July 8 – “The dreaded “P” word”

I went with Chris to her cardiologist appointment yesterday.  Well, actually it was an appointment with his Physician’s Assistant.  She is still having some chest pains and shortness of breath and dizziness.  Certainly cause for some alarm on our end, especially since the whole heart issue thing is still so far out of our wheelhouse.  So … appointment at 8 a.m.  Up in Texas.  Great wat to start the day.

 

The PA did all the typical intake stuff, asking questions and entering responses into the computer.  She didn’t ever look at Chris, though.  And she didn’t listen very well.  she asked one particularly significant question twice.  And the second time Chris gave the answer (exact same answer, I might add), the PA kind of came unglued.  “Oh, you didn’t tell me that!”  Chris and I looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders.  We both heard it.  Chris said it she.  She just missed it.  But I guess she finally got all the information she needed.  She listened to Chris’ heart and lungs and did an EKG.  And finally she leaned back in the chair.  OK.  Orders time.  First she said something about possibly changing some meds.  Not unexpected.  Then she said she wanted to put her in a holter monitor for 48 hours.  Then after some clarification questions, she changed it to 30 DAYS on the monitor.  Then she comes back to discuss the results.  Unless something crazy happens while she has it on, in which case someone from the monitoring company or a nurse will probably call right away and tell us to head to the emergency room.  Oh, and we are to see the actual cardiologist in 3 months.  Wow.  Talk about adding to the stress list.  But April had already mentioned the monitor, so it could have been something even more unexpected.  Oh, wait.  She wasn’t done yet.

 

Seems she was also concerned about Chris’ really low heart rate.  She asked some detailed questions about family history and the like.  And then she mentioned the dreaded “P” word.  Now there’s a chance Chris might have to have a Pacemaker installed.  After we got home the PA called and said she was referring Chris to an electro-something or other doctor.  They are the ones who will follow the whole low heart rate/pacemaker adventure. 

 

Wow.  Pass me the medical list … again. 

 

Isaiah 12:2 says, “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

 

Father, please be with Chris and the docs as they work through this next step.  Amen.