Bummer
We took Meredith to the cardiologist today for her annual checkup. She had an echo, an EKG (which had to be done twice as both Stephanie and I had left our cell phones on and it messed up the first results), and a chest x-ray.
When the Dr. came into the room I should have known by his demeanor that not all was well in Shanertown. Last time he was so upbeat I would call his behavior ecstatic, this time he was all business.
It turns out the Meredith has a clot in her right atrium. The better news is that if the clot does break free it will end up her lungs which will make her rather sick but will not cause a stoke. The clot means 2 things. First, that we have to figure out what to do about this clot, and second, that we will have to change the level and type of maintenance for her going forward as what we have been doing it obviously not working right.
I must say that I was in shock - I suppose I just assumed that her heart was fixed and we would never have anything but perfect follow up visits. I even snapped at Meredith for whining a little while we were talking to the Dr. He gave me an odd look that did not really register until later when Stephanie scolded me for my snappish behavior. I know this is illogical. For years I have been telling people that Meredith will likely have issues her whole life when they try and minimize her problems and act as if the one surgery was the fix all like a cast on a broken arm. I guess I started buying what I was selling.
Anyway, surgery is not in her future. The Dr. said that they would treat with some regiment of drugs to try and dissolve it, and prevent future clots. What drugs exactly have yet to be determined, the Dr. is still waiting on a call back from 1-800-clots.
Almost as an afterthought, both to the Dr. and yours truly, is the fact that she still has a leaky valve. However, given the relative danger compared to her more immediate problems this topic continues to be pushed to the back burner.
When the Dr. came into the room I should have known by his demeanor that not all was well in Shanertown. Last time he was so upbeat I would call his behavior ecstatic, this time he was all business.
It turns out the Meredith has a clot in her right atrium. The better news is that if the clot does break free it will end up her lungs which will make her rather sick but will not cause a stoke. The clot means 2 things. First, that we have to figure out what to do about this clot, and second, that we will have to change the level and type of maintenance for her going forward as what we have been doing it obviously not working right.
I must say that I was in shock - I suppose I just assumed that her heart was fixed and we would never have anything but perfect follow up visits. I even snapped at Meredith for whining a little while we were talking to the Dr. He gave me an odd look that did not really register until later when Stephanie scolded me for my snappish behavior. I know this is illogical. For years I have been telling people that Meredith will likely have issues her whole life when they try and minimize her problems and act as if the one surgery was the fix all like a cast on a broken arm. I guess I started buying what I was selling.
Anyway, surgery is not in her future. The Dr. said that they would treat with some regiment of drugs to try and dissolve it, and prevent future clots. What drugs exactly have yet to be determined, the Dr. is still waiting on a call back from 1-800-clots.
Almost as an afterthought, both to the Dr. and yours truly, is the fact that she still has a leaky valve. However, given the relative danger compared to her more immediate problems this topic continues to be pushed to the back burner.
posted by Chip @ 2/23/2009 07:16:00 PM
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