Out from under the knife! 11/5/2009

Hey guys it's Nick again,

Jana has just now been returned to her room. She is groggy and demanding painkillers, but still able to crack a smile (see pictures). She is taking a nap now but will be happy to read more facebook updates and notifications this afternoon so keep them coming! Thanks to all of you sending her messages, it really makes her happy... (For those of you not sending her messages it was probably your fault she's in this mess so it's time to make ammends and send her a message on here, last I checked they were free...)

The nurse said she did a great job during the procedure and everything went just fine. Jana's favorite person from the hospital so far was the nurse that was with her during the procedure, nurse Lynne. She was awesome. She held her hand and scratched her nose when it was itchy... It all really kept her calm.

The Doctors will be coming by shortly and hopefully they can tell us when Jana can go home (we hope it's tomorrow). Stay tuned!

This piece of medical equipment replaces bad dreams with turkey sandwiches.

Still smiling after she was introduced to Sparky.




Just pretending... that looks really scary!



Aren't moms the best?


Derek Morrelli Jana, you are one Kick Ass girl!! keep up the good work!! im very glad that you have Sparky around now, "just in case" :)

November 5, 2009 at 12:31pm · Aradia ofSeattle This girl is ridiculously full of sunshine. I mean, look! It's pouring right outta her ass! ;-)

November 5, 2009 at 12:37pm · Kitty Muller well don't you look adorable even in the hospital. yep moms are the best.. and you got a special one too. hey nick you are pretty alright too. =) hope you get to go home soon jana. love ya.

November 5, 2009 at 12:48pm · Melissa Owens Reasoner Thanks for the update Nick. I agree with Aradia (see post above)...Jana you are full of sunshine! Hope to see you, Nick, and Sparky soon ;) Love you guys!

November 5, 2009 at 1:11pm · Daniel Fletcher Glad everything went ok! Looking forward to seeing your smiling face up and about!

November 5, 2009 at 1:59pm · Melissa Cadena Morrelli Jana, you are my role model....so glad everything went well...wishing you a quick recovery. Go Fight Win!

November 5, 2009 at 2:37pm · Rachel Mohr Frugé Nick- I am so pleased for you both!

November 5, 2009 at 4:18pm · Jillian Nicholson McJannet Good work Jana! I can't wait to introduce Sparky to HH (minus the pepperoni pizza!) XOXOXOXO

November 5, 2009 at 4:57pm · Mandy Morrelli Young Great job Jana!! So happy you had your favorite nurse with you, that makes a difference! You have been so positive through this all and I'm so happy you to be through this scary part. We think about you every day and are sending you positive thoughts!!

November 5, 2009 at 5:39pm · Katie Kwast Stoneman recover quick!

November 5, 2009 at 6:12pm · Patty Morrelli Tapney What a great attitude! Hope you go home soon!

November 5, 2009 at 6:46pm · Jonathan Hawkes We're thinking of you Jana...

November 5, 2009 at 7:15pm · Kelley Dees Atkinson So happy it went well! We ate thinking of you!

November 5, 2009 at 7:32pm · Kelley Dees Atkinson We "are" thinking of you!

November 5, 2009 at 7:32pm · Thomas Miller Painkillers? Dude, they should give out morphine in these types of situations.

November 6, 2009 at 7:17am · Michael Morrelli Jana (& Nick): We are thinking about you. You sound like you are doing great! I know your pain. Recovery will take a bit, but you will get there. Keep looking ahead to tomorrow.

November 6, 2009 at 8:16am · Michelle Gonzalez McMullen Hang in there Janabanana! We are all pulling for you. How long till you are back in the kitchen making cookies? Esteban told me to tell you he misses you.

Jana's Benefit Concert-11/4/2009

Hey guys it's Nick,

A few of my friends play in a band called The Shining Skulls. They've been kind enough to hold a benefit concert for Jana this Friday at The Blue Moon (I-5 & 45th St.) for those of you here in Seattle. Sadly, I doubt Jana will be well enough to attend. I will probably be there before 9 and the band is supposed to go on stage at 10.

For those of you that dont' know, The Shining Skulls are an indie rock band. I think they're really good and I'm a snob about stuff like that, and Jana really likes them too.

Thanks in advance for coming, it will be great to see you all out there. Here is the link to the event:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190345833202

Please forward this to anyone that might be interested.

Here we go....11/4/2009

Hi Guys,

Ok, so I talked to the docs and they have decided they want to put a difibulator in me tomorrow morning.

Normally, with my condition, they would wait 3 months or so to see my heart heals on it's own. But since I'd had those irregular heart rhythms (Ventricular Tachycardia for all you medical people out there), I'm at at risk for my heart stopping, so they want to do it now.

