Another long one...

Isn't it interesting how you can feel so right about something so you start heading that way and planning things out. Then you're blindsided with something else so completely opposite and different than you ever thought you'd face.

But you can look back at all those signs and plans and see how they can be intertwined and still lead you to where you are? I am so eternally grateful for promptings and our trust in those.

On Tuesday Fez and I went in for my TEE procedure. I got all checked in and the nurse talked me through what was going to happen and started me on an IV. She had to poke me 5 times before they got it to work... FIVE! I tried really hard to be brave and not get upset at her. I could tell she felt bad that she couldn't get the vein. I guess that's what happens when they tell you not to eat or drink anything. Surprisingly I only had slight bruising on my left arm and that's it.

They wheeled me into the procedure room and started to set me up. I had to bite down on a mouth brace to protect my mouth from the tube. I started to feel weird and see a little hazy and knew the anesthesia was working. Next thing I knew I was trying to open my eyes and I was back in the room I had started in. I had a drink in my hand and thought it was water but it was apple juice! Yum! I looked down and saw a blanket on me and thought "Oh this is a nice blanket. How nice to put it on me."

(Apparently I had asked for both the apple juice and blanket, but don't remember doing either of those things. So weird!)

Once I started feeling more with it I got dressed and we left for home. Fez said the doctor showed him the recording of my heart so he could see the leaflet flap. He explained that it is showing severe mitral valve regurgitation so I'll have to have surgery to fix it. The more we talked about things the more questions I had and the more frustrated I got that we didn't have better answers and better direction.

How likely will it be repaired vs. replaced?

When should we look for surgeons?

Where should we look?

When should this surgery be? Weeks? Months?
Would it be open heart or minimally invasive?

My follow up appointment isn't until November 30th and I couldn't wait that long. I called my doctor but had to leave a message. My sweet mom had come down to spend the day with us. It was nice to have her there as well as we voiced our concerns and she either agreed or helped be the voice of reason. The night before I was having a hard time with everything so Fez gave me a blessing. I'm grateful for that because I think that's what helped me get through Tuesday. At this point I had to wait. I had to be patient. I had to have trust and faith.

The next day at work was crazy! It was nice to keep my mind off things a little but it never really goes away. My mom got the name of a doctor in Salt Lake that my grandpa and uncle both saw with heart problems so I called to make an appointment and get a second opinion. I had to get a referral from my doctor first so later that day I talked with my doctor. I was so excited/relieved that I could talk to him sooner than in 3 weeks! He said he knew this other doctor and he would send my referral over. Surgery isn't an emergency but sooner is better as my heart has not enlarged yet. He also sounded much more optimistic about the possibility of getting it repaired vs. replaced, but ultimately it would be up to the surgeon. He said while the doctors in Utah are good at this surgery (70-80% repair success rate) the Mayo Clinic is great at this surgery (90% repair success rate). The only bad thing is the Mayo Clinic is in Minnesota. (What?!?!)

So now we are on the quest to find a surgeon or two to see what they think. Talking with insurance to see who/what/where is covered. Ya know, all that fun stuff. :) I'm going to try and update this blog with other things besides just this news. Not much happens in our lives but I'd like to try and get back in the blog groove and talk about other things too. :)

I do just want to say a big fat THANK YOU to everyone for the calls, texts, messages, thoughts, and prayers in my and Fez's behalf. We are so greatly blessed to be surrounded by such love and support. That's usually what makes me cry more than anything. I don't know how we got so lucky.