Question for tracey

I am constantly amazed by your attitude. Like me, you evidently get palpitations and racing heart and I assume yours is from Afib. Wrong assumption? But you seem to have it so under control. How did you get from where I am, a wreck, to where you are. Hope you have an answer or advice.

3 Comments

Light Bulb

by Grateful Heart - 2013-03-08 10:03:08

I knew I liked you TraceyE...now I know why. :)

Grateful Heart

Optimism 101

by Tracey_E - 2013-03-08 10:03:38

Aw, thank you!

I get racing, but it’s just random tachy, not afib. My primary problem is av block, the atria will take off faster than the pm can pace the ventricles.

Physically, I got where I am because my cardio, his NP and St Judes rep are an amazing team and they go above and beyond to make sure I feel as good as I can. I used to take that for granted and assumed everyone had the same care until I found here! I had no idea how extraordinary they are.

Yes, I do more or less have things under control at the moment. Things aren’t perfect, but I don’t dwell on it and tend to focus on the positive. Things haven’t always been under control. It took over a year to find a beta blocker and dosage that worked for me. I’ve spent months at a time working with my St Judes rep to get my settings right. They’ll be good for a few years then things change and we’re back to tweaking. It’s been sort of a fluid thing over the years, but I feel good more than I don’t.

How did I get here? The biggest thing is faith. I believe God has a plan for me, challenges he gives me are his way of making me stronger.

A lot of it is gene pool and how I was raised. I come from a long line of mellow optimists, it takes a lot to get any of us riled up, see above. WWJD is not just a phrase around my house.

Some of it is therapy :) I was treated for depression. I’ve been ok for years now, but at the first sign it’s coming back, I don’t hesitate to get help and nip it in the bud. It’s a disease, ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.

I exercise like crazy, endorphin rushes are so addictive and I have so much more energy when I’m in shape. I’ve also noticed that the more I exercise and eat well, the less likely depression is to rear its ugly head.

I do a lot of volunteer work. There’s nothing like helping others, esp someone who has much worse problems than we do, to put things in perspective.

Really, though, one thing above all others put things in perspective for me years ago. About the same time I got my first pm, my husband’s secretary was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and a friend of a friend with breast cancer. All of us were mid 20’s. Sheila passed away less than a year later, leaving two sons and a devastated husband behind. Amy survived but not before going through chemo hell and eventually a bone marrow transplant. Me? I got a little battery to help my heart, was sore for a bit then I kept going. I have had bumps in the road, but even my worst day never came close to anything either of them dealt with. I am fortunate.

If you ever want to chat, I’m around. This is a journey and we don’t all get there overnight. Step one? You are not a wreck, you are facing a challenge. I used to have a boss who wouldn’t allow the word "problem" in the office, he said there are no problems, only challenges. I thought that was kinda cool, subtle difference in words but a big difference in mindset.

Quote to live by!

by Pandysbuddy - 2013-03-10 03:03:35

I heard the same thing often from my employer 29 years ago and it has stuck with me all these years. It has always helped me.
Thanks for sharing the great attitude TraceyE,
Carol

You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

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