I'll share the Q&A I had with the docs: (in no particular order)

Q. What does this thing look like?
A. It's about the size of a pager (Wow, could I be any more 90's here? Who has a pager anymore? How dorky.)

Q.Where it is placed?
A. It will go under my skin on my chest (I think on my left side) and will have a wire that runs from the defibulator to my heart. Three little wires go inside the bigger wire and they are put into various spots in my heart. They will stay there to monitor the rhythms in my heart and if the heart rate gets too high (200 beats per minute+) or my heart stops, it would shock it back.

Q. What is the recovery time?
A. Since this is a pretty minor surgery, recovery isn't bad. If the docs want to discharge me the next day they can (but they may not because they are still tinkering with my meds). I will get some lovely painkillers for a few days and I will have to wear my arm in a sling for a day after surgery. For the month after surgery I am not supposed to do anything super agressive like pushups (I figure why start now!), or lifting a lot of weight. By I am supposed to do activities of daily living (ADLs in the house!) and not treat myself like a baby. So the gravy train of "Honey, can you carry my feather boa?" is over. Rats.
Oh, and I can drive in about a week.

Q. Can I do normal things with it in?
A. Yes, there isn't much at all I can't do with it in. Those few items I can't do include get an MRI, use a CB Radio or a Jackhammer. I'm not concerned. The things I CAN do include work, drive, excercise, have a baby, live normally, etc.

Q. Will I twitch and drool around microwaves?
A. Luckily no, they fixed that problem in the 80's.

Q. Will this thing need to be replaced?
A. Yes, the battery will need to be replaced, but not for at least 10 years (take that iPhone users!). In about 20 years I may need a new wire put in. That's a little harder, but is probably still outpatient surgery. The other variable is how quickly medical technologiy is advancing these days. Who knows what genius little devices they may have in 20 years. Now, the insurance nerds reading this will be groaning about the cost of such medical advancements, but I've changed my postion on that. ; ) I'm pro expensive R&D nowadays. : )

Q. What is my life going to look like in 1, 5, 20, or 50 years?
A. What is YOUR life going to look like in 1,5,20, or 50 years? You don't know? Me either. : ) My answer 2 months ago wouldn"t have been any more accurate than my answer today. So no prognosticating.

Q. If I get a shock, how bad will it be?
A. It will be a pretty big deal. Some people barely feel them, but for most it feels like you got a big electric shock. The shock wouldn't transfer from person to person, so no one has to worry about hugging or touching me. I would be very sad if everyone gave up hugging me. : ) The good news is I may never even have a shock, it could just be "in case" my whole life.

Q. If my heart gets better, can they take this thing out?
A. Probably not. It is possible if my heart completely and totally recovered in a few months, they may consider taking it out, but it would not be normal. However my case is not normal to begin with. After about 10 months, the heart grows around the wire and it would not be a good idea to take it out. So I'm likely stuck with this thing.

So that's the gist. If I find out tonight what time I go into surgery, I'll let you all know. I'll take any prayers, thoughts, well wishes, and good vibes you want to send this way!!

Love you all!
Jana
PS:
I think I should name this defibulator...I'm open to suggestions, please submit your fav. Nick's vote is Sparky. I'm a fan.


Jillian McJannet
I vote for Sparky too! Thanks for the update!
November 4 at 7:14pm

Kitty Muller
oh yeah.. sparky would be my choice too. =)
November 4 at 7:30pm

Mandy Morrelli Young
Sending you all my positive thoughts, vibes, and prayers. This is good news, and "Sparky" is cute!
November 4 at 8:01pm

Kimberly Underwood
We are praying for you!!
November 5 at 6:02am

Dana Seals
Sparky or Lightnin' :-) Prayers prayers prayers!
November 5 at 7:08am

Melissa Morrelli
"Sparky" is great...We all love you and are thinking of you here in Tulare. GO JANA!
November 5 at 7:53am

Derek Morrelli
Damn, Nick ALWAYS comes up with all the good ideas!
November 5 at 8:45am

Derek Morrelli
so in addition to the things to avoid, what about metal detectors at airports and stuff?
November 5 at 12:33pm

Jana Farrill Morrelli
She will have to avoid them and she will get a special card... She may get suspicious looks because usually the people that have those cards are over 70. She thought she was done with fake ID's years ago!
November 5 at 12:58pm

Kelley Dees Atkinson
What an awesome update it is exactly the kind of not really my business but I still want to know medical info I would want! You totally saved me a webmd trip!
November 5 at 7:39pm

Irregular heart rhythms- 11/4/2009

Hi Guys,

So I just had my electrocardiogram (an ultrasound of my heart) and I'm waiting for the docs to review it. They came to talk to me earlier and it sounds like a defibulator is very likely for me.

