Hello

[Maureen]

Hi...I seem to suffer from technical difficulties on this site..I can't post anywhere. The web page just bogs down and then freezes, and so I have to restart Safari. I still use a modem.

I was going to give my feedback to the new BBS and website, but couldn't....again, I seem to have problems, so it could just be me, but the main site doesn't seem to load fully.

An update on me. I don't know if I said it before, but I have been diagnosed with Autism, and sitll have severe derpession. I was put on meds for the depression, and apparently I had congenital heart problems and the meds caused them to worsen....so I spent a lot of time in the emergency room and came close to dying several times and had a mild heart attack it would seem. I am not to drive anymore as I can go into cadiac arrest at any time...so I am looking forward to a realistic treatment or surgery. I am still in college, though the heart problems caused me to have to take an incomplete on my classes which I am making up now. I like to sleep a lot now and can't move about well at times due to weakness. But I am still in honors with my grades and on the deans list and all, so hopefully I will do fine in school next simester, assuming I can drive. I have also gotten a house but have been slow to move in as I can't do much...I was wearing a heart monitor for more than two months, and it would go off and people would freak...I just thought it was funny, which they found even odder. heh It went off mainly due to a fast heartrate, called a wide complex tackicardia or something. So I have had a fun summer so far...three emergency room visits in four days and emergency room visits on their own. Yay. Ambulance rides are always fun.

[Crazy Pavarotti Man]

Sh*t Jen, that's no fun. Did they say if the heart condition had anything to do with you being a vegan? (I've read that due to lack of animal proteins, certain major muscles like the heart can be weakened)

That really sucks on everything though. I've done the heart monitor thing before, and even just for a couple of days it's annoying as all heck, but I can't imagine having to wear it for months :( I hope things work out better for you. It is good to hear you're still pursuing your education (and doing well at it) though. Thanks for dropping in and letting us know how you're doing (even if it was mostly bad news).

[Maureen]

No..not diet related..I have had it since childhood....took my pulse as a child in gym class and it did the same things..tried to tell people and they laughted at me...I got that a lot growing up. I was not a vegiterian as a child, and even now I eat fish. It is nerves..I have nerves that misfire and cause the irregular heart beat...so I can possibly wear a pace maker that will both monitor and when needed correct the heart, or I can have surgery and they will put a lazer up through the artery in my leg and zap the nerves that are causing the misfires. They are trying to determine what, if anything, needs to be done...It could be that I just need several months to get the old medication out of me. But the fact I had this as a child makes me think that at some point it will need treatment. If I don't post again, it will be due to the computer problems I am having here...but I will try to see if I can load other threads, since I managed to load this one and post to it. Perhaps it is a problem with the ammount of data being sent...dunno.

Forgot to add...I am on heart meds now too...I have been on them for a month or so now, and I think they are helping.

[Crazy Pavarotti Man]

Which heart meds? I went through *2* angiograms (cardiac catherizations) for them to finally determine I had a lowered ejection fraction. They upped my Enalapril to 5 mg (I was previously on 2.5mg) to help strengthen the heart (I'm also on Atenolol/Toprol for hypertension).

Either way, don't hesitate to get it taken care of. Either option is much better than just trying to live with it and hope for the best.

[Maureen]

I am on Metoprolol (tartrate) 25mg for the heart. I was taking Rispiridol for the autism, but that is what is believed aggrivated my heart. I am still on Lexapro for depression...the cardiologist at first ewanted me off everything, but when I tried to get off Lexapro it caused me to become severly depressed and suicidal...so I snooped around on the net and found out that you are not supposed to mess with the dose without strict medical supervision because of the suicidal tendancies that result. :/ I was then told by the electro-cardiologist that he didn't think Lexparo was causing any problems, so I am still on it.

I am hoping that either my heart gets better on it's own or I have some sort of treatment to fix it, even surgery...if I go walking even I get very tired and can feel like mollasses. I used to be able to go to the state parks and walk some 11-17 miles on a whim. Now I can hardly walk around the block. :/

[Crazy Pavarotti Man]

Speaking of birthdays, forgot to wish you a happy belated, Jen. Hope it was pleasant, despite the circumstances.

[auric]

It seems I have really fallen behind lately. Sorry for replying to this so late.

That is bad news Jen. I hope that the treatment works out for you, without having to undergo heart surgery. :(

Belatedly all the best to you!

[trina]

Thanks for the update, Jen, and please keep us informed, if your computer lets you to! All best wishes to you and I hope your doctors take good care of you! As said in the other thread, happy belated birthday!