Title: A Tad Nervous. Could use a vibe or two.
Post by Carl D on Sep 21st, 2010 at 10:18pm
I'll try to be brief, but you know me...
Back in cycle again. It's been creeping up on me the past few weeks, but is here & wreaking some havoc. However, I do have an alternative backup so, not too worried in that regard at the moment.
However, I do have something a bit concerning going on. Been having chest pains, irregular heartbeat... been pushing myself really hard the last few months with the move and everything, but the last few weeks been really lethargic & weak, running out of breath easily. Some scarey stuff. Had an incident 3 weeks ago I'll go into in a minute.
To break it down, I go in the morning for a heart cath, stress test (since I can't do treadmill with my back & hip, it is the 'chemically induced' which scares me), and then will be wired to a Halter Heart monitor for 48 hours afterward. With everything that has gone on, I'm really worried about tomorrow. So if I could get some vibes or prayers or whatever, I'd greatly appreciate it.
One thing I am very curious about is the Halter Heart Monitor (maybe should do a 2nd post for the question...) especially since I am getting hit daily now. Wondering if anything will pick up on the monitor during an attack.
The major thing that led up to this was, 3 weeks ago I was experiencing dizziness, fatigue & lethargy to the point it took every ounce of energy I had to just move my body. Got to the top of the 3rd floor steps, and felt a sharp stab in my chest, heart racing.
Wound up at St Mary's ER in St Louis for a truly classic horror-fest. It was the most incompetent place I have seen since Gateway in Granite City! They took blood, urine & other tests, and then came in 3 different times for the SAME TESTS! Meanwhile, I have all of my meds typed out, how long I've been on each one, etc. Tried handing it to them 7 times (not kidding) and it wasn't til after I was given a shot of something they took my med list & all.
Was on the heart monitor, bp 104/54 and heart rate fluctuating between 41-49. The one nurse paying attention pointed out the irregular rhythm pattern on the monitor.
Meanwhile, Nurse RUDE who won't answer any questions, just asks them, had given me a shot of something. I asked what it was. "Axert, for your headache." Wasn't til later I put two and two together that it was a TRIPTAN and at that time was taking Cymbalta - as I had Serotonin Syndrome in 2007!!! They had just tried me on Cymbalta for dealing with pain since I am no longer on triptans, and it had a major reverse effect on me. Was in a major major depression. Needless to say, I'm off that now, but they didn't even pay attention to the meds list that I was on Cymbalta before giving me a TRIPTAN!
So, after a catscan came back normal, I waited for hours before they finally was ready to give me food (which I had been starving by then & found out they could have given me food hours before as the test results had come back.) It was a mess! It was like no one was communicating with anyone. Then Jeff, who was with me at the ER went to use the bathroom in my ER room and after one look, decided against it. He said it was insanely gross.
Finally, the Cryptkeeper comes in as a Dr, and is babbling confusedly like he just woke up. They wanted to admit me and I told Jeff, my fear was they would give me meds, forget to mark it off, give them to me an hour later... then again, until I'm all Michael Jackson'ed out! To hell with all that. I took my chances, and came home. Followed up with my Dr's the next day & was told to NEVER let any dr or nurse give me anything without asking what it is first, provided I am able to do so.
So, my pain management skipped my spinal injections for 2 weeks, had to stop physical therapy til I get the all clear, and had to stop some other R.A. meds as well.
So you can understand why I'm a bit concerned at the moment. Dealing with major amounts of physical pain, now the CH's are returning daily (and keep wondering if all it took was one shot of a triptan to trigger a cycle or if I'm just due), found out last week L-5 is buldging out my back now, and was diagnosed 2 1/2 months ago with Rheumatoid Arthritis and onset Spinal Stinosis.
To top it all off, I have pinched the Ulnar nerve in my left elbow, and now my left pinky all the way down my hand is numb, tingly & half alseep! This might not seem too tragic to the average person, but I am a guitar player of 30 years. I just spent 3 years busting ass to get my speed back, and now when I try to play, can't hardly control my pinky at all. Not for chording, and trying to bend a string is a joke. It's like walking on your foot when it's asleep; you have no stability or control and it's a bitch! So, with everything else going on, this will either A) get better over time. B) not heal and ruin my guitar abilities or C), there is a surgical procedure to free the Ulnar nerve from wherever it is pinched & the hand will return to normal.
All I know is I just turned 40. Geez! Still doing everything I can to keep it together and meanwhile I'm falling part. Not letting it stop me unless my heart stops. Then that kinda takes the fun out of trying so hard. ;)
But that's it. Going to bed soon so I can prepare for my 4-6am interruption, then get ready to go to the hospital.
To make matters worse....
... I just started getting orgasm headaches! :o
Not fun at all.
Peace,
Carl
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