A Work In Progress Of The Heart. February 13,  2017  4:28pm EST

My journey with my heart being restricted came as a surprise.  I thought I was relatively healthy.  I was eating healthy portions, exercising, had some stress from work.  But, not anything I considered serious.  I went for my annual physical, I was coughing with some congestion and my chest xray revealed some cloudiness.  The doctor, thought I  was developing  Pneumonia.  I took medicine for several weeks returned for xrays and it did not clear up.  It was actually fluid. I took more test, they found inflamation, they thought it was from my gallbladder.  Next, I had Gallbladder surgery.  While in the hospital recovering from that surgery,, I develop severe edema.  After, being released the swelling continued over the next 4 months.  I gain over 40lbs of fluid, I could barely breath, I became malnourished because I was so filled with fluid, I did not want to eat.  I was literally drowning.  The doctors did not know what was causing the edema.  I saw several doctors, I was told my condition was difficult and no one knew what to do.  I changed primary care physician and doctors.  One night, I became worst, I could barely breath or walk because of the fluid.  I went to the emergency room on December 24, 2015,  I was admitted and I was not released until February 8 2016.  During that time test after test was done.  The doctors thought I was going to need a heart transplant. But, after my heart catherization, it revealed my heart was constricted and my surgery was done successfully.   During that time, the edema in my legs was so bad they begin to leak and I needed wound care. For the next  6 months, during my healing, it was critical, my protein, was low, I needed to eat.  I had to drink Hi Protein Boost to get some nutrition for my body to really start to heal.  Finally, my body started responding, the fluid starting really shedding off.  My weight went from 240lb to 170lb., healthier.. Its been painful, emotional, uncertain, prayerful, hopeful and healtnier. I am still healing, it is taking longer than I could every had anticipated. A year later and in physical therapy.  My goal is to regain all of my strength and be healthier.  This is my new lifestyle filled with appreciation and gratefulness, for my healthier life.