At the hospital I was immediately wheeled in for some blood work and tests...my family crowding the room and offering love and support were finally convinced to go home after midnight. It's impossible to sleep in a hospital with a blood pressure cuff on your arm, inflating every 10 minutes as well as everything else going beep in the night.
The staff was caring and supportive making me as comfortable as possible. In the morning when the cardiologist came in to explained that I would need a heart cauterization to determine the cause of my symptoms. He explained that Phoenixville Hospital had excellent physicians that would preform the procedure.
So I was transported to Phoenixville, via ambulance during a torrential rain storm...sirens blaring and traffic stopping. On arrival I had some more tests and blood work the procedure was explained and I was prepped to go. Again my family crowding the room, I tried to chase them home, but that didn't work...they just laughed at me.
The cauterization proved that one of my heart valves was 90% blocked...so a stint was inserted to open the valve and I was returned to my room to recover and spend the night. My father died of heart disease at 38, so along with family history and some bad habits it seemed inevitable.
Short conclusion...I will be on a bunch of medications and a heart healthy diet along with exercise. It's amazing the technology that affords us simple solutions instead of surgery. I'm ever so grateful for the skilled doctors and nurses, as well as the entire team that supports them.
I'll be back tomorrow with some cards for the wonderful nursing staff.
Be well ~ Carole
