Starting Over, Jan 2009. The Named Heart

Starting Over, Jan 2009. The Named Heart.

“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein

Give your heart a name today. Today.

Really think about this one because this happens to be the most important relationship in a woman’s lifespan. It always has been. Many of us won’t get this until heart attack and other cardiac related crises screech life as we know it to an abrupt, intrusive and sometimes devastating standstill. On top of no instruction manual on how to snap out of ‘cardiac crisis stunned’ or how to proceed back towards normalcy from this point on. Truly rude unwelcome events.

Why bother with the exercise of giving your heart a name? By naming your heart, you will be giving it a superbly personalized identity and you will find yourself taking it far more seriously. Maybe even really ‘looking’ at it for the first time. This is a sacred trust relationship. Once named, your heart suddenly becomes an entity you can converse with at any time of day or night. Oddly, we may not even realize what an adversarial stance we have taken with our heart until we name it. Speaking to the Named Heart begins the shift from intensely fearful, outraged, betrayed and angry feelings to the start of badly needed powerful healing connectedness that women need to seek out the most proactive, vigilant care available.

How do we name our heart? When we sit quietly and ‘listen’ with the entire body, images begin to flow through the mind. Maybe many images, many directions tug at you. Wait until the strongest feelings attach themselves to an image. This is your sensing heart making itself known to YOU. Give your heart a name that feels instantly amazing and powerful, maybe even makes you laugh out loud. One that makes your heart expand and swell with wonder every time you think it, utter it. You’ve hit the right chord when you literally feel sensations of movement. Joy radiates pulsations of healing. Calm descends.

From this moment forward we begin to dialogue with Heart on a regular basis and because of this, we finally grasp our amazing little organ is not trying to injure or kill us at all. Turn this deceptive and destructive mindset upside down and a whole new universe begins to unveil. We are able to see a grander, more gratifying picture of what we are currently going through. The female heart has its own ‘little brain’, a collection of approximately 40,000 neurons identical to neurons in the big brain so the two organs can chatter back and forth at rates of speed we can’t even comprehend in a never ending dance solely to keep us alive. Our muscular little heart has been wringing itself endlessly like a jumpy sponge, squeezing out 60,000 miles (YES, oui, da) of blood flow per day! It is even dubbed ‘the unselfish heart’ because it doesn’t simply absorb blood directly from inside the chambers but waits just like every other organ for blood to pump through external coronary arteries feeding the hungry muscles. It has even elegantly evolved protective housing in the form of a dangling fluid filled sac (pericardium) that normally cushions us from feeling the pumping action against the ribcage.

So no, your heart did not intentionally attack. Any number of other forces moved into position or collaborated to create minor and major injuries and crises across time but Heart fights for your life by building astonishing detours around defects, turning dead O2 deprived heart tissue quickly into strong scar tissue that can withstand the enormous pumping pressures and give us extra years. Heart tirelessly pulls every split second trick in its hardworking throbbing repertoire. And it will fight until something prevents it from doing so any longer. It knows no other way.

My heart is the most astoundingly loyal friend I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. It never leaves me. Ever. We are locked in deepest companionable life to the end. So I am so relieved I finally got it that my heart was calling out a name to me. Once that name manifested my entire attitude made a whopping adjustment. Something akin to the North and South magnetic poles flip-flopping. My quirky heart had always been on board. ‘I’ was the unaware entity. Now I listen to my heart with ease and respond gladly to its pulls. It knows things I have no way of knowing so I defer to it. Is it craving winter sunlight? I find a window and stay there while sunshine washes across my face. The heart smiles somewhere in the depths. We are eternal partners. On days I cannot help it I do what I can to at least stay out of its way. It has always tried to stay out of mine.

Give your Heart a name today. You’ll never feel alone again. You never were. You never are.

Happy New Year Everyone! May 2009 be full of wonders for all!

Jaynie

Each month of 2009 a new theme topic will be introduced. Everyone is invited to participate. It requires nothing more than sharing your own thoughts and experiences on the theme topic. Please feel free to introduce your own theme topic suggestions. We need all kinds of voices here. It is important to talk about all the things impacting our lives as women with heart issues. I am posting this under ‘Journal’ because it is my personal perspective. Post your own Starting Over discussion any time throughout this month.

By martzj
Posted March 1, 2009 at 6:13 pm
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Dear feelingsquirrely,

"I read and printed this because it touched my heart. I am new member and was told after an angiogram Thursday that I need a double bypass within the next week or two due to loopy arteries so they could not place stents."

Welcome! And I'm truly sorry to hear you are going into bypass soon. This is a wonderful place to share all the fears and many questions you probably have. The women here have been through everything...and know a great deal.

I hope you find your Heart name soon. (smile)

Let us know how you are doing. We really want to know and help you through.

Jaynie

By feelinsquirrely
Posted March 1, 2009 at 8:42 am
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I read and printed this because it touched my heart. I am new member and was told after an angiogram Thursday that I need a double bypass within the next week or two due to loopy arteries so they could not place stents. I am stunned by the news and crying has become a daily occurance. Naming your heart has given me a little peace. I think I've decided on a name already. Thank you for sharing.

