A FRIGHTENING TIME

I am experiencing a difficult physical challenge. About a week ago, I found that I could no longer swallow easily because I could no longer belch. Okay, I guess that sounds kind of gross, but that is the closest I can come to describe what I am going through. The apartment I live in has been exposed to very unhealthy fumes, which management absolutely refuses to acknowledge, much less do anything about it. But, it is what it is. What I resist, simply persists. So I keep on inhaling, but to fight it only makes it worse.

As a result of all of this,  I was admitted last evening to the emergency room of the hospital. It was BJC, in St. Peters, Missouri … an excellent hospital far better than most I have been in … and, quite frankly that’s been quite a few!! These kind and gentle folks took such good care of me. They did all in their power to bring me comfort and relief … including but not limited to a very challenging stress test that I endured. If you have never undergone one, it is difficult to describe how painful it is.

It wasn’t the kind of stress test where you run on a treadmill. It was the kind where chemicals are administered intravenously over a period of about a half hour. I cannot describe how frightening and painful this procedure was. It took forever for the effects to wear off and I was, simply stated, terrified AND exhausted. Going through the Cat Scan was nowhere near as uncomfortable because I was able to lie down and simply have the machine move around me.

I hope you never need to go through this. I did so at the suggestion of my excellent chiropractor whom I have been seeing for about four years. Since he had a heart attack a few years ago, he is familiar with pain and with stress tests. He was concerned that I may have been having a heart attack. As painful as the past 24 hours or so have been, I am grateful for his professional concern. I have no heart problems at all. The tests proved that. I daresay my own fear, worry and frustration have caused a lot of my stress and fear.

In the face of all of this, I truly wish I could say that I get the same kind of warm and professional treatment from my regular medical doctor, who is virtually impossible to reach. I’m not giving up there either. I’m going to begin tomorrow morning “hounding” her until I get an appointment to see her. There is nothing more frustrating in the world than playing “phone tag” with your primary care physician. That is not the way it SHOULD be, but, unfortunately it is too often the case. It is not entirely her fault. It is the system that is at fault. Healthcare in this country has indeed improved vastly, but it still leaves a great deal to be desired. So, I have to continue to advocate for myself.

AND I SO I DO! AMEN!