knee, etc.)...

WELL---in a few words,  the experts do NOT know what causes A Fib...  But--there are several possibilities...  For me,   it could have been the stress I was under due to family deaths and illnesses at that time..  Another possibility could be the wicked stomach infection I had right before A Fib.. And  a third possibility could have been my anemia..... The list goes on!!!!  I don't really know what caused my A Fib.

Most everyone these days knows what A Fib is  --but in case you don't,  it is a VERY Rapid Heart Beat. There are four kinds of A Fib.  Some people are out of normal heart rhythm just on occasion --but when they have an 'episode',  their heart rate could be dangerously high.    My A Fib is called  PERSISTENT.   That means that I am NEVER in normal rhythm.  My heart rate is high ALL of the time--even when I'm sleeping.

I spent over six months dealing with different medications,  many of which had terrible side effects.  Losing my ability to be active like I used to be,  plus the side effects from the heart medications  (weight gain,  elevated blood sugar,  weakness,  fatigue,  depression,  etc.)  made for a hard year for me.   I was afraid to do anything really active.   I was allowing the A Fib to totally control me.

But ---as the year progressed,  I continued to press onward....  With George's help and love,  and the love from each of you,  I knew I was going to get better and be able to do some of the things I wanted to do..

Nothing Better than a little Cabin in the Smoky Mountains 

My first little adventure after getting  A Fib was in March.   We spent a couple of nights in this awesome cabin at the Black Bear Resort in Townsend,  TN  to celebrate George's Birthday.  The picture at the top  of the post was taken inside of that cabin where we were enjoying a roaring fire in the fireplace.

Look at that Happy Tree-hugger!!!

Also in March on that same little trip,  I  took my first TINY hike.... It was only about 1/2 a mile  on fairly level ground---but I needed to do it!!!!  I did!! Yeah!

Whitewater Falls,  NC (March, 2018)

After George's Birthday trip,  we took another short trip the end of March.   We went to Cashiers,  NC and stayed at one of our favorite places,  Laurelwood.  While on that little trip we hiked down a bunch of steps to see Whitewater Falls.   What a marvelous waterfall!  I was proud of myself for being able to make it down (and back up) all of those steps....

Biltmore is gorgeous in APRIL.

After I did so well with the little trips in March,  we decided to do another one in April.  We went to Asheville and spent the night.  While there,  we visited Cataloochee --but didn't see any elk like we did in October of 2018.  We also enjoyed seeing all of the flowers in bloom at Biltmore....

Lazy Girl resting in the Smokies!!!

A couple of happenings in May are highlights to me.   Son Mark gave me one of the best  Mother's Days I have had in a long time.   He took George and me to the Smokies in his shiny red jeep.    We rode all over the place  --stopping to take pictures on a beautiful spring day.   THEN ---Mark fixed lunch for us at the Metcalf Bottoms  Picnic area....  YUM...... After eating,  you can see what I did!!!!    Then --on the way home,  Mark stopped again at a neat Ice Cream place.... Another YUM.....  What an awesome day for me...

George, me,  Diana,  Mark --May, 2018

The 2nd event in May was when Mark brought Diana to our home.  This was Diana's first trip to Tennessee  --so we were excited to show her our little corner of the world.  We took them to lunch and then the four of us went hiking at Burgess Falls near Cookeville,  TN.

I scared Mark when my heart rate shot up to 180 on that hike... Actually it scared me too ---but the heart rate came back down QUICKLY.   I was more careful for the remainder of that hike.  That was my first hike where there was an elevation change...    Oh the joys of having A Fib!!!!

A gorgeous day along the Blue Ridge Parkway  (June 2018)

We took another short trip in June to celebrate our Anniversary...   Anytime George asks me where I want to go in June,  my answer always is  "the Blue Ridge Parkway"...  It's cooler up there ---and this year, the weather was perfect since it truly was  'clear as a bell'!!!!!!!   This picture was taken at the Craggy Pinnacle.    We thought about hiking to the top of the mountain at the Pinnacle (which we have done many times) ---but I decided that I wasn't ready to do that yet!

On a Clear Day,  You can See Forever!!!

I'm not sure we have been along the Blue Ridge Parkway when it was this clear, until this trip.    This is a Panorama I took.   Isn't it gorgeous?