By martzj
Posted February 23, 2009 at 10:38 am
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Hi,

I am glad you are finding some peace... a new closeness to your heart. Yes, take your time.....wait for you heart name to appear. It will mean so much for it to happen that way.

take good care,
Jaynie

By Ruby731
Posted February 22, 2009 at 10:10 pm
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Jaynie,
Thank you so much. For the first time I feel less alone. I have printed your advise and will reread it until it becomes a part of me. I will be going through the process of naming my heart. As strange as it seems a name has already come to mind. I want to be sure, so I am going tto give myself time to meditate on it, to know the right name has been selected.

By martzj
Posted February 21, 2009 at 11:32 am
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Careh,

" I call her Sadie and it just fits. Thank's for bringing this to our attention!
Carolyn (and Sadie)"

Now every time I see that fun photo, I'll be thinking there are 3 of you!!! Not just Carolyn and fatty cat (ooops, I mean Earl Gray : )

Jaynie

By mamaellie
Posted February 21, 2009 at 3:42 am
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An interesting idea to name your heart. First I thought of L'chaim and decided no. But I think Viva is apropos.
Great idea to naming this little 4 chamber wonder.
Thank You for the idea and finding a way to personalize a part of me for which I am so aware.

By careh
Posted February 21, 2009 at 2:33 am
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Jaynie, I had to search for this thread in the old posts, but I wanted to say I have also named my heart. I call her Sadie and it just fits. Thank's for bringing this to our attention!
Carolyn (and Sadie)

By DrD11
Posted January 28, 2009 at 9:36 pm
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Martzi
With retirement,one find himself with plenty of time,time to think.Thats when some ideas hit me.
With passing of time,one realizes that some of the ideas are of value and should be pursued.
One of the ideas occured to me while examining a patient and thinking"What will happens if...".this evolved into idea in prevention of sudden cardiac arrest and death.The other idea occured when just
driving and thinking:"What will happened if...",this evolved into prevention of death from any violent act.
Thinking is easy,materializing it ,is not.One has to go through roadblocks to make it happen.
As for Statins,I am not a big fan of it. Still I am confident that it has significant role in medicine.
Personally,I like Vitamin B3/Niacin.I will let you figure out why.

By martzj
Posted January 28, 2009 at 7:59 pm
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DrD11,
"The best example for longevity is the Pregnant woman and her fetus.In pregnancy the total cholesterol is high in both mother and fetus.Nobody
get alarmed by that.There are two bodies in "construction", and "bricks" are needed.This is the L.D.L.Needed is also the "cement" to hold the "bricks"together(H.D.L.).
The level of H.D.L. is constantly in the upper limit of the normal.
What happens when the H.D.L. drops?Disaster named
Toxemia of Pregnancy/Ecclampsia!."

The women on this site have personally experienced all of the above.....sadly, ecclampsea too. We are in agreement that LDL, VLDL, HDL....all there for critical reasons......When you discover what those reasons are, specifically, you will win a Nobel!

I suggest you scan the posting from women coming here....many in their late 20s, 30s, 40s (me, acute MI, 41), 50s......There are blatant trends emerging in the collective that are not being researched or addressed by the medical culture. Take a look at the symptomology patterns emerging here....Rather than turning away from it which is how so many of us came to live with irreparably damaged hearts at young ages. Take off your 'doctor' hat and put on a 'research mentality hat', see what jumps out at you.

Have you searched any of the statin discussions? There are 2 fairly distinct camps.....Women who seem to thrive on statins w no side effects.....and women/men who suffer intolerable muscle pains within a day of the first dose. Lots of theories flying around about statins.....

Your invention is quite mysterious...I can't decide if it is some sort of highly evolved Taser (smile) or a way to induce a brief interruption and restart of cardiac function from an external source.

Kudos for your work at a free clinic now you have retired from practice!

Best,
Jaynie

By DrD11
Posted January 28, 2009 at 7:21 pm
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Martzi
Your answer to my question:"Why women live longer than men,and what the heart has to do with that?"
is quite generalized,without pinpointing it to a specific
target.
True,Genetics is a factor nobody can ignor.
It is my opinion that the fraction of H.D.L.(Of the total
Cholesterol) is the key point.
Hereby are points,in support of this theory:
A) The normal values of H.D.L. start in women at 50 mgm/dl.In men at 40 mgm/dl.It means that historically
women has more H.D.L. than men.It is known that
the level of H.D.L. is a strong NEGATIVE risk factor
to heart diseases.It preserve the integrity of all blood vessels,mainly the coronaries.People with higher H.D.L. has far less plaques.
In the inner lining of the coronries there is an abundance of H.D.L.(Why/and what for?)
The best example for longevity is the Pregnant woman and her fetus.In pregnancy the total cholesterol is high in both mother and fetus.Nobody
get alarmed by that.There are two bodies in "construction", and "bricks" are needed.This is the L.D.L.Needed is also the "cement" to hold the "bricks"together(H.D.L.).
The level of H.D.L. is constantly in the upper limit of the normal.
What happens when the H.D.L. drops?Disaster named
Toxemia of Pregnancy/Ecclampsia!.Emergeny:Get
the blood pressure down.Cessarian section.Save both mother and child.
Ther are more points in support of this theory,that
I don't have the space to elaborate.
Let me leave you with the following statement:"Longevity of women is a miracle supported by facts.This is God's will.
P.S .Thank you for your complement re:My invention.I am doing just fine.

