I have a superior vena cava obstruction caused by scar tissue around pacemaker wires inside my veins. Three months ago I had a laser lead extraction and angioplasty. As you can see I am still symptomatic, but much better than before the surgery in October!

My SVCO symptoms include face and neck swelling, distended face and neck veins, shortness of breath, brain fog, facial/eye pressure, and skin color changes.

It was hard for me to find info online about this pretty rare condition, which is why I'm sharing my experience.

The most valuable thing I can say about my situation is...
Philippians 4:13 “I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me”

I like this explanation I found online by Mike Cynar-

God has never promised that all of our earthly problems would be solved or taken away.

Here, Paul is actually saying that even if he is suffering, or in need, that his joy doesn’t come from solving those problems. He’s saying his joy comes from knowing Christ. Even during bad times. While we all want our problems solved, the lesson here is not about having our circumstances fixed. It’s about learning to lean on Jesus and depend on Him, even if the circumstances don’t get better. It’s about letting Jesus be the source of our joy.

Life hurls all kinds of problems our way, and if our joy is found in earthly things, we’re going to be in for an emotional roller coaster ride. However, if our joy is found in Christ, even when life hit’s rock bottom, we can still find joy. That’s the meaning of “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

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