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AND ---what I have showed you today wasn't everything...  A couple of special Day Trips we took were to see my Great Granddaughter,  Vivian Lee,  in May,   AND we took our annual trip to Fall  Creek Falls in April....  Then there were several visits from and with FAMILY and FRIENDS.  When I write all of this down,   I'm impressed as to how busy we stayed!!!!!  That is a good thing!

YES ---A Fib is a 'bitch' for sure.... But--as you can tell,  I didn't allow it to stop me...  There were days that I couldn't walk from one room to another because of being out-of-breath....  I had to learn how to go to sleep without allowing a pounding heart to keep me awake...  I can't tell you how many different medications  I tried before finding some I could live with.... ALL medications have side effects --and these heart meds are powerful.  BUT--they are keeping me alive and helping me get through another year.

I'll share Part II next week  (July- Dec) and talk more about this crazy A Fib!!!!!  I'm sure that many people don't realize what I've been through (or others who have A Fib)  since I try to stay positive and haven't talked much about  A Fib...  I try not to complain  ---and IF I can ever help someone with A Fib,  I would tell them NOT to give up, and to remain positive even when times are rough...  This post is proof that one can keep moving and can learn to live with A Fib!!!!

Hope you have a great week, my Friends,  and thanks again for being here for me during that very hard year!!!!

Hugs,

Emoticons

HEALTH UPDATE

Dear  Friends,   I thought it was time to give you an update as to my crazy health situation…   The good news is that even though it is a slow process,   I am gradually improving…. NONE of my problems are life-threatening  —and there are days when I feel really good and days when I don’t….I have learned to stay positive and keep putting one foot in front of the other…  I am determined not to let this get me down!!!!  It’s all about ATTITUDE at this time…

Most of you have read about my situation in a couple of previous posts…  But in order to refresh your memory,  I have had a couple of back-to-back problems which put me in the hospital TWO times… The first problem is a Stomach Issue  —which we are still working on.  The other problem is  a diagnosis of  A-Fib —which we are also still working on… 

Taking a REST at a strange-looking tree --on our hike to Cataract Falls on March 8

The A-Fib situation actually (the more serious of the two) is farther along in improvement than the stomach issue.   My Cardiologist  and I have been working out a good balance for me —so that my heart rate is not too high and not too low…. The best news is that my resting heart rate has dropped from about 73 to 57…..   AND—I’m able to do some exercise/hiking/walking now (even though I’m still slow and don’t have much energy)…  We took a mile hike on March 8 and then another mile hike on March 14….   That’s a good start….  

With those heart medications  (I am on FOUR —3 for my heart rate and blood pressure and 1 as a blood thinner),   there are always side effects….   Some of the side effects I am dealing with are  weakness and shortness-of-breath (mostly when rising from a sitting or lying position),  lack of energy, sensitivity to light,  and swelling of ankles/legs.  Like most prescription drugs,  we have to ‘pick our poison’….  I can live with some side effects  if the meds help my problem….. With heart issues,  it’s all about the correct dosages..  I have changed dosages at least 3 times since the A-Fib started on Feb. 5.

Hubby said I was a Movie Star --with the extra sunglasses on my head;   SO--I gave him that Smarty Pants look!!!!!!! ha ha  (taken on March 14)

The doctor and I have talked about cardioversion and ablation in order to ‘shock’ the heart into rhythm.   IF the meds don’t work,  we will consider that.  BUT—I need to be patient and see if we can get the correct medication to work first…  AND—since I’ve only been dealing with this problem for 5-6 weeks, we are not ready for anything drastic yet.  Besides,  for the most part,  these meds are working for me  (IF I can put up with the side effects). 

The Stomach Issue situation is a ‘work-in-progress’ also…  My symptoms are numerous.  Some are:  a queasy, nausea type feeling;  burping; very full feeling even after a few bites;  bloating; stomach pain; etc.)  Some days I have no problems or pain, and other days I do….????  Frustrating since it’s hard to pinpoint even when I write down everything I eat (or can’t eat)…   There’s no rhyme or reason for any of this…. CRAZY!!!!!  Leave it up to me to make things hard!!!!!! ha  

Taken a few years ago,    I want this YOUNG KID back!!!!!! (Gonna try hard to find her!)

