tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285762302024-03-12T16:59:49.673-07:00Pulse of My HeartSince 2006, this has been the source for status updates on Patty's medical condition--from her earlier days with heart failure, to her need for a transplant, to her battles with antibodies, to her recovery and beyond. We are currently writing a book about her experiences. Watch here for news.Brian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.comBlogger602125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-6724250718710241662020-12-18T10:42:00.005-08:002020-12-18T11:00:03.770-08:00Getting ready for the next chapter in our story<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMLhHtOq1zA/X9z2xLDeRzI/AAAAAAAAFyA/qjDaU0h2x0wRD9pUwS7DE8saqEsIwSxHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1440/132006271_10165015441455093_5346134716951188349_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="473" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMLhHtOq1zA/X9z2xLDeRzI/AAAAAAAAFyA/qjDaU0h2x0wRD9pUwS7DE8saqEsIwSxHACLcBGAsYHQ/w473-h473/132006271_10165015441455093_5346134716951188349_o.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hi everyone:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I know most--but not all--people are active on social media, so I just wanted to share that Patty is presently receiving hospice care at home and is expected to stick around for only a couple more days. Of course, knowing Patty, one should never bet on it, and we're still pretty big fans of keeping her with us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, enough is happening around here right now that I can't update multiple platforms, so if you know someone with Facebook, perhaps they can give you a peek at our FB walls so you can catch up (Brian O'Mara-Croft, Patty O'Mara-Croft). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My plan is to provide a full and perhaps final update to this blog once the hospice people are no longer here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you, as always, for your tireless and loving support.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Love, Brian</span></p>Brian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-87282821276404425352020-11-29T09:24:00.005-08:002020-11-29T09:26:48.383-08:00Returning to this blog--an update on Patty<p><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGlpq79QMA4/X8PZDat-zVI/AAAAAAAAFxA/1V4Vlm0TNVgpx5lILulvTII9qQNl4jzpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/patty.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="673" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGlpq79QMA4/X8PZDat-zVI/AAAAAAAAFxA/1V4Vlm0TNVgpx5lILulvTII9qQNl4jzpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w448-h673/patty.png" width="448" /></a></div><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 16px;">As many of you may know from my Facebook posts of the past week, Patty spent Tuesday through Friday at Edward Hospital. The reasons were twofold. First, she had to have a new enteral feeding tube placed, because her existing tube fell out (a problem more common than one might think). She would likely have gone in, anyway, though, because she was severely dehydrated and malnourished because of a recurring inability to keep food down.</span></span></span><div><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: black; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">In the days before Patty went to the hospital, she barely ate at all, because there seemed little point: whatever went down soon flew right back out. As I’ve shared before—but often feel compelled to repeat—there’s no evidence her challenges are a psychological phenomenon; or, to put it another way, she’s not “doing this” to herself. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The reasons remain a mystery to both doctors and to us, although we’ve long believed an autoimmune condition may be a player. I had even convinced local doctors that a specific condition being researched at Mayo Clinic, called autoimmune GI dysmotility (AGID) might be behind her travails; alas, in spite of the docs’ efforts, Mayo opted NOT to see Patty.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">As you might expect, Patty’s blood counts, enzymes and organ function while hospitalized this past week were all haywire. Fortunately, and as expected, these improved steadily over the course of her hospitalization. Even after all these years, I’m amazed at how much and how quickly a bag of saline can improve a person who, before, seemed in dire condition.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">At each stage of this recent struggle we’ve had to deal with a complicating factor, which Patty has given me her blessing to discuss--after all, perhaps her stories may help others. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Through Patty’s two months in hospital last year, and again this past week, Patty developed a temporary but fairly intense form of dementia associated with being institutionalized. Last year, I found it deeply frightening—particularly as I had seen Patty through many hospital stays without any such compromise. This time around, I at least recognized what I was dealing with, although I’ll be honest: it’s no less off-putting. