PAIN IN MY HEART - OTIS REDDING
For the last fortnight I've been experiencing sharp pains in my heart - or, I guess, in my upper chest.
At first I wasn't bothered apart from doing a Google search on 'pain in my heart' and, obviously seeing the link to the Otis Redding song above. All the 'medical' information I found discussed radial pain that extends down the arm as related to cardiac problems. The pain was intermittent but quite sharp and would happen two or three times a day. Yesterday morning, after another one I decided to call the doctors. I thought that it was better to be certain and that, if in a months time I had a heart attack and they asked me if I had noticed any early symptoms I'd be embarrassed to have to admit that I'd ignored them. The practice had a 2.30 slot for an appointment which I took.
At the doctors I discussed the problem and they did an ECG procedure, linking me to a monitor via wires to my arms, chest and feet. The result confirmed the AF (Atrial Fibrillation) that I suffer from but shed no light on anything else to suggest a myocardial infarction. They said that a specialised blood test would be necessary and I would have to get that done at the Emergency Department at the hospital. It was about 4PM at this stage and I asked if I should go there next week. They said that I had to go to the ED immediately and gave me a letter to take with me.
At the hospital, in the ED waiting room there were dozens of people and a big sign on the wall said "RED ALERT - EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS OPERATING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY AVERAGE WAIT TIME 2-3 HOURS". I checked in with the triage nurse, showed her the letter and said that I was told to come there for a blood test. She initially suggested that the blood test place was upstairs but when she asked me why I was wanting it I said that it was due to a suspected heart attack. Bingo! She immediately set things in motion and I was whisked away out back and a consulting room was found (amongst all of the bustle). A blood sample was taken and I was left for half an hour for this to be analysed. In the room there were two bed sections separated by a screen. At one stage a young woman was brought in along with her boyfriend/partner. I saw her as she was brought into the room. She looked to be about twenty. I couldn't help overhearing the reason that she was there and might relate this in a later post but Robert will be shocked.
After the results of the blood test came in I was taken to another room and rigged up for an ECG. They took another blood sample and this time left the blood catheter (?) in my arm as a third sample would be needed in an hour. I was in the ED for 3 hours all up. During this time three helicopter loads of accident and other emergency victims were brought through. It was manic but controlled with the occasional call like - "We've got a guy bleeding out over here!" I felt like a fraudster lying where I was, feeling no pain and in much better nick than the others there. In the waiting room before and after I was dealt with there were of course the odd drongo who was just trying it on - wasting the staff's time but generally all the cases seemed legitimate.
I was amazed at the courteous, helpful and very professional manner of the staff - reception, administration, nurses, aides and doctors - and how regardless of the business and the stress, nothing seemed to faze them. I made a point of showing gratitude and, on leaving, going to reception and thanking the triage nurse and the admin person. They do a hell of a good job.
The tests came back showing that I hadn't had a myocardial infarction (heart attack) event in the last couple of weeks but they told me that I'd done the right thing in getting tested given my history of heart problems.
The written report goes in to quite some detail but what amuses me - and which I'll incorporate into the heading of my blog is this:
"Alert, conversant, speaking full sentences"
