My Mini Vacation in the Hospital

14 years ago

For the past month, I have been totally overwhelmed at work. I never seem to be able to get caught up. Just when I think I'm on the brink of getting caught up, I get a pile of work dumped on my desk. Not fun when you are always in pain (fibromyalgia) and constantly tired (chronic fatigue syndrome). Sometimes I had to go to the bathroom to have a good cry or I'd cry my eyes out in the car during my lunch time.

I think it caught up with me on Tuesday. I was doing well at work because it seemed like I finally had some time to get caught up. Then the piles started coming, one after another. And everyone wants everything RIGHT NOW! Meanwhile the phone is ringing and people come in to ask me questions.

I felt a tightness in my chest, trouble breathing and my left arm went numb. It happens all the time when I have an anxiety attack. But lately I have been feeling dizzy and light headed too. So I called the doctor's office to make an appointment. The receptionist immediately transferred me to the nurse who told me she would call me back after talking to my doctor. When she called back, she told me he thought I should go to the ER.

I was very tempted to skip it. I've had these episodes before and lived to tell about it. All except the dizziness that is. So I thought I better be safe than sorry and drove myself to the hospital my doctor is affiliated with across town.

My blood pressure was something like 195/105. It has never been high before so that was a shocker. They did an EKG, took some blood tests (apparently their is an enzyme that will indicate heart problems) and I sucked on nitroglycerine tablets. I think being away from work more than anything made me feel better. lol! My tests were fine but they wanted to have me stay overnight.

So I spent Tuesday night in the hospital. First time since I was a baby. On Wednesday, I had a stress test that truly lived up to its name! Instead of putting me on a treadmill, they had me lie on my side and injected me with something that made my heart race a mile a minute. While this is going on, they are doing an ultrasound on my heart.

Then I had trouble breathing because I don't do well lying prone. I always have trouble breathing even on my side. The girl doing the ultrasound keeps telling me to take deep breaths. I was lucky if I could take shallow ones! Any way, I lived through the test which I guess means my heart is fine.

They really have no idea what the problem was. My doctor seems to think it is something like acid reflux because I told him I've been burping like crazy lately. But I know it wasn't heartburn. He did prescribe some high blood pressure meds which isn't surprising since my mom developed high blood pressure when she went through menopause. That could explain the light heatedness.

So hopefully this cocktail of meds and less stress at work will do the trick. I was so happy that I was able to get caught up today.

I don't have cable at home so I was getting my full of HGTV at the hospital and enjoying room service. I had a nice private room and my own bathroom. I was thinking, I could really get used to this. he-he So I think of it more as a mini vacation than a trip to the ER. Too bad it will probably cost me as much as a week at a nice hotel.

I thought I posted something other than on Kirk's birthday message about my little vacation but apparently I didn't. lol! Thanks to those of you who expressed your concern!

(Geez, I didn't realize until I previewed this message that it is the length of the Bible!)

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Comments (18)

Marlene Kindred
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Luna~

Sorry you have been having so much stress at work and that you had to go to the hospital to actually get a little relief! Hope that you will be able to get a break at work....being under constant stress will definitely cause you to feel like you're having a heart attack.

Take care of yourself!
(HUGS)
cindee11461
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Sorry to hear you were not feeling well. I hope you get some rest and feel better soon!!!! I hate hospitals so just going there would make my blood pressure go up!!!
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Just as a "want to waste some time option", you might start with a real map (real paper... I know, completely unheard of nowadays) and a simple school pencil compass. Use the compass to make several concentric circles with your home location at the center. This would give you a rough idea of how far you could or even want to drive in an average day. By using the mile indicator located on the map somewhere, you could set up the circles at perhaps 100 to 500 mile distances from one another. Secondly, make a list (even a mental one) of the cities, burgs, and attractions between two or more circles. While not perfect, this will give you an idea of a couple of things. First, we will know that I/we don't mind driving XXX miles per day and secondly, what might be available to see and do within that preferred mileage suggestion. Thirdly, reduce that defined area by picking a compass direction that seems most advantageous to what you want to see and do on your (pick some number of days and insert here) trip. Realistically, the compass direction may have to be determined more on available roadways than on actual compass points but then, what's a good trip without a few side trips. If you have even more spare time, start to look up commercial tours, where they go, what they include as sightseeing attractions, etc. You don't have to actually take the tours but rather, use their advertising $ and experience to plan your own trip. The internet is wonderful for these uses since it goes everywhere with no cost other than what you're already paying per month for the service. Every state and most of the mid to larger sized cities also now have a load of information on locations, attractions, and so on... all neatly arranged dated and free to you. I've probably stated the above concepts poorly but maybe you can glean a bit of information that will make planning a bit easier.
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nanagrandma
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Luna
I have been having same type of pain for many years, never got a diagnosis, but my daughter was having the pain and she went to the cardiologist and while she was there she had the pain doctor told her it had nothing to do with the heart it is called " costochondritis" here is website that can give you more info http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/costochondritis/DS00626

