I thought I had a heart attack yesterday.
It was a lovely, warm, calm day. I was sitting at the table and had just tucked in to a nice bowl of Japanese soup when out of nowhere, a headache began in the middle of my brain, expanded and swelled and got worse and worse and worse until I thought my skull would explode. It happened just as fast as it takes to read that sentence. I got nauseous and short of breath, and came over all clammy. Chest pain. Tingling hands. I went from feeling as good as I've ever felt in my life to AGONY in three seconds. It continues to wax and wane after the initial blast, too. I could not have made a phone call, driven a car, or walked to the front door.
I was still going "Why? Huh? What?" when the Biker calmly took me to the emergency room.
After ex-rays, cardiograms and a couple of brain scans, I found out: I was fine. The cardiologist told me that I have the heart and circulatory system of an 18 year old kid (insert 'crawlspace' or 'trunk of my car' joke here) and oddly, my brain scans were 100% normal. I expected to see weird things, like maybe a pool toy or something. But no. No sign of an aneurism or an impending aneruism, no alien implants. And by this time, I was feeling fiiiiiiiine. A little hungry. A little sheepish. The pain had just faded away on it's own. It took about an hour and a half.
Apparently I had a Cluster Headache. I was given a medication to take if I feel another one coming on, and now I have to go and do a bunch of tests to check all the other things that might be the problem, which really irritates me, but is better than having my head explode and far less of a pain to clean up after, I guess.
The reason this even merits a post is because I had no problems whatsoever up at the hospital. None. It was fast and professional. The place was a war zone after Covid; now the whole place has been cleaned, repaired, updated and streamlined. The staff seemed upbeat, not the downtrodden, resentful drudges I remember. It's not the same St. Joe's that I used to fear, and that is A Very Good Thing. Good health care still happens in America.
It looks like I won't be dying of a heart attack or an aneurism anytime soon, either. Cool.
Very good to hear! Although I imagine that cluster headaches are no joke, at least they can be dealt with (hopefully). Jx
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a case of run for the Benadryl the instant you feel things going tits up - at least until I visit my GP and get a solid diagnosis. I'm pretty sure it's a combination of adjusting my thyroid meds and burgeoning type 2 diabetes. I defeated the latter once. They say it comes back in latter years. We shall see. XOOO Thanks, Jon.
DeleteI'm so glad it wasn't an aneurism! I'm paranoid about those and would immediately run to an ER with the kind of pain you described.
ReplyDeleteTake care! xx
Right?! Me, I was afraid of a heart attack because they present differently in women, so that with the chest pain - pure stress, as it turns out - was enough for the Biker and I. It was only after I got to the ER that I began thinking about aneurisms. My EKG went nuts every time the thought crossed my mind! Thank God they were able to sort it all out.
DeleteHell's teeth! You scared me there...Now, go make another bowl of that soup and keep the pills handy. XX
ReplyDeleteMan, as soon as I got home I was chowing down on that soup! You don't let good japanese soup go to waste! I was hungry! At this age women have so much to worry about...heart attacks that don't present with traditional symptoms, MS...it keeps you hopping. The whole reason I eat Japanese soup for breakfast is because it's vegetarian, low fat, all natural and full of bulk and vitamins and other good stuff. I felt so betrayed! XOO
DeleteNOTICE TO ALL: You people keep me going. I appreciate you so much and I am so grateful to have you all on board. Kids, my 18 - year - old heart is touched. Bless you all. You're wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been overwhelmingly frightening. Good for the Biker.
ReplyDeleteThe Biker is THE BEST!
DeleteVery pleased to read that you are well!
ReplyDeleteI am shuffling uneasily though as I've been having peculiar pains that I should get checked out - the problem is that our hospitals still seem broken.
Sx
Now listen missy - you go get those checked. Remember - a broken UK hospital is a 'business as usual' USA hospital!
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