Ouchie

I mentioned my ill-fated stress test but did not elaborate. This should give everyone a laugh.

For years I took Vioxx, which was removed from the market over some potential heart issues. My doctor decided to cover his little bum and sent me for a stress test. I had one years ago with no issues and my cardiologist yelled at me for having it done. I told him to take it up with his partner, who ordered it while he was out of town. I had woken up one morning at 5 am with chest pains that went into my arm, etc. All I did at the time was get angry because it woke me up and I was very tired. Eventually I mentioned it to my gyn who finally walked me across the hall to the cardiologist and insisted I make an appointment.

I have mitral valve prolapse, which is no big deal. The cardiologist told me that I should have had pains off and on my whole life and was surprised that I didn't. The first stress test just comfirmed that there was nothing else wrong with my heart. I still rarely get pain, just some random fluttering.

So the doctor wrote for me to have the second stress test around November. Well, I just didn't feel like going then. I put it off until about a month ago. First they made me lie down on a little cot-like thing with my left arm over my head without moving at all so pictures could be taken of my heart. I told the tech that I have bursitis and that it would be hard for me to do that. She said I had to, so I did. It hurt.

Then, glad that was over, I got on the treadmill. It was nice. It was positioned to face out a window and I walked and talked to the techs. They kept asking me if how I was doing and if I had any pains. No, no problems. I can walk for miles, and the increasing speed and incline was no problem. I didn't get my heart rate up much at all, but they were happy. I walked the full time of the test.

Then they told me I had to lie down on that cot again with my arm over my head for another 20 minutes. I said it would be very painful. The tech said I had to do it, so I did. By the time 20 minutes was past, my arm was pretty much frozen in that spot and shaking. It hurt.

A few weeks later I was at my internist who told me that my heart was perfect as usual, other than the MVP, and no blockages or anything had shown up. I said that's nice, but I can barely move my arm or turn my head to the left.

So now I am in physical therapy 3 times a week. The PT told me that my shoulder was almost frozen. It's not getting better. My landscaping work probably isn't helping, but I figure it is making me stronger again.

I think I need to call the vampire. He can fix anything.