Last week, on November 20th 2024, I had a procedure called cardiac ablation. During this procedure, a catheter is run to your heart. The purpose is to burn off the electrical impulses causing an arrhythmia. So, my heart was quite literally on fire. I told Jon it was on fire for him. 
I was told 14 years ago that I should have this procedure done, and for 14 years, I avoided it. I proved back in October of this year that I am not the ideal patient, to say the least. I am like a car with the check engine light on. I still drive okay. So, why bother looking under the hood? I consulted multiple doctors and my family, and together, we decided to finally get that tune-up I needed.
To say I was scared is like saying the sky is big. The terror running through me was turned up to a ten out of ten. Even though I was petrified, I knew it needed to be done. After nearly 4 and a half hours, the procedure was successful. We believe it has stopped my heart arrhythmia. We won’t know for certain until after some time has gone by and they do not return. Still, I came out of the procedure with a ton of chest and back pain. The pain was far too great to brush it off. I communicated that I was experiencing pain. The doctor and nurses ran a few tests. It showed I had a ton of inflammation and a trace amount of fluid around my heart. Apparently, all that poking made my body react because it was a longer procedure than usual. This got me a ticket to the penthouse suite in telemetry for the night. I remember specifically asking for the ocean view, but the garden view had to do.
The following day, the doctor ordered a cardiac ultrasound to see if the inflammation and fluid had improved. Thankfully, my pain had gone almost entirely away. I took that as a good sign, and it was. The echo showed the inflammation was better, but it picked up on something else. More tests were ordered. After they were completed, I was diagnosed with a big, long-name inferior vena cava thrombosis. Basically, it’s a blood clot right in my heart. 
So, I am calling it Bob the Blob. Bob is preventing me from having my scheduled hysterectomy next week. The original plan was to fix my heart. Then, they would take out the parts that are causing bleeding. They would also remove the “inconclusive pelvic mass” that was discovered. This was an effort to stabilize my blood pressure and cure my severe anemia. It also aimed to let my body start the healing process. I was not looking forward to another surgery. Yet, I was really excited to feel like my old, energetic self again.
While Bob the Blob is hanging out rent-free, the other surgery has to be pushed back. Right now, I am looking at the end of January. However, I need to build up strength with lots of rest. (Again, with the resting, I am running out of patience as a patient.) I am also taking blood thinners to evict good old Bob from his cozy little studio apartment.
Still, in the midst of all of this, there is some good. I had God watching over me because it is not routine to have tests after cardiac ablation. It was only because I had pain that they admitted me. My GP expressed relief, saying, “Thank God they found the clot.” If they hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had a chance on the OR table next week. I am thankful and grateful. I have a team of five amazing doctors. They are all working together to fix this broken body. I am also extremely thankful that my MS, despite all the stress, has decided to cut me a break. It is not acting up. MS is like an unruly toddler. I think it’s happy watching videos on an Ipad and sucking on a lollipop at the moment. 
So when I get frustrated that I can only drive if really needed, locally, and only if there is no one else to take me, I will be grateful. When I can not lift, push, or pull more than 10 pounds until further notice, I will be thankful. When I spend my days thinking of creative ways to get tasks done without upsetting Bob, I will be happy. Because I am here today to continue to tell my story, to watch the rain, to smell the wet leaves. I am here looking ahead to the triplet’s 24th birthday next week. Instead of being on that OR table, I am here to enjoy the holidays with my amazing family. 
Even though my body keeps trying to quit, I am too stubborn. I plan on being around at least 58 years more. I have a lot to say, so stay tuned.
My Blessed Crazy Life 
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