So...I've been having heart palpitations. They're the new background noise of my life, a noise I've been good at drowning out. They started last year when I got Covid, and have come and gone....once in a while I'll realize I haven't had them in a while, and dang, I've been having lot of coffee too! When I cut way back on the coffee, it didn't stop them. I've tried reasoning and researching and adding more magnesium... Then in the last week or so, they've seem worse, more pronounced.
So last evening, I went to visit Emily and Mariel, for Emily's birthday. I told them about the issues, I've mentioned them before, and they were like, Mom, you need to get checked out. So I was a good girl this fine rainy morning, and I called the cardiologist office. Seems I was last seen there five years ago, so no appointment for me unless referred by a general practitioner. So, I called the general practitioner's office, and asked for an appointment, told her half my life story, not really, but that I'm flying to Florida tonight, and the cardiologist can't see me until March, and needs a referral. She asked about the palpitations, said she'd talk to the doc and call me back. Call me back, she did, and said, "You need come in right now." uh-oh.
Now, when these things happen, the thoughts can go many directions, such as what if they think I'm a huge complaining baby? What if I'm having one giant prolonged heart attack? What if they send me to the hospital? what if what if what if.....
Blood pressure: 120/80, pulse 76....that seemed hopeful. EKG: it did show some variations, some delay in the upper chambers beat, which causes the lower chamber to make up for it with a THUMP or two...a benign condition....something he COULD give me meds for but not necessary. He gave me a go-ahead to fly tonight, and also a list of things to worry about, I mean watch for. shortness of breath (shh, he should seem go up a flight stairs!), prolonged missed beats, lightheadedness, dizzy (again, what?! Dizzy is my middle name!). In any case, the doctor said the EKG is fine, I told him, "I prayed on the way here that if there was anything bad, it would show up." I told him my usual method with health scares is to ignore them, they usually go away.
They did some quick bloodwork and said they'd try to let me know by this afternoon, and in the middle of this sentence, they called: everything is within normal range. wow. I still have to go into the cardiologist and have an echocardiogram done, and a three day halter monitor, but not until March....which is how things are these days..
In any case, I am extremely thankful for the kindness shown by both the receptionist and the doctor, and also the nurse and the phlebotomist, especially the doctor....he said, "I couldn't see you going to the ER for something we can look at right in the office, and I wanted to make sure you got to Florida." How NICE is THAT?! Above and beyond the call of duty. I am so appreciative.
And...it's time to pack up the puppies and drive them to Margaret and Adrian's house....I hope they behave themselves....!