By martzj
Posted January 28, 2009 at 12:59 pm
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DrD11,

"2)Why do women live longer than men,an what does
the heart has to do with that?.Why?"

Good questions....and so many avenues of approach.

Evolution; females are consistently vigilant to the protection, care and sustainance of offspring and extended relationships....the minutae that enhances longevity. I read the female body is designed to have enough reserves to sustain a 9 month pregnancy, even during prolonged starvations our ancestors endured. Males survived about 2 months. It is the gender used to reproduce that gets the evolutionary support it seems.

Genetics: There is that 'telemere length' thing.

Cultural: Being 'the glue', being needed could add up to substantial long term gains if females also have access to support systems. If not, their culture may expect them to literally work themselves to death. The 'cultural value' placed on women is purely subjective and arbitrary.....has no relation to the evolutionary value of human females to the species longevity.

Good luck with the promotion of your life saving patented invention.

Jaynie

By DrD11
Posted January 28, 2009 at 10:13 am
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2 points that make the Heart so special:

1) When the heart "goes out",you are out of this world
within a matter of seconds-few minutes.Show me any other organ that does the same.
2)Why do women live longer than men,an what does
the heart has to do with that?.Why?

By martzj
Posted January 27, 2009 at 6:03 pm
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"I have always joked that I felt like I was playing basketball as I went through my day...(racing heart...130 to 180 +...AVNRT). I was born with this and kept up with it until my early 30's. Then the fatigue, dizziness and power-downs began to amplify interfering with my lifestyle. My Doctor told me that my Heart was 'wearing' out at this 'pace'."

Hi,
I'm so glad you found your way to journaling and de-junking the mind....They both serve different functions, but are equally appropriate for getting it all outside of the head...whether we want to keep in or toss it!!

take care,
Jaynie

By martzj
Posted January 27, 2009 at 5:58 pm
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Hi Barbed,
"I'm pretty proud of Timex(she took a licking and kept on ticking). Thanks for reminding us to listen to our inner self--we need it.

At first I thought you might be referring to kitty. What a cute name that would be for kitty. Sure fits what your heart and spirit have been through more. Much more : )

take good care,
Jaynie

By barbed
Posted January 26, 2009 at 5:18 pm
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This is such a wonderful post,Jaynie!. I'm pretty proud of Timex(she took a licking and kept on ticking). Thanks for reminding us to listen to our inner self--we need it.

Barbed

By frogcollector
Posted January 26, 2009 at 7:32 am
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I love the idea! I have named all my cars...why not my heart. I guess I have looked at my heart from a different viewpoint. I have always joked that I felt like I was playing basketball as I went through my day...(racing heart...130 to 180 +...AVNRT). I was born with this and kept up with it until my early 30's. Then the fatigue, dizziness and power-downs began to amplify interfering with my lifestyle. My Doctor told me that my Heart was 'wearing' out at this 'pace'.

I too will follow your advice and find that name. Since my heart was fixed and the rate has gone up again (after ten years of being 'fixed' (ablation))....this ought to get me started.

To the subject of 'incessant anxiety', I began 'journaling' in 1986, similar to the 'nagging stream of commentary'. I was simply at the worst point in my life then. My counselor got me into writing, ripping it, burning it, destroying the 'yuk' that spilled out. It helped my brain take a break. Then sometime later I starting saving, rereading and enjoying. I also started a 'Bitch Letter Club' in the days before E-mail. Back then we could open our own mail at work.....hence the rule was Send it to Work, Read and Destroy! We could write anything and everything...they got to be so funny and such a relief.

By martzj
Posted January 10, 2009 at 4:59 pm
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Dearest Spuds,

I've been thinking of you as 'Noodles' ever since that hilarious aqua class description.....which I wish you would post again. We could use another good laugh right about now!

Jaynie

By 1spudcat
Posted January 10, 2009 at 2:49 pm
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“There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein

Jaynie, these hearts of ours are indeed miracles but it was not until my heart attack that I became so aware of this mighty little muscle ( the size of my fist). Intricate electrical wiring, symphony of rhythm, built to sustain my life and feed my brain with nourishing oxygenated blood. Held in the hands of doctors, cooled down waiting without beats to regain it job from the heart lung machine, new bypasses to fix those little plaque gridlocked highways of blood and despite this owner's bad behavior survives to pump another day. It is my little super hero. I never thought of naming it though and nothing seems to come to mine but this is a question I will ponder.....Spuds

Welcome to Inspire!

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