A quick run-down for any of you who haven't heard: I was struggling with chest pain over the last two months. After one ER visit to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack, it was determined I should basically wait it out. The pain got better, then worse. Finally, a week ago Thursday, it hurt so bad I couldn't breathe. I went to see the doctor, and he sent me straight to the ER again.
There we found out that I had fluid built up around both lungs and my heart. In fact, part of my left lung had collapsed due to the pressure. No wonder I couldn't breathe! After a week of tests to try to determine the cause, I'm finally on prednisone and doing much better. Let me recount some of my triumphs over the last five days of medication:
- I can walk up the half flight of stairs to the kitchen without having to immediately sit down and wait five minutes for the wheazing to stop.
- I can sleep in my bed again (instead of a recliner).
- I left the house for something other than a doctor's visit.
- I actually blew into my flute. (A major accomplishment since a week ago I couldn't get out a whole sentense at a time.)
All in all, I think I'm doing quite well. Now I just get to wait to see the bills. Still, I'm not complaining. I live in a country where we have access to the best medicine in the world. When the doctor wanted me to have a CT scan, he sent me down the hall. Thirty minutes later it was being sent to the radiologist for reading. When a friend in Canada had a serious, undiagnosed illness and needed either an EKG or an MRI, he had to wait months. So while it may cost a lot, we do get what we pay for.
And I'm thankful for family. And thankful that I live with them. Otherwise, best case scenario, I would have ended up in the hospital for a week. This way I could be at home (much more comfortable) with people who love and care for me. They also kept an eye on me 24/7--quite reassuring when you're having trouble breathing. Mom and Jen really pitched in and took care of my chores, etc., so that now that I'm better I'm not starting out behind in everything. And it's just nicer to be with family at a time like this.
So I'll write more later about some of the interesting things I discovered while unable to move. Right now, though, I think I'll get some lunch.