No road trip for me!…

Tomorrow, after talking to a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, if it’s safe for me to continue here with these breathing issues, we’ll decide how to get me there at the end of the month. Right now, I feel like it would be impossible for me to go on a road trip. Won’t I sit in the car for two days for the 750-mile journey?

The answer is yes and no. Sitting in the car will be okay, but I’m most concerned about getting in and out of the car at roadside stops for restroom breaks and walking to and from a hotel, which I’ll face when we get to Cleveland anyway. It’s usually a long walk from the car to the restroom, which would be impossible. I can’t go to the bathroom here in the hotel room without getting out of breath.

I just looked it up, and the hotel at Cleveland Clinic has wheelchair assistance and wheelchairs for guests. You may say, why don’t we get a wheelchair now? However, I don’t plan to go anywhere if possible. Our room is too small to maneuver a wheelchair around. I’ll arrange for a wheelchair at the airport when I fly out, which will take me to my seat since I doubt I can walk down the aisle to my seat.

Fortunately, I can stand quietly in the kitchen and chop and dice ingredients for dinner. Tom takes everything out and back into the refrigerator while I prepare simple meals, some of which I can do while seated at the kitchen table. Plus, Tom does the cooking, which helps a lot.

Here’s a description of difficulty breathing due to valve regurgitation:

Difficulty breathing, or dyspnea, can be a symptom associated with valve regurgitation. Valve regurgitation, also known as valve insufficiency, occurs when one of the heart’s valves does not close properly, causing blood to flow backward instead of moving through the heart and to the rest of the body. This can affect the efficiency of the heart’s function and lead to various symptoms, including:

1. Shortness of breath (dyspnea): Especially during physical activity or when lying flat.
2. Fatigue: Due to reduced oxygenated blood being circulated.
3. Swelling (edema): In the legs, ankles, or abdomen.
4. Palpitations: Irregular heartbeats or a sensation of the heart skipping beats.
5. Chest pain: Though less common, it can occur in severe cases.

I have symptoms #1, #3, and #4. Fortunately, I don’t have chest pain. My heart rate and blood pressure are normal if I stay seated or lying down. As soon as I start moving, they both increase significantly.

The severity of symptoms can vary depending on which valve is affected (mitral, aortic, tricuspid, or pulmonary) and the extent of the regurgitation.

If you’re experiencing difficulty breathing and suspect it might be related to valve regurgitation, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation. They may perform diagnostic tests such as echocardiography, electrocardiograms (EKG), or other imaging studies to assess the function of your heart valves and determine the appropriate treatment plan.

There’s the latest, dear readers. We’ll keep you updated.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 4, 2014: