It’s been a day with a lot of emotion. I don’t want to get TOO in the weeds but I feel like if I’m vague people will only assumed the absolute worst, and I do not want that! We received an expert read on my cardiac MRI and the leading contender for underlying issue that caused my arrhythmia incident is something called Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (similar to ARVD). This is definitely NOT a final diagnosis at this point so trying not to get too ahead of things; there is more testing to do and opinions to get. I was initially pretty sad (okay understatement) but processing it and realizing a) it could still end up being something else, or b) maybe it will be that, but my case is mild (to my understanding) on MRI and they confirmed I have totally normal cardiac function (hence no symptoms until the race effort triggered the arrhythmia).
I was starting to write “if it is that, then XYZ” but really I need to stay in the moment now and NOT try to keep extrapolating if/thens and planning too far ahead (you know I love planning but — with a lot of uncertainty it makes sense to stay short term!).
The big question: is my Hobonichi for 2025 cursed and do I need a new one 🙂 ? (Kidding . . . sort of?).
Anyway! Cath rhythm study (they put a catheter into the heart and try to induce arrhythmias to find the generating areas which could potentially be ablated) in the morning then very much hoping I can continue this journey outpatient!! Fingers crossed.
ALSO the kids surprised me tonight (!) which was delightful and the best part of the day. Such delicious hugs and they seemed more at ease is that is really good.
38 Comments
Praying you get some answers and get released so you can turn the page on this…. Pun intended. Keep it in the moment. Mindless TV. Hang in there.
Still can’t believe this is all happening, but praying for the best possible outcome… and I know that whatever happens, you’ll make the best of it and you will be okay! 💕
Thinking of you Sarah and hoping for the best possible outcome. 💛
It’s hard not to get “too” into the weeds when it’s been a day with a lot of weeding! A new Hobonichi is definitely called for.
But seriously…I am sending prayers and good thoughts your way <3
I was holding off to find something brilliant to say – but instead I’ll keep it short, sweet and truthful.
I’ve been thinking of you, I hope you’re well, thanks for sharing your feels – sad and positive.
I read / hear from you so often it feels like we’re friends.
Plus – I think of you when I eat graham crackers!
I’ll be sending prayers and good vibes your way!
Same! (except I never eat graham crackers – but I think of you at other random times anyway)
Aww! I think of Sarah when I eat graham crackers, too! With a 16mo kiddo I find that’s fairly frequently these days. 🙂
Sending continual healing thoughts and still just so grateful help was close at hand!
Thinking of you and wishing you so much the best. Wanted to also say – I had a similar (but not identical) thing happen to me during a half marathon, and I saw SO many cardiologists, but the most helpful was someone who sees athletes professionally as a cardiologist (I even am less of a runner than you are). There are very unique things to athlete hearts and it was really helpful to see a specialist, who gave me totally different recs from the others. I don’t live near you but can share the names of those I know if helpful. Please feel free to ignore this I am sure you are in the absolute best hands and wishing you the best, I just wanted to share my experience.
Thank you for keeping us posted. Been thinking of you loads.
Thinking of you and wishing you answers and options in the upcoming days!
Wishing you the best. I was hospitalized in November for a PE/heart strain and my daughters are around your kids age. They were very tentative the first visit (I was just a few hours post thrombectomy, on bed rest). It didn’t take long for them to get back to “normal”. Take care of yourself.
Oh, Sarah. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. What a roller coaster. I think you’re wise to try to not travel the road of conjecture (if X, then Y, but if Z, then A…) and instead stay present with what you know.
Hang in there. Hopefully soon you’ll have some answers and can begin to formulate a plan from there. Rooting for a diagnosis that indicates a long and heart-healthy life, one that hopefully also includes more running.
Hugs.
Oh Sarah, just read your past few days update today. You are so brave to keep writing the post daily inspite of what you’re going thru and that you and your family must be so worried all this time.
Praying that the diagnosis is not too serious and that you have a full recovery soon. Luv ya.. do take care of your self first.
Oh man, going down the rabbit holes is the worst, so probably good to try and not think too far ahead… but thank you for sharing a possible diagnosis or at least that they’re trying to get to the bottom of it. You’re taking this with a lot of patience and grace!
