Somersaults, Cartwheels and Stumbles

As we returned from our Trip for the Brady Family Reunion, I was tired and sore. I attributed this to sleeping in a different bed or the long 5 hour ride home, at any rate the next week brought additional aches and pains and anxiety. The soreness in my back did not ever ease up and moved higher until it was between my shoulder blades, because it would move I was pretty sure it was not skeletal, but was concerned that it may be kidney or renal. Possibly infection or stones.

Sunday was the most painful of days, and I spent most of the day in bed or resting.

Monday morning Miss N came to visit, we had some errand to run and some messages to convey. I was feeling better but not good. I was not hungry and had to force myself to eat when I took morning medications. The fact that I was not hungry should have made me curious or raised a red flag. I am always HUNGRY.

1:45PM After feeding Miss N her lunch she was playing for a few minutes her Mother arrived to take her home. This was a surprise it was almost two hours early. As they were leaving my left arm started to ache, my shoulder was already aching and then my fingers went numb. As I was walking back into the house I experienced a Charlie Horse in my Jaw, on the left side.

Too many symptoms to ignore, I told Don we needed to go to the ER, he was thinking it was the back pain and I was not in any mood to explain different.

2:30PM At the ER I filled out all the papers, Don was reading over my shoulder and asked if he could read them before I turned them in, was rushed back into Cardio/Trauma and was surrounded by seven nurses all working and talking at once.

IV in place, EKG Leads placed, Oxygen on at 5 liters and in comes the ER Doctor. Questions asked and answered, Blood Taken, EKG strips run. X Ray tech chomping at the bit to whisk me away. (and I don’t remember there being any Calgon). The Doctor comes back, we are waiting on the blood tests, they added some new tests because I needed Liver and Kidney function before I could go for a CT with contrast. My Blood Pressure was all over the place. Too high and severely low causing the alarm on my personal machine to be ringing and bringing someone in all too often.

Don asks where he needs to go to use his cell phone and is told he could use it in the room. He begins texting and calling family as quickly as he can. Soon my phone is ringing. With everyone being told I felt my Dad should be in on this and tried to call him, He answered just at they came to take me away again and I had to hand the phone off to Don. The communication was not good but better than nothing.

I was trying to keep Don quiet at 6PM because they were giving report and I wanted to listen, It has been more than 10 years since I sat in on a medical shift transfer report and wanted to hear, especially mine.

At the 4 hour mark Family started arriving, Paula and Nadine were first, followed soon by Bob and Linda, Then Ali and Then as tradition would dictate in comes Ryan, Lori and Charli.

Charli had a Pepsi! She is may favorite niece today. The Doctor said I could drink it.

Then Don Gave me a beautiful Blessing, Short and to the point full of emotion and faith. Thank you Don, you are the best. Thanks to Ryan and Bob for being there to assist.
I felt peaceful and comforted at that point, feeling that whatever happened everything would be alright.

The Doctor returned and told me I would not be going home, if they found what they suspected I would be in surgery within hours.

The Cardiologist was at the desk but I had still not talked with him. He was busy ordering everyone else around and making sure the tests were completed and read as needed.

I was transferred to a room with Telemetry for monitoring and care. Don’s Sister Coca, and Sister-in-laws Linda and Alicia, stayed with me for a while, Jolyn and Mandi came by to check on me. I was given a shot for pain and don’t really remember much about the next few hours, except they kept waking me up for vital signs and to ask if I needed anything for pain. (What a Pain). The Unit was very noisy, bells, alarms and codes called way to often for a good nights sleep.

Tuesday Morning: When they awakened me at 4AM I started watching for Don. If you know my husband you will know he has always gotten up early, but now even earlier. He came about 7AM. 10 minutes later they administered the first Radioactive injection for the first test this morning. They came for me about 40 minutes later.

The glow you see about me is the inner peace I feel, not the radioactive contrast they administered. Truly.

The Stress test was fascinating and the tech allowed me to ask several questions as we were going along., They could not get my hear rate to raise to the level needed for the test. The heart rate caused no pain nor was there any anxiety. I was able to stay on the treadmill for the full test and longer. The Tech showed me the films that were taken and explained some of what they found. (NOTHING)

The Cardiologist, read and reread all the tests. He was unable to find anything that had alarmed him the previous evening. The Valve is healthy, There is No Aortal tear! There is no blockage. My lungs are clear, My heart is normal size and function is within normal limits. Heart rate is at the lower end of normal for an active person. My blood pressure would not act up at all . I can maintain O2 sats at 98 or 99 percent on room air.

Thank you, each of you for your prayers and faith in my behalf, I could not have done this alone.

At 2:30PM Tuesday, they were filling out the discharge papers to let me come home. Just a short 24 hours has changed my life, given me a new lease on life and made me realize how very blessed and loved I am.

I am home, We are going to celebrate Pioneer Day at the Del R Brady Cabin this weekend. We are truly blessed.

I have a clean bill of health from my Cardiologist, can you say the same.