Just an update: Well I'm back from the cardiologist, I'm off caffeine except for 12 ounces a day which I won't get after Friday. I can vape for 6 months to a year she wants me down to 6mg by 6 months and then to zero and stop vaping by 12 months from now. She applauds vaping as a way to stop smoking but beyond 1 & 1/2 years she says it becomes it's own addiction and she don't want me vaping beyond that. Which really surprised me her giving me that long and only 2 weeks for caffeine. LOL She was really informed about e-cigs and leveling down on the nicotine levels. She told me 6 to zero would be the toughest.
The pericarditis seems to be under control with the medicine I'm on, still no stress, no excitement nothing to get my heart rate up, nothing to cause the sac to get inflamed again. I will follow up with her again in 3 months as long as no problems arise. Then depending on how that echo is she will then proceed with a stress test then. I have to see my primary doctor regularly during this 3 months and he will report to her. My echo and chest x-rays looked good so no damage so far from the pericarditis. Just a bruised heart.
I also have to see another specialist which her and my primary doctor will determine after I see him on Wednesday. The rash which at first we thought was an allergy to the medicine, isn't an allergy but yet another symptom along with a high white blood cell count, certain vitamin deficiencies, and other big words in my tests. So they are starting to believe I may have Lupus or a type of Cancer. This news kinda bruised my spirit.
Give me 48 hours to process all this and form a battle plan and I'll be back to my cheerful self. I keep getting knocked down but I always find my feet somehow, just keep me in your prayers. God has a plan and no matter the outcome I'll get through this with more knowledge and the ability to help others.
