Emotional. Well, shit. Want to talk about an emotional rollercoaster or harsh terminology. Remember in the previous post the surgery that just had to work? Surprise, surprise..that too was unsuccessful.
After laying on an operating table, wide awake, with no pain medication, feeling every burning sensation to my heart (& there was an immense amount of areas that required it), covered in wires to where no skin was exposed, tubes in both of my groins, my neck, my arms, only to reveal that 12 hours later my heart was still showing an excess amount of arrhythmias. But, I canât really say it became an emotional rollercoaster to me because I became so good at suppressing emotion.
Down time was nonexistent in my life between the girls & family, work, all that life includes, and the crazy life of being a cheer mom; so, what was happening to my heart became a periodic reminder, a reminder that was only thought of on the days I actually had appointments to where I had to discuss the typical doctor questions of âHow are you feelingâ or âany new symptomsâ. Symptoms, whatâs that? “Sorry doc, but Iâm not very symptomatic so can I go?” That statement became robotic to me.
Now let me clarify, I understood entirely my diagnosis of Stage 3/4 Congestive Heart failure, ARVC, Dilated cardiomyopathy, PVCâs, SVT, NSVT. I understood the severity of each of those and the mere fact that each of those could cause cardiac arrest and sudden death. What I was too naĂŻve to understand was life would eventually change.
Disappointment became routine; therefore, logically to me I just lowered my expectations to avoid disappointment. Instead it allowed for me to remain lax and carefree with my diagnosis without having emotion towards it. Sure disappointment happened after every appointment, but that disappointment only lasted for an hour at the max and I was back to my routine of life. The one thing I have became certain of was that I wouldnât go through another surgery like the one I had just went through.
Little did I realize that this was only the beginning of a vicious cycle. A vicious cycle that was now my reality, my everyday life of living with heart disease. I became a pro at avoiding the conversation of my heart condition with those that were aware of it because the terms âRestâ, âGet betterâ, âHow are youâ, âDonât overdue itâ went from terms of endearment to terms that I started to resent. I was going to live my best life, regardless of the restrictions that I would soon face and that was hard for others to comprehend just as it was difficult for me to discuss my condition. It took me a very, very long time to not envy the fact that I would suffer from life changing events in the future; however, the day Sierra was diagnosed with the same gene on top of Prolonged QT Syndrome (silent cardiac killer) and she nearly broke in tears listening to the cardiologist. It was then, that I realized in order for Sierra to maintain optimism I had to remain calm and continue to be her role model because in reality sheâs been mine for so long. Iâve been envying something thatâs not going to change and it was time to fully accept it. In order to do that I had to acknowledge and speak of my condition when others showed concern.
Little did I realize that the surgery I had envied so much was going to be occurring again, along with more invasive, riskier surgeries in the very near future….
I really like this post! Keep up the great work!
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Love having your support, so much! Thank you for always being an inspiration to me â¤ď¸
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You will help many with your writings of your feelings and challenges as you so eloquently navigate through your journey! Blight on Jess!
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The kindness is so appreciated. I truly hope to touch many people with my story, or at least help them move forward with a struggle theyâve faced themselves.
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THIS!!! This is what I’ve been talking about. Release the build up of crap you’ve stored so long inside you that’s eating you up and allow yourself to be vulnerable. You know you have so my that have your back. I’m here for the long haul girlfriend, good, bad, ugly and all the crazy in between. Love you loads!!
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Thanks for everything, such a long journey but looking back itâs been nothing shy of learning curves and knowledge. So many emotions to sort through and so much learning that has been done! Xoxo
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I just love you so much. Thatâs really all I can say, reading your blogs leave me speechless.
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Then Iâm doing something right, having you love me and leaving you speechless đ
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