mattsheartjourney

[mattsheartjourney]

Day 7

Made it a week! Well I had a pretty lazy and uneventful day. I was either watching youtube or playing xbox all day. Just trying to do something to take my mind off of the stress of the situation. I will probably have to have my swan ganz catheter swapped out tomorrow. Not looking foward to that. Oh well. Have a great day everyone!

[mattsheartjourney]

Day 6

Had another good day, I had more pvc's than I should have had but nothing to bad. My nurse was kind enough to take my to the hospital patient only garden. It was nice to be outside for a short while. I'm having more anxiety about the situation today but there is noting I can really do about it. I know I have to go on with the transplant surgery but I'm terrified of it and the days to follow. But I also know my days are for sure numbered without the new heart. Almost feel like I'm in a loose loose situation. But I need to stay positive about the whole thing. Have a great day everyone.

[mattsheartjourney]

Day 5

Have had a pretty great day. I was able to go outside today and feel tge sun on my skin and see the trees. It was wonderful. I did have a Vtach episode that wasn't exactly fun. But, that didn't ruin my day. Enjoy your day aswell!

[mattsheartjourney]

Day 4

What a great day! Did absolutely nothing but talk to new people and have fun! Seeing as I will be in ICU for a good while my wife brought the xbox so she hooked it up and thankfully the hospital has great wifi! Now if I could just drag some other ICU patients in here we can have a party! Lol have a great day everyone!

[mattsheartjourney]

Day 3 I had somewhat of a restful sleep which was well needed. I still have small panic attacks every time I think about getting the call asking if I accept my donor heart. It can happen as I am writing this or 2 months from now. Nobody knows when. My fear is that I get the call and get sent to the O.R. for prep and when the heart has passed evaluation I am asked if I want to proceed. At that time I am put under and they begin. Now that's my fear. Being put under and not waking back up. I know I have alot of factors that work in my favor such as my age but it still freaks me out. And I know once I'm out my fear will just move onto the next fear which is rejection. My next thoughts are how humbled and thankful I am to be given the opportunity for heart transplant. Many are denied and I couldn't imagine the feeling they have cross their minds. I know this is going to be as much a emotional-mental journey as a physical one. Off to bed. Thank you for reading.

[mattsheartjourney]

#hearttransplant #livelife #thankfull

[mattsheartjourney]

Beginning of my heart transplant journey

Day 2. I know there isn’t a day one primarily due to me sleeping the entire day away. Well let me start this journey off with you. Today is July 27th 2017. (My anniversary aswell) I have alot of mixed feelings about this, I’m all over the place emotionally. But I figure that’s to be expected. So a little back story. I am 25 years old happily married and up until March of 2017 I was fairly healthy. I started to feel sluggish and weaker than I thought I should. After throwing up everything I ate I went to doctor to be told I have a failing gallbladder. So I had it removed and during my week of recovery I developed a pain in my leg that led us to finding a clot in the right leg and one clot in left thigh. A PE in my left lung. Pneumonia and fluid surrounding my right lung. And severe congestive heart failure. My Ejection Fracture is 8-10% and I am on two forms of basically “liquid heart pump meds” to keep me going until my transplant which leads me to the beginning of my journey.

I got the call yesterday that I am placed on the UNOS 1A heart transplant list after extensive testing and work ups to evaluate my candidacy for the transplant itself. I didn’t get to sleep until 2 A.M. this morning due to emotions and dressing changes on my picc line and swan ganz catheter. P.S. The swan ganz suck sooooo bad. Not really painful but I promise you I can pick up tv stations with the wires and hoses.

But I will say that the hospital I am in has been so good to me and I appreciate everything they do for me. I do miss home for sure. Being from small town Arkansas and having to go to Dallas,Texas for the transplant. But the view is very nice. I find myself day dreaming of being home spending time with my wife and family and I pray I can get back to that soon.

Well thank you for reading the beginning of my daily blog. This will be a long journey for sure and I would love for you to join me.

[mattsheartjourney]

Beginning of my heart transplant journey

Day 2. I know there isn't a day one primarily due to me sleeping the entire day away. Well let me start this journey off with you. Today is July 27th 2017. (My anniversary aswell) I have alot of mixed feelings about this, I'm all over the place emotionally. But I figure that's to be expected. So a little back story. I am 25 years old happily married and up until March of 2017 I was fairly healthy. I started to feel sluggish and weaker than I thought I should. After throwing up everything I ate I went to doctor to be told I have a failing gallbladder. So I had it removed and during my week of recovery I developed a pain in my leg that led us to finding a clot in the right leg and one clot in left thigh. A PE in my left lung. Pneumonia and fluid surrounding my right lung. And severe congestive heart failure. My Ejection Fracture is 8-10% and I am on two forms of basically "liquid heart pump meds" to keep me going until my transplant which leads me to the beginning of my journey. I got the call yesterday that I am placed on the UNOS 1A heart transplant list after extensive testing and work ups to evaluate my candidacy for the transplant itself. I didn't get to sleep until 2 A.M. this morning due to emotions and dressing changes on my picc line and swan ganz catheter. P.S. The swan ganz suck sooooo bad. Not really painful but I promise you I can pick up tv stations with the wires and hoses. But I will say that the hospital I am in has been so good to me and I appreciate everything they do for me. I do miss home for sure. Being from small town Arkansas and having to go to Dallas,Texas for the transplant. But the view is very nice. I find myself day dreaming of being home spending time with my wife and family and I pray I can get back to that soon. Well thank you for reading the beginning of my daily blog. This will be a long journey for sure and I would love for you to join me.