My Achy Breaky Heart
August 06, 2008
When I turned 30 last month, a handful of people teased me about my body falling apart, about how it’s all downhill from here. I pathetically laughed along, both fearfully and dismissively, assuming it couldn’t be THAT bad. And then, this past Saturday, I found myself in the ER.
Saturday morning, as I walked into the grocery store, I felt a sharp pain shoot through my chest cavity. It squeezed my upper ribcage, ripped through my breasts and lodged itself just to the side of my heart. Am I having a heart attack? The pain radiated into my throat and ricocheted around to my mid-back. I grabbed the side of the refrigerated cheese display. I’m too young to be having a heart attack. I felt like my entire chest was constricted and at the same time, it felt like it was going to explode.
Ever the optimist, I trudged along in the store, determined to finish my task. Must get milk and eggs. Good thing both were in the same vicinity. I checked out and drove home, nauseated from the pain but still lucid. And just as I pulled up in front of our house, everything began to subside.
What was that? Did I have a heart attack? A stroke? A panic attack? I walked into our house, chest still throbbing and burst into tears when I saw Roger. Finally! A friendly face! Someone who didn't just stare at me clinging to the railing, but who asked me what was wrong. And then we went to the ER.
The emergency staff riddled me with questions about my morning and my pain and exactly where did it hurt? And did you vomit? (No.) And what did you have to eat this morning (Nothing yet.) Was your heart racing? (I'm not sure.) Did you experience any shortness of breath? (I was kind of distracted by ALL THAT PAIN, in case I hadn't mentioned it before.) Do you have a family history of heart failure? (Yes.) Can you show me again where it hurt? Let's do an EKG. I reclined on the table while a nurse hooked electrodes across my torso, plugging them in one by one.
Honey, she said, I teach classes up at the surgery center, and this is one of the most perfect EKGs I've ever seen. You're in perfect health! Confused, I looked at her big hair and bright eyes, her cartoon-themed scrubs swallowing her petite frame. What happened that morning didn't FEEL like perfect health. It felt like I was DYING. She measured my oxygen levels (perfect), did an ultrasound (nothing abnormal) and ran a few more diagnostic tests (perfect).
I didn't get any answers on Saturday, other than establishing that my heart rate, my blood pressure, my EKG, my oxygen levels and everything else about me, is perfect.
(Though, honestly, didn't we already know I'm perfect?)
Comments
Yes we did and funny too!
I felt like I was 90 years old when I was in the hospital because my back gave out on me and I'm only 28. I mean seriously its like we start falling apart after the ripe old age of 27. I feel so old. Next think you know I'm going to have to start wearing adult diapers.
So have you felt the pain again?
Posted by: Lissa | August 6, 2008 08:55 PM
How's that stress level? I had chest pains that mysteriously disappeared when I broke up with the exMrS. Maybe there is something in your life that needs smoothing out?
Posted by: Suebob | August 6, 2008 09:11 PM
Ummm, how come when I talked to you you didn't mention this?! I'd call you right now and yell at you about it (wouldn't that help your stress level) except that I'm too lazy to get up off the couch and look for my cell phone and I don't have your phone number memorized - SO CONSIDER YOURSELF YELLED AT! By the way, I hope you're feeling better :)
Posted by: Erica | August 6, 2008 09:17 PM
Wow, how scary, and weird that all the tests they ran came out normal. Sending out prayers that it won't happen again.
Posted by: Laura | August 7, 2008 12:07 AM
That's is scary. Even though confirmation of your perfection is probably a nice thing, it's not worth going through that kind of a scare. Hope you're feeling better and that it doesn't happen again!
Posted by: Lia | August 7, 2008 06:40 AM
I have had panic attacks before that felt like what a heart attack would feel like. (at least I THINK that is what a heart attack would feel like) - Couldn't breathe, couldn't see, flush, hot cold all at the same time, pain radiating everywhere....
Glad to see that you are physically ok. -- :) Hope the anxiety of it all fades soon for you.
Posted by: Michelle | August 7, 2008 06:42 AM
agree with the panic attack thoughts - i was sure i was dying when i had my big one.... it lasted forever (wouldnt you know a panic attack only makes you panic more!) and was some of the worst pain and certainly one of the scariest moments of my life!
Posted by: Willow | August 7, 2008 10:49 AM
WHAAAATTTT??????????????
Hold up, are you ok? have you had this again? anything else?
Can you tell I'm a bit freaked out to have only read about this on your blog and not gotten a call from you telling me with your own voice so I can be all concerned on teh phone and pepper you with questions and then rush over with an ice pack and chicken noodle soup (ok so I don't have great medical skills but I work with what I know).
Posted by: Katie | August 7, 2008 01:28 PM
So scary.
I'm glad you're feeling better! Did they offer any explanation?? I hope they are able to find out what exactly happened.
Posted by: Lisa | August 8, 2008 08:09 AM
JESSICA! I totally echo Erica and Katie - what the heck??!! You have to tell us about these things. Next thing I know I'm going to find out you have a 2 year old that you "failed to mention" the last time we talked. Sheesh!!
By the way, how are you feeling now??
Posted by: Nicolle | August 8, 2008 10:38 AM
I've felt a pain like yours before and in talking to my neighbor who is an internal medicine doctor, he told me I had had an esofagus spasm. No real reason why they happen but they hurt like hell AND you feel like you're about to die.
It's kind of scary to know that the only way to know the difference between this and a heart attack is if you lose consciousness or pass out. By then it's too late to do anything. It may not be a bad idea that you get checked for high cholesterol, etc.
Posted by: Jorge | August 13, 2008 12:48 PM