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">In short, Patty drifts into a made-up world where she perceives she’s being kidnaped, moved and/or otherwise mistreated, or visited by people alive or dead who behave in unpredictable and puzzling ways. When corrected with the truth, she often believes I and others are gaslighting her; in fact, this time around, she started reaching out to other people because she no longer trusted me. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">I feel SO bad for Patty when this happens, because, to her, it’s 100% real, upsetting and terrifying. Alas, it’s also dangerous…she fell once at the hospital, and once since she came home, because she forgot she’s unable to walk. Fortunately, she didn’t injure herself in either instance.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The silver lining? The problem starts to resolve itself almost as soon as she leaves the hospital. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Since coming home, Patty has not been doing well, to the point I’m constantly flip-flopping whether or not to return her to the ER. She is adamant about not wanting to go, and my fears about managing her care when she’s mentally compromised (which will certainly amplify if she’s brought back in) certainly factor in. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">As I write this, Patty is experiencing steady but bearable pain in her abdomen where they inserted the tube (she had no such pain in the past, although docs didn’t seem concerned this time). She has pronounced edema, to the point the arches of her feet are filled with fluid and she has no discernable ankle bones; I’m hoping I can resolve this with diuretics, because fluid overload is a real risk to her heart. The feedings are wreaking havoc with Patty’s digestive system—she’s vomited almost as much fluid as I’ve been able to introduce through the tube. She’s been coughing and dealing with chest congestion--which is, needless to say, a bit concerning knowing she recently shared a hospital wing with COVID-19 patients; until I see other evidence, though, I’m going to presume the cough is from reflux, because why jump into a fresh rabbit hole of worry? </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Overall, Patty’s just feeling exhausted and miserable.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">After the weekend, I’ll be in touch with Patty’s GI doc to explore next steps, with the real hope some minor adjustments may help speed her recovery. Otherwise, my guess is I’ll be providing fresh updates from the hospital. </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face="Lato, Trebuchet, Arial, sans-serif" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Thanks to all for your love, prayers, kind thoughts and support. I wish I had sunnier news to report, but c’est la vie—others out there are dealing with far worse-- especially this year. Our biggest objective right now is to make sure we don’t spend consecutive Christmas Days in the hospital. Fingers crossed and knocking on wood!</span></span></div>Brian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-53069129697076474582011-06-09T11:20:00.000-07:002011-06-09T11:20:23.036-07:00Exciting news--a book deal!Hi everyone:<br />
I haven't updated this blog in some time, mostly for the same reasons as before--if Patty's doing well, there's not much to report. I did want to share some exciting news. A publisher is picking up the rights to Patty's story. <em>Pulse of My Heart,</em> the memoir Patty and I have been co-authoring, will be published first as an E-book and then, if it does well, as a trade paperback. More details soon.<br />
<br />
One medical update: Patty will be having her ICD/pacemaker replaced this coming Monday (the battery is running down); she'll spend one night in the hospital.<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-80816677576800066832011-04-21T07:30:00.000-07:002011-04-21T07:30:34.828-07:00Angiogram clearHi everyone:<br />
Patty underwent an angiogram (her latest of many) this past Tuesday. No obstructions or restenoses were found. We're disappointed not to have answers as to why Patty still suffers angina whenever she strains herself, but relieved to learn she's not having problems that could lead to another heart attack.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-7213990703442768432011-04-10T07:25:00.000-07:002011-04-10T07:27:42.105-07:00A possible setback?Hi everyone:<br />
<br />
Over the past several months, Patty's unease has heightened about the gradual reemergence of heart failure symptoms we had happily relegated to the category of distant memories. <br />
<br />
Last year, Patty started noticing angina (heart pain) whenever she exerted herself, most often at work. Her cardiologist questioned whether these pains were, in fact, heart-related; Patty seemed too strong. Still, the discomfort persisted--enough to unsettle Patty, but not enough to command much in the form of intervention. As a layman, I imagined these as twinges related to Patty's heart growing accustomed to the HeartNet placed two summers ago. I always have theories, most of which are pure fiction.<br />