it is very painful and I have to take pain meds, but my daughter said she can take ibuprophen for the inflammation and I read that a heating pad helps.

In reading fibromyalgia is one of the causes.

Hope this helps? And praying for you to feel better.

God Bless

Sylvia
Nanagrandma
Purplemoon
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh my Luna, what an ordeal. I'm so glad the tests showed your heart is fine. Like you, I have the anxiety attacks and they sure can mimic heart attacks and scare the heck out of you. I'm glad you had yourself checked out good, and hope the meds make you feel much better.
Your work place sounds pretty difficult, even if you didn't have the Fibro and CFS. I hope the stress lessens somehow.

I've missed almost two days of posts so a lot to catch up on now. Please take care of yourself.
hugs, Karen
leveta
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Sounds like you need to do some taking care of self...We don't want you over loaded again...
tennesseetrash
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Glad you "busted loose" from the hospital, not a fun place to be! Hugs ~tenderlee

{{gwi:78444}}
susiewantsroses
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Luna, It seems to me that you should have taken off work a bit after your mom's passing. People who are in chronic pain are stressed out already. Then when you add a close death, work, and all of life's B.S. (bunny scratches)your vitals will sound a warning alarm.

Make sure your Dr. considers the gallbladder, concerning the burping.

Also my sister tried the menopause helpers she gained a bunch of weight.
susiesunshine
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ms Kathy : L L F ~ I am soooooooooooooo glad that
you are doing better now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't anyone ever tell.... YOu ~ you sill rabbit ...
YOU are NOT trying to get the H I G H E S T
score..... on the BLOOD PRESSURE>.....

Go for the * L O W * you silly girl....

Gosh... Glad to hear.... you got to watch HGTV...
but..
now truly.... Take care of you ...
and

Rest at home.... NOT THE HOSPITAL ! ! ! !

***** You need to be working slowly and
enjoying your gourds... etc....

Keep us informed on how you do....

God Bless You !
TAKE CARE OF (((((((((((((((((Y O U ))))))))))))))))))
Love, & Special Thoughts
& Tons of PRAYERS!
SusieSunshine
toomuchglass
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
So that's where you were hiding out !!! I'm thankful everything went ok . My friend, Mary , had that drug injected to make her heart beat fast - that had to be the scariest thing ever . You will be fine .... you HAVE TO with all the prayers and good wishes from this forum .

*~*~*~*~*~ We made a deal with "the man upstairs" - he promised to take good care of all us Junkers ~~ *wink*
jeannespines
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
luna...glad to hear you went and got checked out at the hospital...that is a good thing...better to be safe, than sorry, as they say. That high of BP...eeek!! That can scare the dickens' out of ya!

Sounds like your body is on "overload" right now, mentally and physically...will keep you in good thought and prayer...but you need to do the hard work yourself...slow down, some, girl...and take care of yourself...everyone wants work done RIGHT NOW...but you know what, the world doesn't disappear (or fall apart) if someone(s) have to wait their turn!

Also loved your finds at the antique place...ladybug & all...oh yeah, let Bob do a little of caregivin' now! Ok, I've preached enough! Jeanne S.
smickerdoodle
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Luna
I am so glad that your heart is ok. But I am still worried about you. Please take care of yourself and don't let work stress you out. It just isn't worth it. Just do what you can and don't stress over the rest. You will get it done when you do. I have learned that stress is the worst thing for your body and it causes so many problems. My doctor gets on my case about stress everytime my kidneys start giving me trouble...the first thing out of her mouth is always "Are you letting things stress you out?" So please find ways to get rid of the stress!

