Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me and offering your support as I have been addressing my current health issues. Your prayers and support have really lifted me up, encouraged me, and been an important part of my healing process. I wanted to provide an update this week with respect to my congestive heart failure and diabetes.
I had my first appointment with my cardiologist last Monday to address my congestive heart failure. He changed the diuretic that my primary care physician had prescribed to another diuretic. This is to reduce the retained fluid on my lungs, which, in time, should improve my energy level and strength. My cardiologist also prescribed a second medication to help my heart function better. I have a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist in a few weeks to see how these new medications are working and to make any needed adjustments. I will say that even in these first several days of taking these new medications, I feel a little better and a little stronger, although I have a long way to go to get back to full energy and strength. I eventually will need to increase my daily exercise. However, my cardiologist instructed me to delay adding additional exercise to my routine until my energy and strength improve. I can maintain a regular schedule as long as I can take breaks and rest whenever I get tired.
For my diabetes, my primary care physician has referred me to a health educator, an RN who provides a series of four classes and individual counseling for people newly diagnosed with diabetes. I am monitoring my blood sugar with a meter multiple times a day, making changes in my diet, and continuing on the medication prescribed by my primary care physician. As noted above, increased exercise will have to await progress on my congestive heart failure.
Again, thank you for your prayers and support during this time – I have really felt it! As I have said before, my own experience has given me a new appreciation for the experience of those of you who have suffered with chronic illness for many years now, and my prayer for you certainly has intensified during this time. As wonderful as my doctors and nurses have been, they are merely human beings doing the best they can with human science, knowledge and skill. Only Jesus is the Great Physician, and it behooves us to trust ultimately in him and his loving will for each of us. So that is my prayer for each of us – that we grow in our faith and trust in Jesus and that he will lead us to the still waters and green pastures that he has promised us.