<br />
Over the past month, more old "friends" have started to drop in: weakness in her legs when walking, coughing in her sleep, shortness of breath, nausea and frequent urination. While Patty sleeps, I often rest my head on her chest and listen to her heartbeat; in the past couple of weeks, the pace seems faster than usual, as though Patty had just gone jogging. Still, none of the symptoms was severe enough to justify a trip to the emergency room; she's still functioning at a pretty high level.<br />
<br />
To set Patty's mind at ease, her cardiologist ordered a nuclear stress test--essentially, a test in which the strain on the heart is induced by chemicals rather than physical exertion. Patty did the test. Early last week, her cardiologist's nurse called to tell Patty that although the results did not show any major anomalies in how her heart responded to the strain, they did contain a surprise: Patty's ejection fraction, or EF (a measure of how well the heart functions in pumping blood through the body) had dropped from the past time it was measured, from 38 percent to 21.<br />
<br />
As is so often the case with the medical community, Patty's cardiologist was out of town when the results came in, so we were told to sit tight until the end of the week. Last night, while checking messages on her cell phone, Patty retrieved one from her doctor's nurse. Patty's cardiologist wants to perform an angiogram to get a closer look at Patty's heart. In the past, doctors have shied away from doing more angiograms, because the risk of perforating an artery increases the more often they are performed. The nurse explained that there's some concern she may have a restenosis (a regrowth of arterial tissue around one of the two stents in her heart, or possibly a new blockage). We're hoping this isn't the case, because we had been told, in the past, that another stent may not be an option, and that bypass surgery would be the logical next course.<br />
<br />
Patty is understandably shaken by the prospect of another angiogram, because each time these have been performed in the past, the results have been alarming. In one, the procedure itself caused her to have a second, minor heart attack. We're hoping this one goes off without event.<br />
<br />
Please understand that we're doing a lot of speculating right now based on little concrete information. Patty has to call on Monday to schedule the angiogram. As soon as there's more to share, I will post an update here and on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/brianomaracroft#!/pages/Pulse-of-My-Heart-A-Medical-Love-Story/192571374116359">Facebook page</a> I created to discuss Patty's health issues.<br />
<br />
We have a family road trip to Canada, for my parents' 50th anniversary, planned for next weekend. We're keeping our fingers crossed these new developments won't affect our ability to make the journey. <br />
<br />
Please keep your fingers crossed that we're worrying more than the circumstances deserve.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-14599285394885480932010-07-22T10:26:00.000-07:002010-07-22T10:29:37.167-07:00Encouraging results from HeartNet procedureHi everyone:<br />
<br />
Patty met with Dr. Costanzo yesterday for her routine appointment (at which Patty sold the doc a copy of my book). Patty is doing very well. Dr. Costanzo told us that updated results of the HeartNet study in which Patty participated have been so positive the FDA is encouraging further research. Patty's recovery from the procedure was far from pleasant, but it's nice to hear it may have been worth it.<br />
<br />
Also, Patty's ICD/pacemaker is gradually running out of juice. When she hears the music coming from her chest (really)--most likely within three to nine months--it will need to be replaced.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-22849548901691628832010-06-05T07:46:00.000-07:002010-06-05T07:46:36.295-07:00Some worrisome symptomsHi everyone:<br />
<br />
During a recent routine visit to her cardiologist, Patty shared with her doctor that she'd been experiencing chest pain whenever she was especially active--such as when she climbed stairs at school. Dr. Costanzo was alarmed, and quickly set up a series of tests to investigate. None of the tests could explain Patty's discomfort, so her doctor concluded that whatever Patty was feeling was likely not heart-related. Of course, any such conclusions are a bit confusing--nice to find out there's nothing major jumping out, but a bit worrisome that she's having symptoms for which no explanations are offered. My hope is that Patty's summer break will give her a chance to relax and unwind; her school year was a brute.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-83743196111731580212010-03-22T11:00:00.000-07:002010-03-22T11:14:35.238-07:00Some non-cardiac surgery for a change<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AQYwqDebXXA/S6ezTmE7VEI/AAAAAAAAA5w/WPBkZWMntLc/s1600-h/IMG_2071.