I feel like I have spent my summer dealing with health issues, but I have to step back and remember that I also completed my certification in Interior Design, finished my continuing education for real estate, took a fantastic trip with my husband, and had fun with family and friends. Teachers return to school in a week, and although I am never ready, once I get in class, I am always glad to be there and to catch up with the kids.

As far as the heart issues, I am doing fine. I began on the new medicine about 17 days ago. The doctor and pharmacist had warned me about the headaches, so I was prepared. The pharmacist explained that the meds were enlarging the arteries around my heart, but they also enlarge the arteries in my brain, so that causes the headaches until my body adjusts. She said a lot of patients give up before their bodies have had a chance to adjust; I was determined to not give up too soon. That being said, about the middle of the first week, I told Gary that if I didn’t feel better at the end of two weeks, I would discontinue the medication and take my chances. I felt terrible. I was tired, achy, and grouchy. I had no energy at all. If that continued, and I could not enjoy life and do the things that are important to me, the medicine was just not worth it.

While I still don’t feel perfect, I feel much better. The medicine is extended release, and causes my blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day. It will be pretty normal when I wake up, but then mid-afternoon it gets low, which makes me tired. Some days I just need to sleep. It isn’t me saying, “Gosh, I’m tired. I wish I could take a nap,” but then going on with my day. It is me saying, “I have to go to sleep right now!” And then I sleep an hour or two. Thankfully, this is not every day. When I am ready for bed, my blood pressure is a bit high. I am trying not to be obsessive about checking it, but I am trying to figure out how I feel when it is at certain levels (and obsessing a little!).

I am still working to build back up my running, but have mostly been walking. I usually love summer heat, but the medicine has made being in the heat and humidity difficult. I try to get out, but when I feel my chest tightening or my breathing becoming more difficult, I slow down. I want to work hard and continue to exercise, but I don’t want to be dumb about it.

I see my cardiologist again in September, which will hopefully be a quick check-in, and all will be good. If you haven’t made an appointment for your Cardiac CT Calcium Scan, do it. Hopefully you will be like my niece and have a score of ZERO! That means she has no build-up at all, which is fantastic.

I thought I would include some photos of my “why”. These, along with so many other family members and friends, mean everything to me. I want to stay healthy and active to that I can support them in their endeavors! We also have kids and grandkids on both coasts, but I don’t have recent photos to share. Gary and I dearly love all 19 of them!