I did not "faint." I passed out from ... manly hunger.

[johnstonmr]

Gah.

I went into the Student Health Center Tuesday morning around 10 (right after leaving history class early, thanks to the teacher's policy of classes after tests). Within 45 minutes I was surrounded by paramedics; apparently the doctor found something on my EKG she didn't like.

So I get to the hospital, and after answering the same questions over and over and over again, and then doing it again, and laying in a hospital bed hooked up to five different monitors for two and a half hours, the cardiologist comes to talk to me.

He says that the pain in my chest is probably an inflammation of the sac around the heart. It's called paracarditis. At any rate, that's a minor and pretty common malady. He's going to do an ultrasound examination of my heart later today (as I write this, on Tuesday 10-19), and if that's definitive, then he'll put me on anti-inflammatories and I'll be on my way. If it's not conclusive, then he wants to do an angiogram tomorrow. Basically, because of my family history, he wants to make sure I'm ok and also that I'm not, in the back of my mind, terrified now of having some kind of heart condition when, despite my family history, my heart's always been pretty healthy.

On the good news, I no longer have chronic high blood pressure. It's still something I'll need to watch, but it's not generally high any more. A few years ago, it was borderline dangerous. But my lifestyle changes have done a good job on that front, at least.

So I called Karla to let her know what's going on, and she's coming to see me. Silly, but ok. And I called Elli, and I hope she's not as freaked out as I'm afraid she is -- I should have waited until she was off work, but I didn't think about it. Gah.

So here I sit, with no 'net access. Thank god I took my iBook to school today or I'd be even more bored than I am -- I sat in a bed in the Emergency room from 11am to 2:30pm with nothing to do, hooked up to so many wires I couldn't get to my bag to get out the computer.

And I haven't had a thing to eat since last night. I am HUNGRY.

---

The echocardiogram did indeed show I have paracarditis, but the cardiologist decided to do the angiogram anyway, just in case.

All Tuesday night was a nightmare. When Elli and my aunt finally left at 10:30, a nurse came into the room to get me to sign consent forms for the heart catheterization (which is what they do to perform an angiogram), explain the procedure to me, and shave my crotch. The embarassment factor soared, ladies and gents. Once that was done, a guy from the lab came and took a third blood sample.

Then I tried to sleep as best I could. Just as I was falling asleep, the new night nurse came in and spent twenty minutes making sure I still had circulation to my feet. Then I tried to sleep again. Just as I managed it, someone came in to weigh me again, take my pulse and pulse/ox ratings, and get my temperature again. Then I slept ... until 3am, when the lab monkey (a different one this time) came to get blood again. This one I only know about because when she came back at 8am to get more, she told me I'd been talking to her when she drew blood at 3:30, but I have no real memory of that one. I do, however, remember being poked, prodded, and weighed again at 6am. Damn shift changes.

At 9am I was taken away to the Cath lab, drugged, and catheterized. The drugs made me talkative but I don't recall what I said to the doctor; I do remember that the machines and other solid objects didn't really seem all that solid while I was under. I recall a metal tube on the X-Ray machine distorting and lengthening for several seconds. "Is that normal?" I asked the doc, and he grinned and said "It is for you. Told you we gave you the happy drugs."

Anyway, the angiogram showed that my only problem was the paracarditis. My arteries are healthy, clear, and there is no damage to my heart whatsoever. So I went off to recovery, where I was forced to lay still for six freaking hours.. I was finally released at 4pm, and went home to my aunt's house. I'm staying here tonight, then tomorrow Elli will take me home after work (once I've passed through the 24-hour danger zone). Then I'll take it extremely easy for the weekend, finish that English term paper, and go back to school on Monday.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and words. Liz and Ralph, you chose the perfect quote for the card; you rock.

---

* The title of the post is a line from Stargate: Atlantis

Comments

I am convinced that vampires run hospitals

[lunar-phoenix.livejournal.com]

Goody. You're back. And well… Back!
Hugs.
I’m in a silly mood right now (as if you couldn’t tell), and I am just glad that there was nothing MASSIVELY wrong.
I love happy endings.
Question on the more embarrassing side of things: Did they shave you with a razor or with shavers? Because you might have to watch out for ingrown hairs and itchies. Otherwise… Glad that you are not dead or some other icky state of being that has to do with rot and decomposition.
I’ll shut up now.
Good to know you are on the mend.
Hugs to you and yours.

Erika

Re: I am convinced that vampires run hospitals

[johnstonmr]

Thanks. How was class today?

