I feel bad as I have been neglecting my blog. I’ve been off of work for a very log 2 weeks. I’m not feeling all so well.
Here’s the story:
I had been have heart palpitations at night (you know, where you can feel your heart beating in your chest). I usually would feel a bit panicky and think I was having a panic attack. I have been under a ton of stress with work lately and I would just breathe through it and I’d eventually fall asleep. Sometimes I’d fall asleep at night and wake up in a panic right out being asleep for two hours.
One night I was feeling particularly fine and had dinner out with my friends up in little italy. We stayed out until midnight (that’s late when you hit 30 and are married hahah). I laid down in bed and had the palpitations again. I just laid their trying to ignore them. But after two hours I got up and sat on the couch and tried to distract myself with a game.
Strangely I still felt jittery and couldnt sleep. Like I had 3 cups of black coffee in 5 minutes. I could only guess what that might feel little since I don’t drink coffee. So I went into the bathroom to try my back up method of relaxation…a hot shower.
By the time I had gotten up the stairs my heart was pounding so hard and I felt a little out of breath. I started I panic which made all my symptoms worse and I convinced myself I must be having a heart attack.
I woke my husband and we decided to hit up the ER. By now I was feeling better but still jittery with heart palps. Long story short, they ran an EKG monitored me, ran some lab and did a chest X-ray. Everything was fine with the exception of my labs.
My TSH (or thyroid hormones) were up to 6.65. This is considered hypothyroid. So he said that may be a sign of that and I should follow up with my doc.
I did follow up a few days later and was still having the palps. The doctor prescribed levothyroxine at a small dose and sent me on my way. OMG. I had multiple panic attacks day and night and felt like complete crap. Wired but tired and I lost 4 lbs in three days.
Back to the doctor. We did a full blood workup and I also was fitted with a Holter monitor for 24 hours to check my heart. Nothing like having your skin scrubbed off to make the electrodes stick better – ouch. There were wires everywhere and they were uncomfortable. Plus I couldn’t even do what I love most – hot showers!!! I counted down the hours until I could shower again.
Slightly after the hospital visit to get the monitor on (mind you I had a male assistant placing the electrodes and I happened to be wearing a very fancy Victorias Secret Bra…poor guy had to keep his eyes straight. Hahahha), I heard from my doctor that my full blood work had not come back but the initial reading said that my TSH was at 2 again, which matches where it had been 3 years ago. So that’s probably why I felt like I was on speed on the thyroid meds. So I’m just waiting on the results from the blood work and the holter monitor.
I am thankful for the outpouring from my friends, family and coworkers…and am thankful for the amazingly compassionate healthcare I’ve received from the doctor and health system I am proud to work for.
While I don’t have an answer yet what’s wrong with me, I’m confident that it’s nothing too serious and can be fixed. I have a lot of anxiety waiting, but I’m not in a hospital and I’ve taken a lovely two weeks off of work.
I’m thankful that I still feel good enough to get around, go to work and be slightly active right now.
I’m just thankful.
{ 3 comments }
