[julierene]

I had an interesting time with my MUGA. I have to tell you all about this, because it just amazes the heck out of me every time I tell it.

Muga score (somewhere around there)

Jan. 2004 50 - 52%

Dec 2005 48 - 49% started HEC

Around Feb 2006 42% added lisinopril

May 2006 to April 2007 40 -48%

April 2007 switched to Tykerb/Xeloda

May 31, 2007 left my ex and forgot my lisinopril at the old house. I figured since I wasn't taking the Herceptin anymore, what was the use? I had other things to worry about.

July 2007 - after my MUGA scan, my radiologist came in to talk to me! I was shocked for him to take the time to see me. He ran the numbers again and asked me a TON of questions. Thinking I had screwed up my heart because I didn't get my lisinopril refilled, I started to break down almost in tears from the guilt. And after he felt sure that the test was run right, he told me my score was 63%. He wanted to know what I had been doing differently. After a lot of talk about my patterns and habits, he started probing into my divorce situation. He asked a whole bunch of questions about stress and I told him many of the side effects I was having. He said finally, he had never seen a case where a baseline had increased that much where the only true reason was attributed to stress. I had such trouble sleeping for the last year I was with my ex, that I only got an average of maybe 4 hours a night. He just shook his head and said, "That's a lot of stress young lady. Keep up the good work and finish that divorce!" For the first time in a long time, I was happy - and my heart was thanking me for it!