I've had irregular heartbeats twice in the last 2 days. The first one was Monday while I was taking a nap. I was actually having a nightmare that a nurse was drawing blood (acutally it was the goofy guy from 17 Again and Reno 911, but I digress) and I started to choke on blood, but I couldn't get the nurses' attention even thought I was clawing at his arm. Then I woke up and was pretty freaked out. I called the nurse (who was not the guy from 17 Again) and told her, and they said I had just had an irregular heartbeat. And I had one yesterday that I didn't feel.

The danger of these heartbeats is that your heart is freaking out and they can cause you to pass out and they can be fatal. So they're a big deal.

A defibulator is a small device (I'm not 100% sure of the size, but I think it's about the size of a deck of cards) that goes under my skin on my left side of my chest, right above my heart. It feeds little wires into my heart and if my heart were to stop, it would shock it back. Kind of like a safety net. The cool thing is it sounds like there is new hybrid defibulator that also somewhat acts as a pacemaker (I know, could I sound ANY older?) that would try to outpace my heart if it started beating irregularly, so it could possbily get the beat back on track before any problem occured (like I passed out). So it sounds pretty good. Plus I really feel like having something like that may help me live a more normal life. Otherwise I'm afraid I could feel like I'm always walking on eggshells, afraid to do anything strenous at all.

So the deciding factor if I get the defibulator or not is if my ejection fraction (how hard my heart is pumping) is lower than 35%. (It was 18% last time they checked). If it's over 35%, they may wait awhile and reasses. If I do need it they may do the procedure tomorrow, and they still may let me go home Friday or so. I guess it's a pretty minor surgery.

So I'll let you all know what the docs say...I'm not scared or anything. Frankly, I think I might be more scared if they decide not to give me the defibulator. So fingers crossed for a defibulator! : )

Love you all!
Jana


Kelly Morrelli
It's true about redheads! Nick's just jealous. ;)

Jenny Lavik
At the brokerage firm I worked for a few years ago down here in the Big D they had 2 (what they called) "Defibulators" for the producers that would get so stressed out, scream a lot and carry on so they could shock them back to life in the event of a heart attack. Sad, but true!

Jana Farrill Morrelli
Jenny, HAHAHA! Do you mean those little red boxes on the wall that shock people? That is hilarious/awful!

Jenny Lavik
Unfortunately, yes, that is exactly what I mean! I think they had some portable ones too!

Kelly Morrelli
(Whoops...that comment was for the other note. I'm so not facebook pro.)

Can you use a defibulator like a tazer gun? You'll always have protection against preditors and rabid animals.

You have such a great sense of humor Jana...love you and thinking of you!

Jillian McJannet
Hey Beatiful Lady! Thanks for the update, Stacey and I have been sharing them with the team. I keep saying I'm going to stop by then something comes up....I'm really going to try after work today!! Miss you and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers! XOXOX J

Jana Farrill Morrelli
Kelly, Ha! I don't think I can use the difibulator like a taser (rats) but I did just read that I shouldn't operatate a CB radio or jackhammer if I have one. So there goes any career goals of a truck driver or a contruction worker I may have had!
Jillian- no worries, I'm sure you're busy doing MY work, so no complaints!! Come by anytime if you have a chance!

Luis Cheng-Guajardo
Jana, you know you live on the west coast when even the defibulators come in a hybrid model.

Just thought I'd share that little joke. Keep us posted and we'll keep you in our thoughts.

Tammy Chriss
i need to get the CB radio and jackhammer out of my truck next time you come to visit *smiles* glad to know that they found the problem, so they can resolve it and you can get on with your life without worries and feelin good as new again!

Travis Rubelee
Well at least they have figured something out. No magnetic nametags for you now! I'm glad that you're going to be ok! We're pulling for you!

Dictated but not read - 11/3/2009

Hey everybody, Nick is typing today because I have drops in my eyes. They are looking into the vision wierdness I've been having (a.k.a. partial blindness, stars, etc.). They have dialated my eyes so I've been getting and giving weird looks. They're coming back soon to do another evaluation but it looks like I have textbook occular migranes which are not dangerous at all.

I took my first walk today around the floor. It has gone fine and I'm not too exhausted although I was ready to sit back down at the end. We did lap an old lady that was hooked up to a lot of equipment. I felt good, but then guilty for feeling good about that. During the walk I wore Nick's longhorn pajamma pants (you may have seen these if you've been at our house on any Saturday in the fall). Nick says they have healing powers and the doctors agree because they've already made two positive comments about them. If I'm able to walk three times a day the Docs may take me off the Heperin (medicine for blood clots).

