Here I am again after a year and 1 month.
I have had a year of ups and downs but the good news is I have only had the 1 trip to the hospital with chest pain as opposed to 4 or 5 in the previous years. This was put down to a chest infection and or stress in March last year. My angina has definitely improved.
In March my wife Cathy was diagnosed with breast cancer and has had a year of surgery chemo and radiotherapy. She has been brilliant and has been back at work since January on phased return. She has built up to a 4 day week. I was able to help her in her days after a 7 hour operation and can only put my strength down to EECP.
I still have some bad days but these do not last as long as before. I had a bad spell in August but this was helped by a new angina drug Ranexa. I take 500mg twice a day. I was having some bad pain last week and asked could the dose be increased but was told there is a problem with funding for this drug.
My blood pressure has been giving some concern to the doctors but I think if I can get back to some light exercise this will help. It is a bit of a catch 22 situation as although this will help my heart blood pressure and Diabetes it also can bring on a spell of angina.
Although it has been a terrible and trying year for Cathy and myself I can report good things for anybody wanting EECP.
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John, I know it has been a rough year for you and Cathy, but I must say you both have made it through wonderfully. I'm glad part of that year involved you popping up in the Sanctuary! Here's hoping the funding issues for Ranexa works out, and that the coming year will be a good one!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelly. I forgot to mention all my new friends on the Sanctuary heart forum. I spend al lot of mt time checking the boards and it has been an interesting and enlightening year. A huge thank you to all the members. Kelly your blog has really inspired me and I hope you continue with all your writing.
ReplyDeleteJohn your blog helped me to decide to try EECP myself, so a big thank you for that. I have definitely had some benefits myself from the treatment, but perhaps not so much as you. If the funding was more readily available I would certainly consider another phaze of treatment.
ReplyDeleteIts been a tough year for you and Cathy, but you are both positive proactive people and I am so glad that things have worked out well for both of you. Its been a pleasure to get to know you.
Lynne