About Kelly

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Cardiomyopathy

Heart Transplant

Denervation

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Denervation

What makes Kelly’s and other heart transplant recipient’s physical accomplishments unique is that heart transplant patients have no nerves connected to their heart...making it a heart without an engine. This means that the brain cannot automatically send messages to hasten the supply of blood to the body during strenuous activity such as climbing.  Therefore, Kelly's heart does not "know" immediately when to start beating faster to match the exertion of her body. Adrenaline kicks in after a few minutes, but until then she must endure an oppressive feeling of fatigue.  This is the unique feature of heart transplants and exercise.

Other Health Limitations:

Although Kelly has realized significant post-transplant successes, she is not without other physical medical challenges that she deals with on an ongoing basis.  This she feels needs to be shared as all people have issues that require modification in behavior or discipline.

1. Headaches, nausea, fatigue (most often due to imbalance with her medications).

2. Hormonal problems that stem from imbalance most likely resulting from initial virus.  Problems include systemic itching (internal in blood stream), most often present at bedtime resulting in lack of sleep and therefore, fatigue associated with insomnia.

3. Bruise often due to medications.

4. Blood pressure swings.

5. Reduced stamina from valve regurgitation and denervated heart.

It should be noted that some days are stronger than others, similar to healthy people.  However, a small imbalance can throw her off to a higher degree than what she was accustomed to prior to her illness. As resilient as she is, Kelly has become very effective at managing her energy resources by cutting back when necessary and exercising around windows of feeling strong.   At any time Kelly does not feel well, she refrains from continuing so as to not jeopardize her health.

The message Kelly wants to leave is that she takes pride in her ongoing efforts to incorporate life into her life threatening health condition.