Interesting fact: As I was getting blood drawn this morning it was hurting a little bit. As they did the saline flush I also had a metallic taste in my mouth. The nurse said that this is unusual but is much more common in people with fair skin, blue eyes, and red hair! The nurse was also a redhead. Studies have shown that people with my complexion are more sensitive to pain and less sensitive to pain killers and the like. (Scribe's note: The scribe thinks this is BS, but also an opportunity for more pain killers).

On the agenda today is:

1. Another chat with the docs

2. 2 more walks (considering breaking into a sprint, thoughts?)

3. Shower, Hot dog! (not the food, the term of excitement)

4. Visitors, yay!

I think I will get started on my busy to do list...

Love you all,

Dictated but not read,

Jana Morrelli


Jillian McJannet
Hey girl - I'll be by after work today!

Meghann Chapman
Redheads bleed a lot more after labor (my midwife with my last pregnancy told me this after I explained my hemorrhaging after the 1st 2 labors!) ..OK, maybe that was TMI but always keep that in mind later on! :)... though I think I have a high pain tolerance... after all the pokes you've been getting, I am sure you're tired of this! Get well, Jana!

Michelle Gonzalez McMullen
Jana that only goes for natural redheads..... How is Bobo handling all of this? Any plans to smuggle him in for a visit?

Melissa Owens Reasoner
Ocular migraines are no fun and seem scary but are not dangerous thank goodness! Totally digging the Longhorn pajamas!

Adam Loudermilk
Jana! So sorry to hear about all this! But it is good to hear that you're in good spirits and things are getting progressively better. Hope you're back up and runnin again soon!
-a
PS I'd have faith in the longhorn pj's too (and this coming from an ex-Aggie! yipes!)

Mandy Morrelli Young
Hey Jana! Glad things are going well, I hope the ocular migraines aren't too painful... they sound painful. Redheads ARE less sensitive to pain medication and have "weird reactions" to anesthesia. A RN told me that just last week!

Kathy Malvern
Wow. Red heads are freaky! ;)

Jennifer Nicoles Porter
I get the occational occular migraine - they don't hurt, but it's like looking at one of the mystical dangers as seen on an original Star Trek.

Chuck Ramanujam
Jana. Drugs are good! Don't fight it! It sounds like things are slowly getting better! Glad to hear it. Tell nick his longhorns better not lose a game, or else Oregon might pass them for a shot at the national title!!

Joy White
Love you Jana!!! stay strong!!!! you are hilarious no matter what.

11/2 Update-11/2/2009

Hi Guys,

So I just spoke to the doctors for the morning and they are even more sure this is was caused by a virus, not anything else. There are a few things that could have happend- either the virus settled on my heart, or when my body was fighting the virus, the immune system itself damaged my heart.

They are still hopeful I can make a full recovery. I will have a heart ultrasound in 3 months or so to see if my heart has shrunk at all, and they may actually do one before I leave to see if they can see any change.

I haven't been feeling too perky today- I've had a headache, a little blindness in my left eye (they're sending up a nerologist or a opthmologist to look at me, but they think it's just occular migranes- not dangerous), and I'm just feeling more tired today. Not sure I pushed it too hard with the shower last night or what. So I think I won't do too much today, just chill out. But I still don't feel horrible at all, I certainly don't feel like I have heart failure.

You know, I've been really feeling like there are two stories here... the way I feel and what is actually happening. Until today, I've felt almost 100% (when I'm sitting or laying down). I'm happy, joking, in very good spirits. And then their is the story that I hear from the doctors that I have an incredibly serious condition and there are all these scary possibilities. Luckily, as they say, I'm 27 and my body is doing a terrific job of recovering, fighting, and maintaining everything else while I heal. But I can't help but feel like this is some weird dream.

Anyway, lunch is here, so I think I'll have a bite and take a nap...I'll check in later!
Love you all!
Jana


Hannah Sales
I feel the same way! I just can't imagine my energetic lively Jana so down... They're right it is serious but you have all the positives workin for you right now so keep faith in that!! Love you girl!!!

Maggie Parry Salvino
Hey Sunshine...keep the faith girlfriend! You do have youth on your side and that is huge! We sure miss your smiling face at the office. :) Rest up, and keep your eyes open for any nice, eligible doctors you can introduce your friend Maggie to! :)

11/1 Update- 11/1/2009

Hi Guys!