My primary care physician has been working with me on this issue.  He’s the one who helped me with my sleep issue several months ago, by giving me Trazadone.  Recently,  I have had an endoscopy and a Barium Swallow test.   The Barium Swallow test showed a problem where my esophagus enters my stomach.   SO—I am being referred to a GASTROENTEROLOGIST  —with my first appointment this morning!!!!!!   Hopefully,  someday/somehow  the ‘experts’ can figure this thing out…  

You’d think I’d be losing TONS of weight through all of this —but with all of the bloating and swelling and since the doctors all say to eat what I can and not what  I would normally eat if I were watching my weight,  the weight loss isn’t happening now.     By the way—some of my favorite foods now are peanut butter and crackers… That’s not exactly food for one watching her weight… ha ha ….   Oh Well—I just want to GET WELL, so I eat and drink to stay as healthy as possible through this.

What do you think has caused all of this to a person who was healthy a year ago—taking NO PRESCRIPTION meds????????   I will probably never know but I do think that STESS and SLEEP ISSUES I had in 2017 started it all.   I had had some minor stomach issues off and on  for years —but  nothing like the past few months…But  heart issues????? NEVER….  I truly think the A-Fib was caused by all of this other stuff….   BUT—who knows?   

The key for me is to try to stay POSITIVE and keep on pushing myself forward one step at a time… It would be so easy to give up and sit on my butt….   BUT—I’m not going to do that!!!!!   I WILL get well —but just need to remember that it won’t come over-night….  My goal:  Stay positive and find my PEACE.

Hugs,

Betsy

IMPROVEMENT is the Best Way to Describe it!!!!!!

Dear Blog Friends,   It has been two weeks since I posted.    Since that time,   I've had a really rough journey!!!!!!   Thanks for your thoughts, emails, texts,  messenger notes, and prayers for me....

Bottom Line for me:  Ten Days (Jan 30-Feb. 8, 2018) which included TWO separate illnesses/diseases and TWO different hospitalizations;   I am home now (came home on the 8th)  and beginning to feel some better with each passing day!

On Jan. 30th  I headed to the hospital  doubling over in extreme pain,  and was diagnosed with a terrible Stomach Bacterial Infection  (called  SCLEROSING MESENTERITIS)  Then on Feb 5  I was back in the hospital, with a very very rapid heart rate,  and was diagnosed with A-Fib  (ATRIAL FiBRILLATION)....    Over the two visits,  I was in the hospital for a total of 6 days/7 nights.

You probably have as many questions as I do... Why? How could these two things happen so close together?   Are they connected?   ETC ETC ETC.....  My answer:  I have no idea... I do know that I have had stomach problems  and sleep problems  for a long time --but nothing as painful as what put me in the hospital the first time recently... I always have to be careful what I eat, how much, etc...   BUT ----?????

About the A-Fib  (rapid heart rate),   I have no idea what could have caused it...  I have never had any heart problems at all and even no high blood pressure.... BUT-- I do know (and most of you do also) that I have had a lot of stress on my through 2017. Stress can cause all kinds of problems --even to a healthy person like I thought I was!!!!!    I also read that A-Fib can begin from infections (which is what I had with my stomach)...  AND---I also am ANEMIC --so that can cause A-Fib....  That's about all of the possible answers I can come up with now....

I have a detailed/by day record of my life during those 10+ days  IF you are interested in reading more....   You'll have to email me (betsyadams@mac.com) or  message me (if you have Messenger) if you want a copy....  Some people might be interested in reading more and others may not.... Not a problem at all for me!!!!!!   I do know that I have to live with the A-Fib FOREVER now  --and be very careful to get the correct dosages, just for me, (of my 3 medications I came home with).    If any of you suffer from A-Fib,  I'd love to hear from you since this is all SO NEW to me.

I'm not anywhere near 100% now ---and probably won't be a month from now.  I will just keep on  trying to move forward and get well....  I'm not sure how much energy I have to answer your posts anytime soon --but I do try to at least read them.  In the meantime,   keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

My WORD right now is IMPROVEMENT!!!!!!

AND --thanks to my George who is the best nurse in the entire world!!!  Bless his heart.

Hugs,

Emoticons