It's cardiac, kids.

Some of you have been following my health saga beginning in January of this year. Still not feeling well and not being heard, I made myself an appointment at the Women's Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai for August 5. It was some of the best 6 hours I have ever spent. I had a one-hour consultation with the cardiac nurse practitioner, followed by a 30 minute session with the cardiologist. Then an EKG, lab tests, and chest xray. I go back in about a month for a follow-up and in the mean time will be scheduled for a specialized cardiac MRI and they have referred me to their rheumatologist as they suspect lupus, and after that appointment I will be scheduled for an angiogram to get me on the right meds. Never in my life have I felt so validated! To be listened to by a doctor, to not be told it's in my head or to drink ginger ale - the apparent magic cure-all. I am so glad I went. After my EKG, they came back in the room with big smiles and said... "You are the owner of an abnormal EKG." The happiness was because now the insurance will approve the MRI. So it's a mixed blessing to be sure. But all along I just needed someone to legitimately listen to me. And at least now the plan is to treat before something major happens. The cardiologist wrapped up her time by sheepishly saying they should have an official diagnosis and treatment plan by the end of September as if she was embarrassed for it to take so long. Hello??? At the very minimum I have been dealing with my internist since January of this year. 8 months. I can wait until the end of September thankyouverymuch.

Additionally, it would seem that Aine is presenting with signs of bipolar disorder and to this end she has an appointment with Brendan's neuropsychiatrist at UCLA on Mon 8/30/10 to confirm the diagnosis. Following almost 5 months of days of sleeping 90 minutes and being wide awake and alert the rest of the time, she abruptly starting sleeping 12 hours at night and spending the rest of her day lying in bed not eating and managing to only drink about 8-10oz of rice milk per day. She has bouts of silent crying in her awake hours. There is talk of a brief hospital stay to get IV fluids and meds in her. In retrospect she has had these month long periods a few times in the past two years especially. Because she always has such other pressing health issues, the bipolar issue has not been looked at as a possible explanation. However when looking at the pattern of behavior it needs to be addressed. Additionally, this was about the age was when Brendan was diagnosed with bipolar. However, he rapid cycles, while Aine appears to have a more classic presentation. Once we get a firm diagnosis and she is put on medications I will post an update. Hopefully we can get her more stabilized and get some strength back into her before school starts.

We are awaiting word from UCLA for a date for her BAER (hearing) test with sedation. Her pediatrician tried to go through CHLA and after two weeks of waiting, when I spoke with the scheduler earlier this week, I was told that they don't take anyone above 52 pounds for that test. Guess I missed something in the "Childrens" part of CHLA ;o)