Saturday, July 1, 2017

because the whole throat thing wasn't enough


So, you might remember when we got back I mentioned an issue I'm dealing with. A week or so before we left, I started having episodes of (a few times pounding) rapid heartbeat that would last for hours. Started out just coming on at night around 10 PM. Two days, then skipped a day, then 3 or 4 days and then the day before we left, one around 6:30 PM. Admittedly I had been pretty stressed out about this trip...the scheduling, the travel, trying to cram in as much as we could and could afford in the time we had, plus getting the house clean and trimming the Little Backyard and packing that last day. I had already researched it on the internet...atrial fibrillation, not lethal or a real problem unless the episodes last more than 7 hours one site said or 24 hours another site said.

I figured, hoped, it would stop once we were there and the day we traveled I was fine until towards the end of dinner when a mild episode started up. And so that became the pattern for the trip. At least once a day, I would have a mild episode, more or less, that if I could go lay down when I felt it starting I could meditate it away in about 30 to 40 minutes and then I would be fine for the rest of the day. There was no pain associated with these episodes, just I could feel it in my throat and could see my shirt moving, which normally, your heart beating does not make your shirt move. Anyway, the day we left, the 13th, I woke up feeling good, relaxed, like something inside had let go and I haven't had an episode since the one on the 12th. Well, a little flutter here and there but so brief that if I hadn't just been through some sustained episodes I probably wouldn't have even been aware of it.

The day after we got back I called my primary care doc like a good little girl and she had me come in that day. Her opinion was it was probably just stress since there was no pain or any of the other indicators of heart trouble but she sent me to a cardiologist to get checked out anyway. So, that's what I did last Tuesday, went to the cardiologist. They did the interview and 99% of my answers were 'no', they took my blood pressure in both arms and got two different readings (higher in my right arm), they did an EKG and an echocardiogram and I got to see my heart beating strong and regular and listen to the whoosh whoosh. 

image via: http://www.pacemakerplus.com/ekg-ecg-vs-echocardiogram-what-is-the-difference/

The doctor said I had a good strong healthy heart if a bit leaky. One of my valves doesn't close tight promptly and a little bit of blood leaks back into the previous chamber but gets expelled with the next beat. Nothing to worry about he said, but something to keep an eye on.

So next he wants to put one of those 24 hour heart monitors on me and after that do a stress test, both of which are scheduled for week after next. I'm not in favor of the stress test because they inject a radioactive tracer into your bloodstream and I don't care for invasive procedures like that. I'm kind of a purest where my body is concerned. I have agreed to it because my sister had a heart attack (survived) and my paternal grandfather had one that killed him. I'm not really sure what it will accomplish besides a better picture of how the blood flows through my heart. I've had no other symptoms of heart disease or stroke and I'm pretty sure it was just stress even though I have never reacted to stress in that way before and since he didn't send me off with any cautions about my behavior, I'm going back to all my evil ways.

What with all the doctor visits trying to figure out my throat craziness earlier this year and now this, I've spent far too much time at the hands of the medical community and their tests. I almost liked it better when I didn't have any insurance.

And now I have to make an appointment with the dermatologist because I have a suspicious looking spot on my arm and a couple of actinic keratoses on my face.

Crap! It just never ends. This getting older shit is pissing me off.






16 comments:

  1. Right behind you. All of the above. My heart thing was stress related and went away after all these tests. Nothing to fear, I hope. Have a skin caner on my scalp that I am treating. Iminoquid or something like that. Cream you use once a day on those skin things. Works. RX of course. I don't have the swallowing thing though I've developed a dry mouth and it's a bitch. It is patch, patch, patch at this point. I get so sick and tired of going to the doctor.

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  2. Oh honey. I feel for you. I've had episodes of A-Fib in my life and usually stress related. They can be scary! I need to call my dermatologist too. Jesus. I HATE getting old. No matter what you do, it sucks the big one.

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  3. I like Donna's analogy, "patch, patch, patch." I see those big, black, square patches we put on balloon tires. Our bodies will be slathered in black patches.

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  4. Mr.Man has had atrial fib for years, takes medication to keep it from happening because it does do damage and can be frightening! He had to stop going to exercise classes because it would always send him home or to the ER. It is a terrible sensation , I am so sorry. Please take extra special care of you, you are not old enough to be old yet!!

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  5. The majority of my social life at this age is visiting doctors. If it wasn't for us boomers, those young doctors would never be able to pay their education loans back.

    My husband has/had a-fib and medicine has taken care of that.

    Try not to stress about your stress test. I have had quite a few and they are easy peasy.

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  6. I can so relate to you. I've been sick and was in the hospital for 7 days with chest pressure, an impacted bowel and a bacterial infection. I have every test they could possibly do for my heart and they declared it fine. I have gastropareses so that complicates everything and the treatment for everything. And how can you not have stress when your body is rebelling against you??? I hope you feel better.

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  7. I'm pretty pissed too. I have the hip thing, as you know, which has indirectly caused some finger numbness (from using the walker), and I think I need a root canal. It's just one damn thing after another. Sigh. But I'm really glad you're getting checked out!

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  8. So sorry about your latest crazy thing. It's scary when your heart acts up. My mom has had a-fib for years and its stressful. It's good you're paying attention, given your family history, but I get the not wanting to do any extraneous tests. It's relentless, though, the one thing after another, isn't it? Some days I'm just glad I can get out of bed and walk around! Hope your tests are all good news.

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  9. Yep, it pisses me off also. I used to brag that I was 70 and on no medications. Now I am on bone strengthening med, statins and blood pressure meds. What the hell happened? I still feel fine, but I am glad you are watching this. I am suspicious when stuff re-occurs and they call its stress!

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  10. The stress test is easier walking for them.The other is for the birds.

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  11. Getting old isn't for wimps. Many of us are in your position--dealing with age-related issues.

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  12. Yes we are. Best wishes to you. I hope you have a stress-free period. Just because your relatives suffered doesn't mean you have to.

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  13. I am still paying the medical bills from my fun time with my heart. I still wonder why, since I definitely met the magic number for the deductible. I am with you, I liked it better when I didn't have insurance! Ignorance is bliss.

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  14. SO annoying to be stuck with this shell that's dropping pieces as we go, while in our heads we're exactly the same as we've always been. I'm glad the episodes weren't a major deal, but you were smart to get checked out.

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  15. My a-fib began when I had my gallbladder out and am now on meds to control it and the anticoagulant to help to prevent stroke. I have had several stress tests all good I am happy to say. I take several meds a day but am grateful for my Drs. and meds to keep me going for I hope many years longer. Mentally I certainly do not feel 72 but the body has aged. Shocking! Glad that you are having your tests and getting symptoms attended to.

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  16. My brother and I were just talking about this. When it comes to getting older, if it's not one thing, it's another! I'd go ahead and do those tests, just to be sure you know what's going on.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.