Life is what happens, when you're busy making other plans...

One big sigh...

I have PVC'S... premature ventricular contraction... aka. weird, annoying, irregular heartbeat.  It was diagnosed about 15 years ago.  Your heart beats normal & then all-of-a-sudden you feel a big extra heartbeat.  My doctor told me then that a number of things can cause it, but the major ones are stress, nicotine, alcohol & caffeine.  I didn't smoke, but thought I'd give up caffeine & see if that helped.  It did.  I noticed a major difference & haven't drank caffeine since.  The issue never really goes away, it's more sporadic than anything, but in the last month has been giving me cause for concern because it would just never level off. 

Then we had this HUGE windstorm in the middle of the night/early Wednesday morning that woke me up (around 3:30am) & I laid there for 3 hours of constant irregular heartbeat.  It really scared me... enough that when Bob said maybe I should take you the ER, I said, "Ok."  The timing couldn't have been worse though, as his dad was being released yesterday afternoon & taken back home by ambulance to be put into hospice care.  And, I guess I wasn't exactly expecting them to want to admit me & keep me overnight either.  We got to the ER by 8:30.  Bryn went to school early yesterday for dance club.  Long story, short... my EKG was fine in the ER, but my potassium was low.  They gave me 4 baby aspirin & then awhile later gave me 4 potassium pills.  Then finally said my doctor wanted to admit me & keep me there for an echocardiogram/stress test so I'd be there overnight.  We made arrangements with my mom to get Bryn from school & then Bob left to go to another hospital where his dad was, so he could follow him back home to Illinois when he was released. 

I got moved upstairs to the cardiac unit by about 12:00.  I couldn't order lunch yet because the doctor on staff had to see me & needed to say whether I was going to be on a regular or restricted diet.  I was there in my room alone for about an hour before I had a roommate.  Then a very old lady, who was clearly in MUCH pain arrived.  She proceeded to moan loudly for the next 4 hours, ask for more pillows, ask to die, ask for Morphine, & ask for nurses to speak louder because she was deaf in 1 ear.  All I could think was that if I was in there to de-stress at all, this was not the place to do it.  But, I sat there quietly & hoped for time to pass, quickly.  Finally after seeing the doctor, I was able to order lunch (a regular diet... but the food was kinda yucky) & got to eat at 3:30.  I was just a little hungry by then...

My mom picked up Bryn from school & they came by to visit with a few things for me like a toothbrush & pajama pants, since I had nothing with me.  It was nice to see them, but I knew Bryn was going to be a bit scared about the lady in the room with me, so I immediately whispered to her that she was in a lot of pain & was sleeping, albeit very loudly.  She would later tell me when she called to say goodnight, "Yeah, that was disturbing in your room."  I just laughed.  My mom kept saying, "Um, you need to ask them to put you in another room."  I said, "No, I'm fine.  It's just 1 night, hopefully, I don't want to complain."  Finally as they were putting on their coats to leave, a nurse came in the room & gave me the option of having my own private room for an extra $50/night.  I said, "Yes please!"  I called Bob & said, "Just pretend like you bought me dinner tonight."  He laughed.

I didn't get a lot of sleep last night because nurses come into your room every so many hours to take blood, take your blood pressure, etc... & then my own doctor arrived promptly at 6am to see me.  He said they did see my PVC's on my EKG's, but that there was no concern for heart attack, heart disease, etc & said I could probably be released after my stress test assuming all was ok.  I couldn't have anything to eat until after the test was performed.  That was the worst part!  But, surprisingly, they did come to get me for the test before 8am.  Ok, on 2nd thought, the worst part was performing a stress test in socks & pj bottoms, as I had no running shoes with me.  Bob was going to bring me some, but couldn't get there until he put Bryn on the bus.  So, I did my test in socks.  Did you ever walk & run on the treadmill in socks?  It is INTERESTING.  But, I did really well during the test & would finally hear results after Noon that I was going to be released.

After a lot of waiting around with Bob & his niece, who he had just picked up from the airport, we were finally on our way home, where I got to eat REAL food, take a LONG shower & put on makeup.  It's the little things that matter. 

So... I see my doctor again in 2 weeks.  I had already scheduled my annual physical with him a long time ago, but it's perfect timing for a follow-up.  He said I may need to take a potassium supplement or maybe even a beta blocker, but we'd discuss it then.  I need to do something though, even if it means going to the spa regularly to stop thinking about my long list of things-to-do!  'Tis the season, I suppose.