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451523023175373890" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AQYwqDebXXA/S6ezTmE7VEI/AAAAAAAAA5w/WPBkZWMntLc/s320/IMG_2071.JPG" /></a>Hi everyone:<br /><div></div><br /><div>Patty had surgery this morning to remove a neuroma from her right foot. For the past two years, it has been a nuisance, and recently has made working on her feet painful. We left the house just after six this morning, and were home by 10:30. As I write this, our patient is in a deep slumber on our sofa, even with the chaos of a full house around her.</div><br /><div></div><div>When Patty was being prepped for surgery, the nurse seemed quite surprised to learn Patty has an ICD/pacemaker. Patty seemed quite surprised that they were surprised, because she had communicated this fact on more than one occasion. At first, we worried the surgery would need to be postponed, which would be frustrating because Patty planned it for her spring break. Apparently, the normal way of doing the surgery involves electrical impulses, which might have caused some problems with Patty's ICD. Doctors opted for a different approach.</div><br /><div></div><div>As unfortunate as it is that Patty had to have yet another medical procedure, we're glad for once that it has nothing to do with her heart.</div><br /><div></div><div><em>Or does it?</em> I have this theory, which I believe I pulled out of my ass, that this neuroma and the numbness she experiences in her hands and arms are all related to whatever unnamed autoimmune condition she has. I can't prove it, of course--and I'm no doctor--but it sounds right to me, so there it is.</div><br /><div></div><div>Love,</div><div>Brian</div>Brian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-51394263743997987722010-02-01T21:15:00.000-08:002010-02-01T21:21:55.019-08:00An encouraging sign?Hi everyone:<br /><br />At long last, we have some results from Patty's latest round of tests (those designed to measure the effectiveness of last summer's HeartNet surgery).<br /><br />Patty's ejection fraction (EF) now measures at between 30 and 35 percent, up from 20-25 percent. Normal is around 55 percent. With heart failure, it's very unlikely Patty will ever be at normal levels, but she seems to be functioning just fine where she's at.<br /><br />We were pleasantly surprised by the increase in EF, because one member of the research team said that the short-term results were not as dramatic as they had expected from the study. So, for once, Patty seems to be an exception to the rule in a <em>positive</em> fashion.<br /><br />All in all, Patty is faring quite well. She has had to battle a few bugs this winter (for example, she missed work today because she was vomiting), but on most days seems no different from anyone who doesn't have heart problems. That's the best sort of news, and we're living it most every day.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com187tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-483056327274952182009-12-10T05:39:00.000-08:002009-12-10T05:43:49.720-08:00My theory (for what it's worth)Hi everyone:<br /><br />Of course, no doctor wants to believe me, but I still think all of Patty's odd and somewhat random symptoms--numbness in right hand, pain in right foot, perhaps even the atherosclerosis in one (and only one) cardiac artery that caused her heart attack--are all related to some undiagnosed autoimmune disorder.<br /><br />Of course, I'm not a doctor, so I don't really have a pot to piss in as far as such diagnoses go. But I'm putting it down, here, just so I seem brilliant if it ever turns out I'm right.<br /><br />By the way, Patty's tests have been rescheduled to mid-January; I'll share any results here whenever we have them.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-25871812993538984212009-12-01T10:43:00.000-08:002009-12-01T10:45:54.631-08:00Results soon?Hi everyone:<br /><br />Patty has a handful of tests coming up over the next week to evaluate how successful the HeartNet device has been in increasing her ejection fraction. Keep your fingers crossed for good news. In the long run, I'm not sure what an improvement will mean, but it will still be nice to hear about a step in the right direction.<br /><br />Patty and Kathleen are going to a <em>Swell Season</em> concert together on Thursday evening. It will be a nice night for the two of them, since they both love the two lead performers, who are also the stars of the film <em>Once.</em><br /><em></em><br />More updates soon...<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-27416752215803654032009-11-17T11:43:00.000-08:002009-11-17T11:48:19.791-08:00HeartNet infoHi everyone:<br /><br />While surfing around today, I found an interesting (albeit dated) article about the HeartNet procedure (Patty had it this past summer), with quotes from people Patty knows well at Edward Hospital. It's <a href="http://www.edward.org/documents/Media%20Coverage/2008/Study%20evaluates%20a%20circle%20of%20netting%20in%20preventing%20heart%20failure.pdf">here.