This past week and a half has been eventful to say the
least. I was having some major problems
with my potassium level. I got that up
to low normal, but I was still not feeling my old self. We decided to go ahead with our plans for the
beach regardless. We made sure we had a
nice supply of fresh tomatoes and avocados
with us so I could supplement the potassium tablets. Monday was a nice trip to Tybee Island. It was a little windy and a bit of chill in
the air, but very nice. We arrived at
our hotel that overlooked the beach, and stopped by the office to
check-in. Our room wasn't ready, so they
gave us a room upgrade. We had a super
view of the ocean and the beach. We went
for a short walk along the shoreline once we got unpacked. The hotel dining room is very nice, and the
front of it is a huge arch (much like the St. Louis arch) that is all windows
so that you have a fantastic view while you dine. I had little access to the internet all week,
but I did find out that on Friday, April 6th., the interview I had with Lloyd
Paige was posted on his site, The Paige Today, at http://lloydpaige.com/?p=823.
Tuesday was a beautiful sunny day. The sunrise was just gorgeous. Tom and I
enjoyed every second of it and I was feeling fairly well. We checked out the beach, and the shops. We lounged on our balcony breathing the salt
air, watching the people on the beach, and the birds.
On Wednesday, our friends showed up to spend a few
days. The day for the most part was very
nice again until that evening when the storm clouds began to roll in from the
east. We had a couple of thunderstorms,
and the wind picked up chilling the air.
I was having some breathing problems, but still doing fairly well. The
sky was really interesting as the clouds for the second thunderstorm began to
roll in over the beach. There was one
area that looked as if there was a large hole, the clouds were white and brightly
illuminated. The rain shower was heavy
and short-lived. The thunder and lightning
did not begin until the storm was out over the ocean. The lightning shot out of
the clouds like large ragged arrows aimed at the water out close to the horizon. The waves began to build, and we watch them
break farther and farther out on the ocean's surface.
Thursday was cold and windy.
I tried to go for a walk about mid-day, but I just could breathe enough
to do it. It was as if the wind was
taking all my oxygen. I had to give up
and return to the hotel. The sea gulls
and black birds were around everywhere, so we decided to have some fun feeding
them. We soon found out that the poor
birds on the small parking area between our balcony and the beach didn't have a
chance to get the bread we were throwing out.
The gulls that took to the air and swooped down as we would throw out a
piece of bread would catch it in mid-air.
It became a game to see how close they would come to our balcony. One of the black birds decided to even the
odds by hopping on the rail to take his food before it was thrown up in the
air.
Friday morning it was still chilly and cloudy. However, the
sunrise was beautiful. I was feeling
worse, and I did not want to go farther that our balcony. Minimal walking took all my air, so we stayed
in room and I sat on the balcony off and on.
Once more the birds were the main source of entertainment. It was a pretty uneventful day, but nice to
enjoy the ocean breeze.
Saturday morning we began to prepare to leave for home. I was still not feeling up to par. We made the trip home, and I unpacked. On Sunday, I sorted the dirty clothes to wash
and to get ready for work on Monday. I was
still short-winded. I took one load of
clothing out of the washer and put them in the dryer. By the time I put the second load in the
washer, I was completely breathless and felt as if I would pass out. I told Tom that he would have to take over
because I couldn't finish. I decided to
check my oxygen level. It was in the
upper 90's, and that puzzled me. I
decided to take my blood pressure. It
was about 258 over 158. That scared
me. I decided I had better tell
Tom. We decided that I had better go to
the emergency room to get checked out to see what was going on with me
physically.
We arrived at the emergency room at about 2:15 p.m. I told the lady at the check-in desk. They took me back and ran an EKG. They sent me back to the waiting room. About an hour later, they called my name to
go to the check-in desk. They sent me
back to the waiting area. Finally, about
9 p.m., I was put in a "Decision Making" room. I was told they were keeping me to run blood
work, an echocardiogram and do a stress test.
I had not had a thing to eat since breakfast, and nothing to drink since
I had left home. I was thirsty, and
hungry. They let me have two small
packets of graham crackers and some ice water.
The lab person came in and set up an IV cannula, hook me up to a heart
monitor, and oxygen. Then, another
person came in to draw about five vials of blood. I cautioned her that if she took too much, I
would charge for it. I don't think she
saw the humor in my quip. She didn't
even crack a smile.
The next morning at seven in the morning, they were back
again for more blood. I was only allowed
enough water to take my medicine. Some
of my medicine, they didn't have in the hospital pharmacy, and they didn't want
me to take it even though I had it with me. They gave me a shot of radionuclide injected into my bloodstream. Finally, about nine-thirty that morning they
came to take me for the tests. The first
thing they did was to put me on a machine that take multiple pictures of the
heart at all angles. That meant lying on
my back perfectly still with my arms above my head for about thirty minutes.
Once that was complete, they put me back on the stretcher
and wheeled me to a "holding room" for quite some time. I didn't see a clock, but it seemed like
forever. Then, a lady came to get me to
run the echocardiogram. After that, it
was back to the "holding room" again.
Finally, a nurse came to get me to take the second part of the chemical stress
test. A chemical stress test uses an
isotope medication that is inserted into the body via an IV. Its purpose it to
take the heart to its highest extremes of stress. This is accomplished by
forcing the arteries of the body wide open so that blood is allowed to flow at
maximum volume.
I was hooked up to an EKG machine during the test so that my
heart was monitored at all times. The temporary side effects of the test were
severe. The chemical opens the arteries
in the manner used ensures certain symptoms, and I was told could include, but are not
limited to hot flashes, tingling or burning throughout the body, sweats, severe
headache, nausea (and possible vomiting).
I personally thought that nothing could hurt as much as what
I had envisioned for the pain of a heart attack itself. I have never had a heart attack, but I think
this had to be worse! This test has to
be as severe if not more so. Although it only takes about six minutes, the
agony and pain of the test makes it feel more like six months. I felt as if my
heart, lungs and every vein and artery in my body was going to explode. I know the purpose of the CST is to determine how the
arteries respond; how well the blood flows through the heart; and whether or
not any blockages are encountered in the process, and it apparently works well because
much later I found out that the doctor
was satisfied with the results. I, on
the other hand, was not since it left me with a raging migraine, but it
subsided fairly quickly.
Again, I was taken to the "holding room" to wait
my turn for more pictures of my heart. I
was finally returned to my room sometime after two that afternoon. There was more waiting until a doctor came to
give me the results, and to release me.
I found out about six that evening that I was going home, but it nine
that evening before a doctor showed up to begin the hospital release for me to
check-out. The doctor who released me
recommended that I make an appointment with a neurologist.
Who knows what will happen in the near future, but I will
keep you posted. I am still tackling it
all with love, faith and guts.
More pictures taken at Tybee Island.
Check back who knows what is next. Whatever it may be, it is never a boring minute!