Micki
sunnyca_gw
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Luna, glad you are back! Good that the tests came out OK. Not everything is stress as drs. used to tell ulcer patients to stop stressing, well they 'got stressed by the nasty little bug they had in their guts, nothing to do with stress & type A personalities. But in your case it is a job that you can hardly keep up with,(can any work be given to someone else?) And you have just had a terrific blow losing your mom. With your other problems "the pot boiled over"!With women tho a lot just "pass it off" & have a heart attack so you were wise to get it checked out. Do yourself a favor & get a BP machine as some meds lower it too much & wash you out or if you feel dizzy again you can take it & see if it has gotten too high. We learned to control my dad's at home most of the time, he had an attack of extreme weakness today & after looking at the written record since yesterday of his BP we figured out it was little too much medicine even tho his BP wasn't quite as low as should have been. We got him to eat & he did straighten out OK. Few times he hasn't & we went to hosptial. It may be that you won't need much BP med. if you can get the work situation a little better,also as time passes & feelings arn't as raw in loss of your dear mom. So get BP machine & check in morning & at night or whatever works for you. Hugs & prayers that you get some relief from meds & workload! Jan
concretenprimroses
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Kathy Luna, I'm so glad the tests came out ok and you are feeling better.
Your work has been difficult. The office manager in one place I worked had a sign that read "Your lack of planning is not our emergency". Sounds like some people at your work need that message, and you need to believe it too!
Take care of yourself.
kathy
katishooked
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Luna, I don't stopover on this side often. (forget to really). Anyway I hope you get to feeling better. I understand you have some medical issues that you can't really control, but for yourself you need to take things at work more in stride. One thing I have learned, is that work will survive with or without you. You do what you can while you are there, but leave it there when you go home. Please feel better ok?
kudzukween
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Luna---a mini-vacation was just the thing. I know it felt like a heart attack; I suffer from panic attacks myself. It's worse actually, because some of us have them several times a day!
luna_llena_feliz
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm sort of glad to hear that so many of you understand anxiety attacks. Glad to know there are others who can relate but sorry that you all have to go through it too!

I have been taking the BP meds and they don't seem to make me dizzy (knock on wood). I am getting pretty caught up at work so hopefully things will get back to normal. With this economy, you hate to rock the boat at work because they might get ideas of getting rid of you since there is always someone to take your place. A co-worker has helped me a lot since I've been overwhelmed so that is a blessing. She did it voluntarily ... she's such a good egg!

I am hoping that by the end of this summer, Bob and I will be living in a little home where I have some space for crafting. Doing crafts is always therapeutic for me. Right now I don't have room to leave partially finished projects (except all over the house). Keep your fingers crossed!

Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers!
sunnyca_gw
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Glad you are doing better Luna & that the meds are agreeing with you! That is the big problem getting meds you do well on. How nice of the gal at work to help you out! You need to do relaxing things- like just kick back for a while,when at home, until you get well. Hope stuff with mom's passing is all taken care of, that is stressful. You need time & loving friends to get you through! Don't forget laughter either, read a funny book or get movie that was funny to watch. You are on your way to good health but as they say "baby steps" don't push yourself. Hugs & prayers for good heath & a cute little home for you!! Jan
jeannespines
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh luna...I can do some of the most ridicious things when I'm starting to get stressed about "bunny scratches" (as susieroses said!) ... sometimes I just put an ol' Buddy Holly or Roy Orbinson in the CD player and crank 'er up...takes me back to the late 60's ... and puts a smile on my face & a wiggle in my (well, I won't go there!) Of course, Holly & Orbinson may be "Greek" to you...but whatever works...ahhhh, even that ol' Willie or Elvis...take good care of yourself, luna...it will get better & glad meds are helping...and keep dreamin' about that little house...whoppie! OMgosh, what would we do without good drs., nurses & meds & guys like Bob???? Keepin' you in good thoughts! Jeanne S.

My Mini Vacation in the Hospital

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Marlene Kindred

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My Mini Vacation in the Hospital

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