</a><br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-17602152850614242602009-11-16T12:22:00.000-08:002009-11-16T12:34:12.981-08:00Hand numbness and headachesHi everyone:<br /><br />Patty has been experiencing an unusual and disconcerting symptom recently--profound numbness in her hands, particularly in the mornings and more pronounced in her right hand. This, of course, makes teaching art classes, and pottery in particular, rather difficult. We're not at all clear as to what may be causing this, or if it's in any way related to her heart failure. Patty has a couple of big tests coming up in December (to test for any improvement related to the HeartNet) so, if anything awry is happening, perhaps we'll gain insights there. Of course, the symptoms could mean little; they're worrisome, though, because heart patients have much greater-than-average odds of suffering a stroke in their lifetimes (and because Patty seems to be having more frequent headaches).<br /><br />Yesterday, we watched an episode of a PBS series, <em>The Mysterious Human Heart.</em> One of the featured patients was having difficulty finding a donor heart because of high antibodies. Does this sound familiar? The show was fascinating so, if you're interested in getting into the nitty-gritty of heart function, it's well worth a look.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-65554820853344582792009-11-11T11:12:00.001-08:002009-11-11T11:13:22.395-08:00Coasting alongHi everyone:<br /><br />I haven't posted in a little while, so I thought I'd drop in to let you know that Patty has been faring well of late. She's had occasional arrhythmias that I, of course, find more unsettling than she does; otherwise, though, she still seems to be going strong.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-18573916588729127232009-11-02T10:47:00.000-08:002009-11-02T10:50:23.448-08:00Coming up on five yearsHi everyone:<br /><br />Nothing much to report. Patty has had headaches for several days running now, for no reason of which we're aware.<br /><br />Five years ago this week Patty suffered her heart attack. From what I've read, more than 50 percent of those who have a heart attack and then develop heart failure do not survive five years. Patty seems much stronger now than she did two years ago.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-4008560999177780982009-10-21T05:58:00.001-07:002009-10-21T06:10:03.081-07:00And on and on and on...Hi everyone:<br /><br />Patty has really been having a rough go of late with her recovery from the HeartNet surgery. For reasons that puzzle everyone, including her doctors, she's been experiencing a fair amount of pain below her incision site. Her cardiologists have expressed surprise that she's still having discomfort after so long--how soon they forget that Patty seems to be the exception to every rule in the medical world.<br /><br />She's not allowed to take ibuprofen, because it's contraindicated for those with heart failure, and doctors will no longer give her any other pain medication because--I don't know--she's not a grown-up who can make responsible decisions?<br /><br />It's frustrating to watch Patty struggle through the demands of her teaching job while also struggling with pain that is exascerbated by said teaching job. It's also frustrating, for one who loves her, to accept that doctors won't do anything and everything to help her cope with what is, admittedly, a drawn-out recovery. And for what reason?<br /><br />So, with no other options offered, Patty has to go back on steroids for at least a week. I'm doubtful this will work.<br /><br />I'm wishing, more and more, that she'd never had the procedure. I hope we'll look back on all of this in a positive light at some future date but, for now, I'm not happy.<br /><br />Sunnier messages in the future, I hope...<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-9685317435953669642009-10-08T19:16:00.000-07:002009-10-12T01:54:57.673-07:00Some incision site discomfortHi everyone:<br /><br />Patty's incision site from her HeartNet surgery has become quite painful of late. Our best guess is that she aggravated it while dancing rather energetically to "Forever" by Chris Brown the other evening. Hopefully, this is just a minor irritation, and not a lingering issue.<br /><br />Other than this, Patty seems to be doing quite well. We'll find out in December whether or not the HeartNet has affected her ejection fraction.<br /><br />We've had Neil visiting off-and-on over the past couple of weeks. Everyone else in the family is doing well.<br /><br />More soon...<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-833587253202016932009-09-24T08:34:00.000-07:002009-09-24T08:40:22.553-07:00Better than beforeHi everyone:<br /><br />Patty seems to be mostly shedding the last vestiges of flu that had been plaguing her. A nagging cough is hanging on, though, and not wanting to let go.<br /><br />She had a cortisone shot in her right foot two days ago to treat a neuroma; so far, it isn't working. The alternatives involve intentionally damaging the nerve, so we're hoping to avoid that route.<br /><br />All in all, our patient seems to be doing pretty well, although she scared me a little last week when she complained of discomfort across her collar bone. Dr. Costanzo checked Patty out yesterday, and said she was doing great.<br /><br />That's all I have for now. If anything else happens, I'll be sure to let you know.