Drumroll please.....I'm out of ICU!! They just moved me to Room 5210 at UW Medical Center. The room is certainly less dramatic looking (no huge machines standing by in case I try to kick the bucket). And I have the supreme luxury of a shower! There was no shower in the other room, because they wouldn't let me off the heart monitors long enough to take one. Plus, until today I don't really think I could have managed to take a shower without fainting anyway. Washing one's hair is hard!

I continue to get more good news...the doctor I spoke to this morning said something no one has told straight up until now. About 1/3 of the people that have my condition (acute cardomyopathy or damage to the heart due to something like a virus) will be able to make a full recovery and have their heart actaully get better. I will have to take meds for a very long time, but I may actually be able to get off those too (maybe). The other 1/3 of people are able to live a pretty normal life with meds, but they will stay on those meds forever and thier heart isn't acutally healed, it's just responding well to the meds. The other 1/3 don't respond to the meds and their heart continues to struggle. Those are the folks that need to talk about transplant right away. My docs are hopeful I'm in the first category....score!! (well, no score yet, but I'm at the 10 yard line- that's a shout of for Nick as I continue to TRY to learn more about football).

One of the other things I've been trying to figure out is what will happen in the long range (10 years +). So far, the docs aren't willing to tell me much, but I asked point blank today that even if I respond well to meds and my heart makes a full recovery, is there a chance for a relapse and possibly transplant down the road and he said absolutely. So I'm not sure I will ever be out of the woods on this thing. They also said they don't have any data of what someone's life looks like on these meds (beta blockers and ACE inhibitors) in 20+ years, because 20 years ago, these meds didn't exist. Someone with my condition 20 year ago would have been on a transplant list, hoping for a new heart. So modern medicine is pretty miraculous.

I've also asked about having kids and the reponse has been mostly positive. It will depend on how well I'm doing, but likely I can have kids fine, I will just have to be watched closely (lots of heart ultrasounds) and will probably have to have a C section, but no real problems. Yay! So we can have a little Jana Jr running around. :) And everytime the kid needs something I don't want to do, I'll just look at Nick, point to my heart, and make puppy dog eyes. ; ) I'm sure it will work.

Oh, everyone's been asking how lousy the low-sodium food is, but it's not all that bad really! I think my tastebuds have already changed. There have been some winning dishes (salmon, mashed potaoes, and chicken gravy) and some losers (artichoke and basil chicken-it tasted like one of those wacky rubber chickens). All in all, pretty fine! Nick and Mom have been feigning how sorry they are when they come up with their tray of salty delight from the cafeteria (lasagna, burgers, clam chowder). Luckily, I haven't had much an appetite until today. Today after lunch Nick sneaks up to my bed and whispers "Don't tell anyone..." and hands me two packets of salt. He's decided to be the salt dealer on the cardiac floor. He says his product is even saltier than his language! : ) After we had a good laugh, we wrapped the salt in toilet paper and flushed it before we got caught. They don't take salt jokes very lightly around here.

Alright, Nick and I are going to watch 17 Again with the Academy Award winner Zac Effron. We've heard good things, so I'll let you now how it is.

Later gators!
Jana


Travis Rubelee and Athena Sears like this.

Mandy Morrelli Young
More good news! It's great to hear you can have Jr Jana's running around. I love your updates.

Jenny Lavik
This is all such awesome news. This on top of the cowboys and horns wins... What more could Nick ask for in a weekend! LOL! So relieved and happy to hear all this great news!

Kitty Muller
yeah...more outstanding news.. big hugs for you and lots of prayers

Jennifer Nicoles Porter
Fantastic News - especially in the likelyhood of a Jana Jr! Only that's sort of scary for the rest of us ; )

Jana Farrill Morrelli
JP, are you kidding? ; ) A Jana Jr would be hilarious, adorable, and fan-flipping-tastic at Insurance Account Management. I'm convinced of it!

Jennifer Nicoles Porter
Of course - that's what makes it scary-fantastic! Just like my Mick-meister who turned 6 on Wednesday and got a skateboard.

Luis Cheng-Guajardo
That's good news Jana; you'll definitely be in that top 1/3 category! It sounds like you're in good spirits and that you and Nick are having some laughs. I would recommend the split pea soup if they have that one day, because I remember that being "acceptable" hospital food. I love y'all and look forward to your next update!

Melissa Owens Reasoner
Thanks for the updates girl! I'm so glad you should be able to have kids. A little Jana Jr. running around...eek!! ;) just kidding. love ya!

Travis Rubelee
Thank goodness! We're praying for you both! I'm sure Nick is going nut not having you around! We love you both!

Meghann Chapman
Keeping you in our prayers, I am so glad for the good news!