31 ~ Resurfacing back to light ~

∆ DAY 3! – ERROR ON PIC 🙈 ∆

[ 4:30 AM ]

Awakening to the voice & gentle shake of a Junior Dr.

Slowly opening my eyes..

Finding the bed positioned completely upright. An oxygen mask on my face, a pulse oximeter attached to 1 finger, blood pressure & heart monitor cuff attached to the other arm.

She explains the nurses called her from the ER to check my vitals. Everything seemed okay, heart rate not too fine. Done a few things & spoke to the nurses.. cannot recall what because I was extremely weak & groggy.

An hour later when the room mates awoke, Katy came over to my bed side to relate…

How miraculous ain’t the power & will of God?

I was in a deep sleep 😴😴💤💤

But it’s as if though someone abruptly shook me out of my slumber suddenly!!!

I felt myself being jerked awake.

Then jumped up with fright..

When I looked to see who it is, no one! Instead, my sight fell on you gasping for air, BLUE in the face & skin everywhere.

I was shocked!

Immediately ran to call the nurses, screaming..

They rushed to the room but you already collapsed.

You were given oxygen, another medicine & hooked onto these monitors…

Sarah & Nelly awoke with the commotion too.. We were afraid, aysh! I could not sleep afterwards.

Your heart monitor was going crazy the entire night 😱 I stared at it continously for a while.

One minute it was 65, the next few minutes, it was 235, then it raced back to 150 something, then 40 something, then 200 + again. Omg we were terrified!!!

**Katy had a problem of anxiety & a few trauma related issues not a psychic disorder. So her word was taken for count.

235???? A heart rate? Were you not dreaming perhaps? I inquired?

No! My dear, I was awake in my full senses.

We witnessed it & see there on the screen now as we talk, does that look normal to you?

Numbers jumping…

No that is surely Tachy. I replied.

My 💙 was stressed out! Beats were erratic & irregular. The first time I saw it beating in this manner.

Danger caused due to negligence. My need for oxygen not recognised & understood.

Previously I indicated to this by saying: Don’t simply trust every Dr to know what they’re doing with you. Many a time we know our bodies requirements better.

This was a junior Dr in training who i thought was aware of her actions . Maybe it had been written in my file I should be taken off o2 after a while, therefore allowed her to do so…. After the incident occured, I was left feeling weak, drained & colourless. A lesson learnt.

First thoughts were: I might have had a reaction to Codeine but it was realised that Codeine played no role in the cyanosis episode that evening. I was given it for few days thereafter & no issues transpired besides the normal side effects like floating in air & sleepiness.

An EKG conducted a couple of days later, showed a period during which my heart was completely starved of oxygen. It was then suspected this might have been the night, but unconfirmed because it could have also been during the first partial heart attack.

When that occured? remains a mystery.. But we know for sure, it happened.

A few weeks later while contemplating over the manner in which i survived this incident. My thoughts dived deep. Pen to paper. A summary brought forth this little picture which is the header of the blog

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Later that afternoon I was transfered to a private – room J – with a single bed infront of the wards main desk so nurses could keep a continuous check.

I was not allowed to take the oxygen off apart for toilet & eating..
Could not & no longer allowed to sleep flat. Either semi reclining or completely upright depending on the severity of breathlessness.

Nurses would monitor all the time. 3 AM I awoke seeing 2 sitting at the bed side. Inquiring if something is wrong? They replied: No. We’re only monitoring you.

Although it’s their duty, they done it with pleasure & tremendous care!!!

Monitors were kept on until late morning. Removed. My cousin came, assisted in feeding me food & going toilet because I was so weak…

Barely recovered, when a nurse walked in to inform that I’m scheduled for Pulmonary Function tests.

In chapter 22 I mentioned regarding a graph on the result sheet. This is what it looks like 👇

Get ready. The Dr said you must walk! But do you know how far it is to that end? I doubt you can walk. I can arrange a wheelchair if you prefer? Infact i think you should take the wheelchair because an oxygen tank needs to be carted as well.

Is the Dr crazy? Does he have any clue what transpired last night? I cannot even stand straight too long, let alone walk to another end of the hospital.

Grateful this nurse was good hearted & capable of using his brain to think logically.

[ 1 PM ]

We go in. (Shehnaz & I)

“It will only take 30 minutes” states the Respiratory Physiologist.

Contrary, it took me 2 full hours.

2 most torturous hours.

I underwent NCS & other tests but none compared to these. No fun involved & nothing to make this exciting. All I can say at the end is that i pulled through it with the encouragement & caring support of Shenaaz who cheered me on continously.

Grateful the piercing angina pains experienced thereafter led to nothing major.

I knew my cardiac muscle could not be forced beyond its limits, taking into consideration the previous night as well.. However, the Dr who scheduled the test gave no briefing of my medical condition to the physiologist insisting “no dysautonomia is proven.”

The Physiologist stated he had to push me to see if its lack of effort or an actual problem with breath intake & release.

I’m unable to blow balloons 🎈🎈which are easier! Obviously there’s a problem 😉

*** Note: this same Dr mistook my heart failure symptoms for asthma, saying Dysautonomia is not proven.. Whereas his own pulmonary function tests proved no asthma.

Bronchodilator pumps made absolutely no difference to my condition. People who are asthmatic mentioned: “your symptoms are nothing alike to ours, there’s a clear difference”.

Haha 😂😂😂 Tit for tat 😂

People without heart issues definitely have an easier time blowing etc.. People with 💙 & lung conditions bare testimony of difficulty.

If there was a time I could have broken down in tears 😥 it was that day.

Heart felt gratitude is expressed to Shehnaz for being a superb, understanding & the best supporter needed that time when no one else would have been allowed to accompany me 💖

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Results awaiting…

What will it reveal???