What is on your medical calendar for May?

[Rivegauche610]

Sotatercept, I hope.

[Colleen Steele]

@Rivegauche610 I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you, and I hope you will keep us updated!

[Debra Gonzales]

I am scheduled for umbilical hernia repair on May 15th. I was cleared for surgery by my Pulmonologist.

[Colleen Steele]

@Debra Gonzales I remember you mentioning this, and it is good to hear it was cleared. How are you feeling about it? Hopefully, you will feel a lot better after recovery. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers on the 15th! We will be anxious to hear an update when you feel up to it.

[Vicky Olsen]

I am seeing my cardiologist on May 22 after his vacation. I had a cardiac mri early April and my ejection fraction had dropped from 35 to 30. Since then, I went into atrial flutter (on a cruise ship) and had to be cardioverted. I have mild/moderate ph. I am not sure what he will recommend now. He had said before that I may need a mitral valve replacement. I had a mitral valve repair in 2013. I am 71.

Meds: Lasix, Entresto, Dapagliflozin, Lancora, Apixaban, Bisoprolol, Spironolactone

Is there a ph med that could help to increase my ejection fraction? Any recommendations? Thank you. ❤️

[Colleen Steele]

@Vicky Olsen I don’t know if your low ejection fraction is considered heart failure? My son was placed on IV Milrinone which helped him considerably but it was just to keep him stable enough until he received a heart and double-lung transplant. I’m not saying you are this severe but that Milrinone, if your doctor mentions it, did help my son. He was in 8th grade at the time and was able to attend school with both a pump that administered Flolan and a pump that administered Milrinone.

Hopefully other members will jump in with advice. Please keep us updated. My thoughts are with you!

[Vicky Olsen]

Thanks Colleen. Yes I am in heart failure. – And on all the meds for it. I am searching for something more to possibly help me. I will do some research on milrinone and discuss it with my Dr.

[Colleen Steele]

@Vicky Olsen If IV milrinone is considered, please feel free to ask me any questions or concerns you might have. I would be happy to help.

[Terese Tuohey]

Hope all is well with all PH friends, and Happy BD to Jen and Colleen! I have begun my 6-mo medical marathon. Passed my 6MW with 99%! and no bloodwork problems. Still have Cardiologist, hematologist, allergist, opthamologist, and my PCP this month. Not anticipating any difficulties.

[Colleen Steele]

@Terese Tuohey 99%! That’s amazing! It hints at all the positive results you will receive for everything else!

Thank you for the birthday wishes but our b-days are in October! Today I am celebrating 6 years with BioNews! Time flies when you work with good people!

[Terese Tuohey]

Colleen, Any reason is a good reason for a celebration! Enjoy your anniversary date! We’re glad to have you here!

[Colleen Steele]

@Terese Tuohey Thank you so much! 😊

[carol-volckmann]

Wow @Colleen 6 years with BioNews! We are so blessed having your support, your prayers, your love and for sharing your own journey – the ups and downs and everything in-between.<div>

Thank you for your birthday 🎂 wishes. A beautiful, sunny day. Dick always makes it special and fun. And Cloud, always the Clown.

My medical calendar is already filling up. More Dermatology appointments, ultra sounds, bone scan showed osteoporosis is my left hip, labs – all the normal stuff. Aside from all of that, I am feeling a bit stronger and ready for many more birthdays. Eighty one will be a good year!

Thank you again sweet friend. Sending you a warm hug 🤗❤️

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[Colleen Steele]

@carol-volckmann Thank you so much for sharing that adorable picture! Dogs have a way of bringing out our best, most genuine smiles!

When you attend medical appointments do you ever treat yourself to something on the way home? Cullen and I will often stop at Starbucks or stop for lunch if we feel up to it. It’s kind of the adult version of a sticker or a sucker for getting through an appointment. 🤣

[carol-volckmann]

@Colleen I love how you and Cullen would treat yourselves to lunch or Starbucks after Cullen’s appointments – an extra sucker😃. That never occurred to me – I just want to get home!

Medical appointments take so much of my energy (too many spoons). Having to concentrate on all the details, trying remember all the questions I wanted to ask … just want to go home!

Now, you have me thinking 🤔 maybe I need to look into treating myself – ourselves – ice cream 🍦 😋 would be good. Thank you Collen, you are an inspiration! Lots of love ❤️ coming your way.