Given the name of the blog, this is an odd name for a post but, in this case appropriate.
On Tuesday afternoon, on my way home from work, I began to experience severe chest pains. I got only as far as Sixth Avenue when I had to stop and I called 911. The Seattle Fire Department arrived promptly and took me to Virginia Mason Hospital. They started treatment in the ambulance, where I received 4 baby aspirin and 2 doses of sublingual nitroglycerin. My chest still hurt, it felt tight and I felt short of breath.
In Virginia Mason, I received more nitro--another pill and a chest patch--as well as morphine. My pain began to ease. I was admitted to the hospital. I called Nathan and Mary and asked Nathan to move my car, which was parked illegally (or at least I thought it was) on Sixth Avenue. This was my first night in a hospital. The staff at Virginia Mason was great, very attentive, very caring and wonderfully professional. Actually, even the hospital food was pretty decent. I settled in for overnight, wired, on oxygen and very nervous.
They did several tests; an ultrasound of my left leg (to see if the chronic swelling there was related to a blood clot), a cardiac catheterization, and a CT scan of my aorta. All the tests were negative. After the cath, the doctor told me I had the "arteries of an 18-year old." So, I was discharged home with a final diagnosis of "Atypical Chest Pain," which means they don't know what was going on.
While I was in the hospital I had great visits from Sarah and Gary, from Becky and Mike along with Lukas, Emelia and Zackery and from Nathan and Mary. I got phone calls from Ben, Mom and Steve as well from Rubie, Janet and Amy. All the visits and each of the phone calls was a real boost and I appreciate the concern. The kids were a great distraction while we waited for the call to the catherterization lab, which was about a half hour late. Sarah showed them how to make balloons from rubber gloves. Finally, you can see from this picture of Emelia how things turned out in the end!
1 comment:
Oh, my gosh! I am so glad you have grand arteries and are free again. That must have been totally scary. Atypical Chest Pain translates to: I dunno. But it could have been worse, they could have found reason for concern. I'm glad they didn't.
Post a Comment