Location: St. Augustine, FL
About Me: A high school Biology teacher's coping with rosacea while living in the interesting and sometimes insane world of public education.
July 04, 2005
More troubles
Last Thursday the heart problems continued. I had constant atrial fib for all day and night with my heart going lubdublubdub...lub.. dub............lubdublubdub...lub..dub............ It pounded in my chest with a lurching feeling that kept me up most of the night. Friday I called the cardiologist only to find that the office was in the process of closing up early so he could go off for the 4th of July vacation. They suggested I go to the emergency room. I knew that was a no-go because all they would do is stick me in the hospital until Tuesday when the doctors would return from their golfing and cookouts. They finally contacted the doctor and I went in for an ECG. It showed what I already knew, that my heart was now constantly throwing out extra beats. The doctor, probably out of fear of a lawsuit if something happened to me over the weekend, put me on a beta blocker medication and digitalis. The medication has helped reduce the extra beats a little bit but it still is pretty bad. I just woke up at 3 AM now with a pounding sensation that is very uncomfortable. I go back to see the doc Tuesday. Wednesday is the echocardiogram and 24 hour holter monitor. As of now he still does not even venture a guess as to what is going on. I just know that I can't function this way and teach classes this Fall. I hope he gets a clue and can finally deal with this. Right now I get the feeling that all he cares about is not opening himself to a lawsuit. I really don't feel like he cares about me as a person but that is my usual experience with doctors in the past so I'm not surprised. I don't care what his motivation is so long as he does something to relieve this horrible pounding.
The rosacea is still fine, with some dryness and little redness. Funny, isn't it? I have been focusing on the flushing as something terrible but it seems unimportant now.
I've talked a lot with my wife about what she should do in the event that this becomes unstable and progresses to the point that I'm not here. I am reassured that she would be ok if anything happens.
Posted by Ken Albin on July 4, 2005 12:15 AM
Ken~ I'm so glad you posted! You said you were having the stress test last Wednesday and I've been worried. Funny...we read everyone's diary and start to feel a connection even though we don't know them. I found myself out shopping thinking, "I wonder how Ken's doing?"
So sorry you have to go through the weekend like this. I hope you like your heart doctor better than your regular doctor. (I'm assuming they're different.)
I'm not fond of my doctor, but the heart specialist I went to was fabulous!! What a breath of fresh air! Actually talked to me and answered all my questions, and was just a nice person. Pretty sad when that's so rare isn't it!
Anyway, I'll be thinking of you this week and hoping everything goes O.K.
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth at July 4, 2005 09:40 AM