Big word, big function

Big play ground for Uncle Lewy

In full: Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

ANS is the division of the nervous system that operates internal organs, smooth muscles and glands

It regulates a lot of things like heart rate, digestion, respiration, lots of really important things

A large part of the conversations we have had lately with Matt’s neurologist and primary care physician, and now, just this week, cardiologist, is around how this disease can impact, and probably is impacting, his ANS

We have been monitoring his heart rate because it has been both super high and super low since the beginning of the year

Corny was with us once when it was super high

Knowing more about the family medical history, she dialed right in, provided really good insight, made me commit to take him to ER if the numbers went above a certain level

Luckily we haven’t had to do that, but as we move along in this journey, bringing in a cardiologist to make sure there were no issues unrelated to Uncle Lewy to worry about seemed like the thing to do, so our primary care doc sent us that way

Now we are at a point where we need to decide what we want to do about going down the recommended testing path

Matt has always said he doesn’t want his life to be all about doctor visits, I couldn’t agree more, but honestly, between me taking care of me the last month or so and all that goes on with him, we’ve had more than our usual share of white coats!

The 2 tests ordered by the cardiologist aren’t invasive, not uber urgent to schedule, so I think we’ll take those steps in due course and then evaluate what we learn

Quality of life, that is the focus, we have choices

So if its a beautiful day, and Matt’s up for it, enjoying the beautiful day is equally as important as going to a doctor office or getting pricked by a needle for a blood test

As I look out the sunroom windows, see the sun dancing off of the freshly spun spider webs that stretch across the panes of glass outside, I think of the joy that warm sun delivers when it kisses skin

I think we’ll go get us some of that today!

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