NOT THE HOSPITAL

I walked to church and back on Sunday. Haven’t walked there in a couple of months. Felt good. There was no pain, other that what came from the cold. Monday was a busy day and the beginning g of problems that have been building for three months, most likely. Saw my chiropractor first, came back had a cup of coffee at The Home then left to see my podiatrist. I was fitted for the brace for my left foot. I couldn’t believe it. The brace is light and yet it straightened out my foot immediately — and no pain. I was shocked.

I wore the wrong shoes for the fitting. I was told I would need a fair amount of room in the heel to accommodate the brace. Well, the loosest heel I have is on my slippers. Great, except my arch is high and with the brace I could not get in my shoe. So I left with my brace in the large sports bag provided. Very large! Promotion they call it.

I then rushed to physical therapy and had the hardest work out yet. We did a number of balance tests with my eyes closed and others with my head swinging back and forth. I got very dizzy. Since that was the end of the session I assumed everything would be OK. I felt a little woozy but drove to get a couple of prescriptions then picked up The Home newsletter. I went in to the dining room to fold the newsletters and hand them out. Weird is the only way to describe what I felt. I wasn't dizzy but a little lightheaded. I knew I was hungry as I only had a bowl of cereal and it was getting on toward 1:00. By the time I got back from distributing papers to the big building I thought I was having a sugar low. I sat and ate a muffin hoping that would help. I wanted something with more sugar, but couldn't find it. I got back to my room, grabbed a diet pop and a couple of pieces of candy and sat in my recliner. By this time my head was starting to spin but I was feeling better. I didn't plan on this, but I fell asleep. When I awoke my heart was beating fast and I was convinced I was having another sugar low. This time I got a glucose pill and everything seemed to settle down. But I could not walk back to the sofa. My head began spinning and I could not walk straight. Would have complained about being drunk had I drank anything.

I called my daughter to see is she could drive me to the hospital. She didn’t answer. Tried to get to the kitchen and could no longer stand or walk. My heart was now racing a 100 miles and hour. Lying there I decided I could not walk to any body’s car and called 911. It was my heart. I had atrial fibrillation. Paramedics rushed me to the hospital and they immediately tried to slow my heart down and thin my blood. I was held over night and this morning everything was back to normal. While there a nurse pointed out that I also had sleep apnea. My snoring and lack of breaths gave it away. That contributes to heart disease. Yes, new medications have been added, new food restrictions. I believe with only 2 or 3 new diseases and I will no longer be able to eat anything. No dairy, no salt, no leafy greens, no sugar and only decaf coffee. Whoa is me, for I am undone.

I am tried and now need to rearrange some meetings and appointments for new and more doctors. It was suggested I should have a sleep test, get a regular cardiologist, and more regular blood tests. I am considering getting a permanent room near these doctors since I may soon have I live there.

Three heart problems at three different times and none have resembled each other. I got immediate care and am being treated well. My growing exhaustion over the last few months was clearly leading up to this. I had no explanation why I was so tired. I hope that also gets better.

Now that I have spent an entire blog acting like an old person (I am one) and going over all my ailments, I will stop. Tomorrow I will go back to the Soap Opera which is The Home.