Re: I am convinced that vampires run hospitals

[lunar-phoenix.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't know. I have been out sick all week.

[waiwode.livejournal.com]

Just a plain old "glad you're all right" comment.

Doug.

[johnstonmr]

Thank you.

[ktbee.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it was not as bad as it could of been. I would have called but I didn't want to bother Elli while she was busy with other things. If you need someone to cook you pasta sauce in the next week, we have established it is the one thing I have a hard time messing up.

Get Well.

[johnstonmr]

Yes, ma'am.

[funwithrage.livejournal.com]

Yeeow. Glad you're okay, but...damn.

[johnstonmr]

Yeah. What I didn't mention was the five or so times I nearly broke down, fighting back tears because I was all alone (I thought they'd called my family, but I was wrong) and dealing with a giant crew of medics telling me I had a "serious" heart problem. Until the cardio came in, I was terrified.

[elisandra.livejournal.com]

If you are awake, log in to yahoo or something, please!

[ipsafictura.livejournal.com]

I thought to myself, 'Well, Michael wouldn't want anyone to make a big fuss' and that quote sprang instantly to mind. Glad you liked it.

[vivalabonita.livejournal.com]

Okay perhaps I need to be more clear about the role of a friend. Friends are not allowed to scare me with possible heart attacks! What were you thinking? You need to stay healthy for my sake! :)

I just came to a startling revelation yesterday as I was sitting at work worrying about you dying. I was seriously considering leaving work and running to the hospital to lend support to Elli and your other family types. I was trying to think of what I should tell work. I decided to tell them the truth. My best friend (other than my husband and family doesn't count) had a possible heart attack and I need to get to the hospital to see if he was okay. I had no idea you were my best friend until yesterday. We have known each other since high school. We have been through a lot together. We even hated each other sometimes, but I have grown to value that friendship.

I am sorry I didn't come to the hospital to see you. I knew you would be surrounded by family and in a very bad mood. I am sorry you had to be alone to deal with this at first; it was probably damn near unbearable. Anyways, when you are feeling up to it, give me a call. I'll stop by with flowers.

Enough of the gushiness. I tend to get terribly upset when it comes to heart conditions. I am relieved that you are okay. See ya.

[johnstonmr]

Oh my god, Stef. You just made me cry.

You have no idea how happy that makes me -- Elli and I adore you (both with and without Ed), and we've actually been wondering if maybe you didn't like us that much but just put up with us.

Very cool. Thank you very much.

[vivalabonita.livejournal.com]

Well I put up with you too, but that's what being friends and damned near family is all about! Are we still doing game on Saturday? If not maybe Ed and I can just come by and hang out.

[johnstonmr]

Yeah, but there's a difference between "I put up with his shit because he's my friend" and "I put up with his shit because my husband likes him for some reason." And that difference makes me happy, because I like you. And believe me, that was a shock to me when I first figured it out, too. :)

(For those unaware: while Stef and I have known each other since high school, we didn't always get along, for a lot of reasons. Most of them are stupid, too.)

[johnstonmr]

No game Saturday, because Terri and her boy are going to see Rocky Horror again. I'd love to see you guys, though. I think Colin and Elena are also planning to stop by, but the more the merrier, really.

[vivalabonita.livejournal.com]

We'll be there. What time would you like us (we don't wake up horribly early on Saturdays)?

[johnstonmr]

I'll be at Karla's until 10 or so myself. Once I'm home, I'm basically saying "Come over when you want, I'll be around."

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

Very glad to hear that you're doing well. Not that you want a reason to have to sit still for even more hours at a time, but we could now loan you the Farscape season 1 disks, and we're nearing the end of season 2.

[johnstonmr]

Hey now! I'd love to borrow those, but don't let me get too excited; we wouldn't want my femoral artery bursting and showering you all in Atreides blood.

What an image!!!!!!

[lunar-phoenix.livejournal.com]

I might be a little on the strange side (like that is news), but I kinda' like the abruptness of the turn of phrase.

Hugs to you hon. I'm glad that you are on the mend, and that you have such a wonderful group of support/friends/family.
(Hugs to all y'all.)

Erika

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

Bleh! That does it, no Farscape for you!

[johnstonmr]

Don't make me cry!

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

Well, just promise to only get moderately happy, not happy enough to cause damage, and we'll see what we can arrange. :)

[mistryl11.livejournal.com]

That sounds really scary, but at least you got some cool drugs out of it! glad you're gonna be OK.