That is my least vulnerable spot

[ebonlock]

Ok so back in December I had my first really bad bout of heart palpitations. Not the usual I just ran around and my heart's pounding kind of thing, rather the I'm sitting here reading a book and all of a sudden the heart's racing and skipping beats kind of thing. I chalked it up to stress, but saw the doc who confirmed that was what was going on did an EKG and pronounced no problem.

Fine. So January comes and goes without any real issues, I mean some palpitations but not bad and I figure ok, it was a freakish thing and now it's getting better. Until they started up again last Wednesday. They weren't bad until I got it in my head to do a half mile walk on Friday afternoon and by the time I made it home I had a sensation not unlike an alien baby trying to thrust itself out of my chest. It got worse from there until I broke down and set up an appointment to see the doc again today.

And of course last night about 9 pm it stopped just as mysteriously as it had begun. Now I just have an ache in my chest like someone punched me and a really sore left shoulder, but that's about it. I slept on my side last night with no problems (it seemed to make things worse before). I felt like a bit of an idiot at the doctor's office but she seems to be taking me mostly seriously so that's good. I'll pick up some beta blockers tomorrow and then I make an appointment to do a Holter test (basically a 24 hour portable EKG is how I've heard it described...how I'm going to sleep with that thing on is beyond me, though), and then we shall see.

The funny bit was when the doc commented that she'd really like me to try to trigger the palpitations if I could and I looked at her as if she were nuts. I go out of my way to avoid them most of the time, and now she wants me to make them happen. *sigh* I understand why I have to do it but it isn't going to be much fun. Ah well, at least I'm feeling better now so I intend to enjoy it while it lasts. I'll worry about catching up with all the work that's piled up since Thursday tomorrow.

For those who haven't read moonlightnrain's latest post please do so and send some love her way along with virtual hugs, she could really use them.

Comments

[scoreboard.livejournal.com]

I don't think that points are redeemable for cures or anything, but nevertheless, +22 for perfect use of one of the best lines from The. Best. Film. Ever.

(Yes, I said 22. Cash 'em in and don't come back. ;] )

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

And a gold star for recognizing it and the context ;)

[moonlightnrain.livejournal.com]

Just now putting this all together. Does this mean you stayed home today? If so, get some rest (and I'll quit trying to get this feedback doc to you). If not, go home. :)

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

Yes I stayed home because I'm a giant slacker and couldn't be buggered to drag myself out of bed this morning.

[moonlightnrain.livejournal.com]

I am so not busting my butt to get this feedback done, then. :P Actually this is a good thing as I'm having a bad day of it.

[esmerel.livejournal.com]

Another friend of mine had to do one of those when she was pregnant. She said 'man, annoying', but hey, it's at least something that could help, right?

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

Theoretically, that is if they happen while I'm wearing the damned thing. With my luck I'll just end up lugging the thing around and looking like a moron ;)

[rexluscus.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh. I'm so sorry - those things are so unpleasant. And scary! Feeling one's heart doing anything out of the ordinary is always a scary experience. So I'm glad your doc is taking you seriously. In my experience if it isn't obvious what's going on, they sometimes get kind of a "eh, it should go away" attitude. :-/ Anyway take care of yourself! *hugs*

[windrose.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

The new Holter monitors are much less clunky than the older models; first time I had one done back in the 80s, I felt like I'd been assimilated by the Borg. :P

But they are very useful things, and will give your doc a good baseline for what's going on inside your heart.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

That's all I'm hoping for at this point, just figuring out what the hell is going on.

[psyfic.livejournal.com]

I'm glad they're taking you seriously and trying to get to the bottom of it. *worries*

Btw, now that you're well and truly in place - please to be emailing us your snail mail. (odogoddess @ yahoo.com) We held off on your holiday pressies like you asked before your move, but you should be settled like a very settled thing now. We hope. *hugs*

[elo-sf.livejournal.com]

@!@!@!

Holly bat crap!

*hugs*

Anything I can do?

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

Nothing to be done right now, dear, except follow the doctor's instructions and do the test next week. In the meantime I'm just going to take things easy, get lots of rest, and see what happens.

[phillipalden.livejournal.com]

I hope you feel better soon. Medical stuff can be so scary and draining at times.

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

Bummer. I hope the heart thing ends up being a minor tweek, nothing major.
*hugs* and stronger heart.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I hope so too, and thanks :)

[vimeslady.livejournal.com]

Gods, if I had severe chest pain after exercising, I would have dialed 911! I'm glad you saw the doctor and that she is taking this seriously.

My mother developed palpitations, usually when under stress, back in 1973. They put her on a mild heart medication. She is now 90 years old and she still hasn't had any life-threatening heart issues. Although they did put in a pacemaker last year.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I'm glad your mom's doing well and I hope I can emulate her in this. I'm picking up some meds today after work so hopefully that'll help.

[psyfic.livejournal.com]

saw this:
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070219/481/kmz10202191246

thought of you, and made you an icon:


Good look for him, isn't it? ;)

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

That is both hilarious and deeply disturbing. I'd thankfully never even considered what Bush's ass might look like and now...there it is...GAH!

[psyfic.livejournal.com]

*sympathy pats* I know what you mean.