I have some things to post, some thank you's to say, but I need to get Bryn from school in a bit & right now I don't have time to edit & find links.  So, just know that I'm thinking of you & will say hello on your blogs soon. 

Big hugs...

Comments

[Vickie]

Deana I got so scared while I was reading this.. I am so glad you are ok and home. I knew something was wrong because you haven't been on in a few days. Remember there are things in life you can't change so don't stress about them.. I know easier said then done.. I want to give you a big hug from way over here at the beach.. Take care of yourself and hey a Spa day is in order I think..

Vickie

[Beth Perry]

OMG!!! Poor old lady (but kind of funny)I know, that is so wrong. I am sooo soo glad nothing is DRASTICALLY wrong. So, what else can you do besides what you have already done (cut out the caffiene)?
I mean, you are like the healthiest person I know.
I would LOVE to go to the spa with you! Let me know if they have a buyone, get one free deal! lol I will be the free one! haha
Keep me posted .Lots of love and hugs, sweetcheeks!
B

[Chris Aiton]

I just had the feeling something was wrong the past day or so when you were incommunicado and reading your blog was so scary - so glad you are okay but wow! thank goodness you were able to get things taken care of. I will be thinking of and praying for you. Take care of yourself and r e l a x. BTW, I'd love to go to the spa with you - speaking of, I do Yin Yoga to relax - it's a separate kind of yoga from the kind that is usually done. I have a great dvd that I always watch and do when I feel stressed - let me know if you want any info. Thinking of you and hoping you are feeling better!

[Jing-Jing]

You have such a sense of humor about you! I wasn't too concerned since you posted your own blog post. Typically while reading something utterly interesting, I read the last paragraph first, like how I read all the novels, lol. So glad to hear that you are okay and $50 extra a night for a private room is SO WORTH it! :)

[Sal]

DEANA! I will call you tomorrow...love you!
Sal

[Valerie]

Poor you!! Just wanting to send you a big hug!!

[julie]

*sigh* i love u and i hope all is good soon!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

[Antonia]

Wow. What a super-stressful and emotional week for you and your family. I hope all your health issues are easily resolved. I have a few heart problems I take medication for, so I understand how scary they can be. Take care of yourself and I'll hope for the best for you! I hope your father-in-law recovers quickly too. Hugs :)

[sarah]

eh, $50.... that's totally worth having your own private room. ;) hehehe.

anyway, i'm glad you are back home and things are much better. gloria has that too... irregular heart beart... the told her back in hs it was prob stress related and to decrease the caffeine... but she can't break that habit. LOL. :) it doesn't happen that often anymore so i'm happy about that.

take it easy, woman! :) and make sure to get some "bed rest". that's what i'm doing! lol.

hugs,
sarah.

[Denise Morrison]

wow-so glad you are okay and back home with your family. Take care and have a wonderful Christmas!

[Nadhrah]

I hope you are ok now... please take care and big hugs to u.

[erinrwillis]

I have been thinking of you!! I wondered if something was up, b/c we hadn't heard from you in a while.

I'm so sorry to hear that you've had these scares, but it sounds like you're gonna be ok....I'll continue to keep you guys in my thoughts!!

[Laura]

I am so so so so happy that you are ok!!! I was so nervous reading your post... I am sure that they will be able to give you something that will make it all good! :)

[Bethany]

omg Deana!! wow! what an ordeal! I am glad that you are home! sorry u had to spend a night in the hospital! ick :( & totally YAYAYAYAY for getting ur own room! would drive me crazy to have to share! LOL!! i am not so great with the sharing! **giggles**
well, i am glad to hear that you are ok!!! & I will keep u in my prayers!! keep us posted when u hear from ur Doc!
lots of {{{HUGS}}} Deana!!!
take care!!!!!
♥♥♥

[Jeanet]

Oh my oh my Deana...that must have been really scary!I am so glad you are ok!!
Thinking of you and take good care girl!!

[Deana]

Deana, Glad you are ok. My boyfriend had a seizure this past summer and they said it was due to an extremely low potassium level. Make sure you eat bananas and or take potassium pills. I had no idea how important potassium was in one's diet. Deana

[kim whitten]

OH Deana! What an ordeal. I'm so sorry sweetie for what you have been going through.

You will be in my prayers. xo

[Bekkabess]

I'm so glad you're okay! Hope your appointment goes well. I'll be praying for you!

[Michelle]

I am so glad you are okay.. I feel like such a bad friend... life got in the way of me blogging and commenting... I'm so sorry I'm late with well wishes... but I will be praying for you since this is an ongoing problem... God is good!!!
{{big hugs}} Michelle