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-19221944531734179282009-09-09T09:26:00.000-07:002009-09-09T09:36:37.851-07:00A rough couple of daysHi everyone:<br /><br />Patty was forced to stay home from work today by what we believe is the flu. She has been battling low-grade fevers, nausea and potent headaches since yesterday evening. A couple of days prior, she experienced some discomfort in her chest similar to the pericarditis symptoms; as this discomfort arose shortly after she finished her course of steroids, I'll be watching her closely. I'm feeling under the weather myself, so we may all be battling a bug of some sort; unfortunately, these bugs tend to take a bigger toll on our patient. I took a photo of Patty this morning that I had hoped to post, but it wouldn't attach properly (given how terrible Patty looks, this is perhaps a blessing.)<br /><br />On a more positive note, our agent continues to shop our book about Patty's story (tentatively titled "Pulse of My Heart".) To date, at least three larger publishers have expressed some interest. Keep your fingers crossed. I, for one, believe it is a compelling, touching and sometimes quite humorous story.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-59386446992072742009-09-01T13:22:00.000-07:002009-09-01T13:29:48.418-07:00A little roughHi everyone:<br /><br />Recently, Patty finished taking her six-week course of steroids. Over the past couple of days, a discomfort similar to the pericarditis-related pain has returned. We're going to keep an eye on it for the next day or so; if it gets any worse, we'll be back in touch with her doctors.<br /><br />Last weekend, PJ moved into the dorms for students of <em>The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.</em> He starts school this Thursday, and is very excited.<br /><br />Other than that, there's little new to report.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-56728590784412586202009-08-26T16:06:00.000-07:002009-08-26T16:13:10.461-07:00Anatomy of a moonface<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AQYwqDebXXA/SpXBgHTifXI/AAAAAAAAAs0/E27r2Iz30CI/s1600-h/moonface.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374414487797529970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 371px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_AQYwqDebXXA/SpXBgHTifXI/AAAAAAAAAs0/E27r2Iz30CI/s400/moonface.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AQYwqDebXXA/SpXBSwnUuLI/AAAAAAAAAss/mcu3fUI971k/s1600-h/moonface.png"></a></div>Brian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-64680463434695642322009-08-14T14:19:00.000-07:002009-08-14T14:41:36.054-07:00Exciting opportunity (hopefully)Hi everyone:<br /><br />I just wanted to share some exciting news that we hope will become even better news in the near future. My literary-agent-slash-hero, Claire, will be representing Patty and I in selling rights to <em>Pulse of My Heart,</em> a memoir Patty and I have been writing about her medical journey.<br /><br />Claire, who sold my book (to be published in May of 2010), thought highly of the seven sample chapters we sent to her yesterday. She described the material as "good (but horrific) reading". She will be sending the material to publishers starting next week. We'll be sure to keep you posted about any developments.<br /><br />Patty has been working like mad to capture as many memories as possible before she heads back to the classroom the week after next. I've also been authoring a few chapters, to lend the book a "he said, she said" perspective. In the process of pulling this together, I think Patty has uncovered in herself a knack for narrative; her storytelling, in my utterly unbiased opinion (yeah, right), makes for a pretty compelling read. What's more, aside from a few snipes at each other in the early going, we've also found we collaborate pretty well.<br /><br />More soon...<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-54743290029390270412009-08-06T14:47:00.000-07:002009-08-06T14:48:50.218-07:00Belated birthday and suchHi everyone:<br /><br />Well, I haven't been writing, which means that little has been happening. Patty celebrated her 48th birthday yesterday. Last night, she was experiencing some wonky arrhythmias, but has otherwise been pretty strong of late. I'll write again when there's more to report.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-73634536209038126752009-07-31T07:57:00.000-07:002009-07-31T07:59:14.168-07:00Just checking inHi everyone:<br /><br />Patty has enjoyed being home the past couple of days, and seems to be doing well. The steroids seem to have alleviated much of the discomfort across her collar bone and back. She's still feeling some discomfort at her surgery site, but otherwise is doing great.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28576230.post-14970628169312309802009-07-29T08:43:00.000-07:002009-07-29T08:45:25.749-07:00Looking good for a Wednesday departureHi everyone:<br /><br />We don't have many new details yet, but we do know with near-certainty that Patty is going home today. If there's anything new to report, I'll pop in and write it later. She's having a pretty decent morning.<br /><br />Love,<br />BrianBrian O'Mara-Crofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17715799240438469155noreply@blogger.com0