I’m sure whatever is swirling around in your brain is a lot messier and scarier than what you put in the post, and the fact that you could write about it all in a way that conveys calm is pretty incredible. And I don’t say that to put a heavy weight of expectation on you, I’m just trying express how impressed I am with words, which feels hard. I hope the procedure tomorrow provides the best possible information for moving forward in the short and long term.
So glad you got to see the kids too. That must have been amazing.
I hope you get some certainty soon and that you pass through this time as easily as possible.
Hope you get to go home soon !
Wishing you good health.
Thanks for sharing the update sarah as you know we are thinking about you and afraid to ask too much. It’s good to know the cause of it which could guide treatment and life style changes going forward. I would be going to the rabbit hole with this and can’t avoid making plans, so I admire you can refrain doing that. Good thing is that you are getting the help and got it early on. You are amazing to transmit calm with your writing, so inspiring sarah.
Thinking of you today and sending lots of positive thoughts your way.
I hope they give you all the good drugs today, everything goes smoothly, your cath feels like time travel, AND that they figure out what’s wrong and fix it. And if all else fails you can be a super hot amazing Pilates girlie.
100% this, including the last bit. You will come through this!
If all else fails, you can publish a short story about a haunted planner ;). Sending wishes for the best case scenario today, whatever that might be.
Being a medical professional probably makes being a patient very strange. You have so much information, it would be hard not to extrapolate. Well, I hope all goes well today and your journey to recovery is smooth.
good luck today with the procedure. sounds like you are in very capable hands down there.
Seems like things are moving along well, given the circumstances. No need to make plans until you get all test results!
When you talked about your 2025 Hobonichi being cursed, I thought about how A broke her finger in January and we were like “Well, you got all the bad stuff of the year out of the way early on!” Yes, I think maybe you SHOULD get a new planner!!!
Sending hugs- I hope you can go home soon!
I hope the Cath procedure goes well today. You’ve been on my mind and I’ve had to hold off on texting you so as not to bother you. That podcast that one of your readers shared about ARD was a really good listen. But that might be too much information for you to process right now and her diagnosis may be quite different from yours. You’ve been through a traumatic experience so there’s a lot of feelings and emotions to process, and it’s hard not to go down the rabbit hole of extrapolating what a potential diagnosis means. I’m sending you lots of love from Minnesota!!
Thinking of you and hoping you get home soon! I’m so sorry you’re going through this but glad it seems to be something that will at least have some answers. Also so glad you got to see the kids, I’m sure that was awesome. Hang in there.
Checking back to say hope the procedure goes smoothly today and they are able to give a definitive diagnosis! You can do this!
(And also yes to ordering a new planner. You deserve it after going through all of this.)
Hoping the procedure goes well today and that you get to go home soon. I’ve been thinking about you as you’ve been going through this, and just reiterating how difficult it is to stay in the moment and manage uncertainty. If you’re still looking for tv recs, I’ve been enjoying The Crown (late to the party for sure on this one) and Taskmaster a funny British reality show starring stand up comedians. A new planner seems like a good idea–it’s hard to be reminded of how different the plan was on a daily basis when something big and hard changes. Sending love to you and your family.
Very glad you got to see the kiddos. What a balm. Hoping that your procedure goes well today and you get to head home.
Sending hugs and well wishes. The uncertainty is so so so hard. Hang in there.
Very random suggestion but in a time of major stress, the song Next Right Thing from Frozen 2 was helpful. It helped me feel sad feelings (sometimes belting it out) but also try to focus on the near-term vs. going down what-ifs. Sending you love.
Glad there is some progress towards a diagnosis, although I can only imagine all the emotions and how hard it is not to go down rabbit holes. Hope the Cath procedure goes well, and you get to go home soon. Yay for kiddie cuddles to brighten your day. We’re all thinking of you.
Thinking of you and hoping the procedure is super easy today and lots of helpful answers and next steps are provided. And that you get to go HOME!
This whole ordeal has been so scary! I’m so glad you were able to get to care so quickly, and am so sorry that you are dealing with this. I wish you some peace and recovery, whatever that may look like going forward.
Praying for you and your family in Connecticut! So grateful you are getting such good medical care!
Thinking of you and wishing you the absolute best outcome. And try to enjoy (haha) being the one being taken care of rather than the one doing the caretaking. It’s probably doubly hard for you as both a doctor and a mom!
We hope things go well. God is on your side.
Well, I think in these circumstances you can order whatever you like from hobonichi. Some treats and even a little distraction. Really sorry this is happening. It sounds tough.