Frustrating Day

Well, the muscle fatigue, rapid heartbeat, etc continue.

After spending all morning trying to get in touch with my doctor's office, I was told that my test results came back normal.  (The faxed copy they sent me had my potassium and creatinine both marked as "high," but apparently they were just high according to the computer's range - normal according to the doctor's range.)  Jamie picked me up at lunch and took me to the ER.  He wanted to take me to a cardiologist, but no one could fit me in today, and my primary care physician said that with my symptoms, he would rather I be seen at the ER than his office.  We were at the ER for about 3 1/2 hours, and in that time experienced:

• 2 blown veins in my right arm while trying to find a place for the IV
• 1 cold IV in a third vein-entry point
• 5 vials of blood drawn from my left hand (since my left elbow-vein was collapsed from the two previous blood draws that week)
• 1 EKG
• 1 chest x-ray
• 1 urine test
• 1 orthostatic test (blood pressure & pulse while laying/sitting/standing)
• 1 friendly orderly
• 1 very condescending doctor

Results?  Inconclusive.  Some things can be ruled out, though - the EKG and X-ray came back normal, so that's good news.  My blood work showed that my creatinine and potassium levels are down from Wednesday, so those previously-elevated levels must have been due to my medications.  My blood pressure is good no matter what position I'm in.  The one weird thing - and the reason I'm supposed to go see a cardiologist next week if this continues - is my pulse.

(I just want to interrupt here to say that I am so thankful that they at least got something about this weirdness documented.  This whole thing has made me feel like some sort of hypochondriac.  I've never heard of this happening to anyone I know, and it's not really a visible issue, and I feel like I'm 90 years old all of a sudden and it's just ridiculous.  Sitting there in the ER being condescended to by the doctor ("you know, I see a lot of people who are dehydrated...") just got me angry, and I didn't even have the energy to snarl at her.  Interruption over.)

My pulse was taken along with my blood pressure in 3 positions: laying down, sitting, then standing.  My blood pressure was fine in all 3 cases, but my pulse was not.  (For reference, a normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60-100 bpm.)  My 3 readings were 106 bpm when laying, 120 when sitting, and 138 when standing still. 

I haven't taken my medication since Tuesday, and I'm not sick.  I haven't suddenly gained 100 pounds, making it difficult to heave my weight across the room, leaving me panting from the exertion.  (In fact, I'm down a jeans size since my body thinks I'm exercising all day with my heart pumping this hard.  Look on the bright side, right?)  I can't come up with an explanation for this.  I just want it to go away.  I feel like a complete weakling.  Here's hoping it either fixes itself over the weekend, or I can find a cardiologist with answers next week.  It started suddenly, so it could go away suddenly, right?

In the meantime, Jamie will continue being absolutely wonderful.  He's the best support I could ever ask for, and the best dad in the world to Gisèle and Miles.  I haven't had to worry about anything around the house or with the kids with him here, and I thank God for that, and for him, every day.