Health Scare

My life seems to be a serious of ironic cautionary tales. If I can't live as a good example, then I can be the one they point at and say "Don't do THAT!"  There is value in that, I think. Heh.

Now that I have diffused the seriousness of the situation with a bit of humor (I always do that), I would like to comment on the irony of my life at this moment. Nearly 3 weeks into a new healthy lifestyle change and I have a "cardiac event".  Something about the vagus nerve and dangerously low heart rate followed by waves of dizziness, nausea, all over flop sweat and a general feeling that I was on the brink of death. Not a good feeling. My cardiologist was concerned.

So yesterday I went in for my second appointment to have a serious of ultrasounds and to have a Holter attached...this nifty heart monitor that I am currently wearing. It's charcoal grey. I would have preferred black, as black is more slimming, but I digress.

Just to make life more interesting, instead of waking up to a vasovagal response, I woke yesterday feeling like death for a different reason. My heart was pounding out of my chest. Resting heart rate was 117 for over 2 hours after I got up. I barely got through showering and dressing for the doctor. I was feeling weak, my muscles barely responding and I didn't know if I would make it to the car. My heart rate slowed a bit in the car ride to the doctor's office, but the ultrasound tech commented on how fast my heart was beating during the test. Hopefully it helped. If I have any blockages, I figured they would stand out.

The doctor didn't come in after the test (which I took as a good sign) and after the tech attached this nifty monitor, I limped home. I didn't know how I was going to get back into the house. Thank goodness John was there to help. I made a bee-line for bed and passed out. I woke periodically to use the bathroom, but ultimately I slept for 16 hours! I felt like I had run a marathon after having my heart rate that high for so long.

So now I am awake and feeling loads better. John thinks I am fighting off a virus. The boys are all in varying stages of sick too. Maybe so. I hope so. 24 hours of heart monitoring and I basically slept the entire time. Heh. I don't know if the data from this thing will be useful, but I do have one more test on Friday. Since I can't run on a treadmill, the doc is going to chemically raise my heart rate and do some tests. After yesterday, I am scared to have my heart rate go up again. Ah well. If something bad is going to happen, having it occur across the street from a hospital with a cardiologist in the room is the place to do it, I guess.

4 hours and 12 minutes until I can take off the Holter. Max thinks my wires are cool. Tyler thinks it's creepy.

Comments

Donna. W said…
You are too YOUNG to have heart problems! I mean, it happens all the time, but I hope your problems are small ones.

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