The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Actually kiddies, yesterday morning I nearly died! No joke here. I had stopped in to have a word with my internist. Taking a chance that she may have time to see me, and she did. We were talking about stress and how it can react, and I began telling her about the A, and how his behavior has affected my life. I completely lost it, and suddenly I collapsed in a crying, shaking heap! My heart was beating so fast I could feel my chest and back pound, and I had lots of pain. She (internist) took a fast ECG, and decided it might be a good idea to go over to the hospital and see my cardiologist. He took a look at the ECG, and gave me the news that it looked like I might have had a heart attack!!! Upon further investigation, (angiogram) it was discovered that all of the arteries are perfectly clear. Hmmmm...interesting turn of events. When I explained to my cardiologist what I had been talking about with the internist, he immediately had another idea, which turned out to the the correct diagnosis. I had suffered what is called a Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy. As best I can understand, the heart was stunned, and the muscles of the heart violently contracted together, emiting a dangerous chemical in massive quantities, and cutting off the blood for those beautiful, clear arteries! This was caused a potentially catastrophic event brought on by stress-related anger and resentment. The positive part of this is that 95% of patients who have this happen fully recover. Only one has died, but it IS possible if I do not take the medication and change my reactions to stressful conditions. Recovery time varies, but is normally about 5 weeks. Meantime I must take things easy, which for me will be hard because I love to run and swim. Nevertheless those activities have to go for the time being. This event is so rare that my cardiologist said he had seen it happen only 5 times in his entire career. Further, he consulted with colleagues who all came into agreement of the diagnosis. Cardiologist determined that I am well enough to come home for my recovery with the promise that if I feel any pain I will return immediately to the hospital. He need not worry about that!! As an aside, this happens almost exclusively to post-menopausal women. When a sinilar occurrence takes place in a man's body, he drops dead on the spot. Now here is a reason to deal with your stress in a way that allows you to avoid a dangerous build-up of bad feelings.
So where does that leave my visit with the Bad, Bad One? It is on, albeit not so rigorously...hee hee hee. I will keep you all posted.
Kindest regards to all, Diva
-- Edited by Diva at 20:36, 2007-01-31
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"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata
Diva, so glad that you were at a place where you could get immediate treatment, glad your HP was taking care of you. hope you will rest & be able to be able to manage the stress in a calmer way so that your body will not be affected.
please let us know how you are doing, Rita
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
