Well that was fun.

[lolabobs]

Last night, (just before bed (around 1am) I started to get a pain in my chest, I went to bed, thinking tiredness and late night were all that was of concern. Pretty soon however, it developed into a stunning, unbearable, crushing pain in the centre of my chest. I was cold and clammy, couldn't breathe and was dizzy. The pain was excruciating, the worst I've ever had and it just grew more crushing and breathing grew harder.

I gave in and called my Dad for help, who took one look at me when he got here and dialled 999.

Emergency services pair no 1 arrived. They took a history and called for back up. Paramedic arrived. Took an ecg and went very sombre, put me on oxygen and gave me various medications, called for ambulance advising possible/probable MI. (I of course freaked when I heard this. Paramedics 4 and 5 arrived. You know, my house isn't that big.

They were taking new ecgs, these were not succesful, reader ran out of battery, then paper, and gave some odd readings. They got two good ones that showed significant 'issues' in 'one lead'

At some point I was violently sick.

Carted of to A&E in the back of the ambulance. Three more ECGs when I get there. (Thankully at this point the pain has subsided (courtesy of medication and oxygen) and I'm just cold, clammy and dizzy). These ECGs show different anomolies, which ends in the Consultant (the second I saw) announcing that I had had a heart attack and would be admitted for treatment.

Did I mention the freaking?

Eventually I am admitted onto the ward where there is the classic very through Sister. She takes the time to review my records and look at previous ECGs that I have had for other things (pre ops etc). She notices two salient points.

1) The pre op ECGs and those taken by the paramedics match, in that yes they do show an anomoly but it's not a new one.
2) The A&E ECGs show a very different anomoly. One which indicates the definite heart attack.

She does some investigation, challenging A&E - she believes that their ECGs are incorrect, to the extent that she runs yet more ECGs herself, one 'properly' and one with the leads incorrectly connected. Her results prove her point, either the A&E machine or their staff are faulty.

I go on to have a chest xray, she pulls out my previous ECGS to show a new consultant and 12hours later when the results will be valid I have blood tests which eventually show no enzymes present, confirming NO heart attack.

Phew.

I am covered in bruises from the various pinpricks, the paramedics took 4 attempts to give me a canula before giving up and leaving it for A&E. They managed that first time, but struggled to withdraw blood causing other holes. I had anti coagulant injection in my tummy. I am allergic to sticking plaster type stuff, so have angry weals where all the ECG tags were stuck (new tags for each one!) I also have sleep deprivation, having not slept since 8am Saturday morning.

What I do not have however is an Heart attack, so one should be grateful.

I do still have an anomoly and I have new tests to see how my heart reacts in other circumstances, treadmill monitoring etc, but it looks as if the pain was linked to the vomitting (Sorry Sam to keep referring to this) and I have been allowed home from the CCU.

It's been a long weekend!

Comments

[silver-chipmunk.livejournal.com]

((hugs)) Thank God you're OK now. I hope they find out soon what was going on.

[whatho.livejournal.com]

You really don't have to apologise for mentioning v_m_ting when you've had a WAY TOO EXCITING experience like this, but, you know, thanks for thinking of me! That all sounds deeply and obviously vile, but I'm very glad to hear you didn't have a heart attack. I hope they work out what happened and that you have a significantly less exciting remainder of the month.

[perverteerno1.livejournal.com]

eek... hope it's nothing big
*hugs*

what a sucky sunday

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

LOLA!!! My goodness, honey, what a weekend you've had!! I'm so glad you're home now, and I certainly hope some retraining happens with those paramedics!

[enednoviel.livejournal.com]

Geez! *sends gentle hugs*

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Good grief, what an ordeal!! Please, just rest up and take things easy for a few days (((HUGS)))

[dipslikeramon.livejournal.com]

WOW! Sounds like a classic heart attack! Good deal that the enzymes weren't high and you felt okay afterward. *gentle hugs*

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh good grief, what an horrible experience. Take care and try to rest.

[oasis3017.livejournal.com]

What a scary experience! I'm glad you are at home again.
Best wishes to you!

[scaratch.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're ok and home now!! Sounds extremely scary & painful! *big hugs* ... take it easy and I hope you can get some sleep. x

[ugerchucker.livejournal.com]

Crikey, thank God it wasn't a heart attack. *HUGS* Good luck for the tests to come.

[jekesta]

I am very happy about the lack of heart attack, but it sounds kind of scary enough as it is. I love the sound of your Sister. I hope your anomaly is not too anomalish. ::loves you::

[hardboiledbaby]

Oh my goodness! I'm glad to hear no heart attack, but what an ordeal! Try to rest *gentle hugs*

[lydia-petze.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, you. :-( Feel better soon. /hugs/

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

oh hun, that must have been scary! I'm really happy you're okay and it didn't turn out to be anything more serious after all. Hugs to you darling.

[curiositykate.livejournal.com]

That must have been really scary! I'm glad you're feeling better now and that it wasn't a heart attack!

[mrs-sweetpeach.livejournal.com]

Holy cats, that's altogether too much excitement for the weekend. And all the wrong sort, too. :-(

So very glad it wasn't a heart attack.

*hugs*

[belelfmir.livejournal.com]

*hugs*, go to bed, rest and sleep, that's the best thing you can do.
*more hugs*