I'm gonna be pissed if I just need to fart!

Last night, I was laying on the couch talking to my Dad.  A nice call and everything was good.  I hung up and got up.  I got a sharp pain in my left....chest/boob.  It was nothing like I've felt before.  I went to get my blood pressure machine.  Blood pressure was low for me 106/72 and my pulse was 73 which is really low for me.  I came and googled "HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS FOR WOMEN".  I think we've all been drilled that heart attacks in women are different then men and often, the symptoms are dismissed.  I waited a few minutes and BAMM!  Again.  It was in about the middle of my left boob.  I honestly couldn't tell if it was boob or under it in my chest. I checked my blood pressure again, still low.  I googled "LOW BLOOD PRESSURE" and read there isn't really a low reading they worry about if you don't have other symptoms.  What I did now have is nausea, lack of coordination, and a slight headache.

So I made sure I had on good underpants, my underarms were shaved, grabbed my purse and book club book and headed to the Emergency room.  I didn't feel like I was having a heart attack but I couldn't deny this terrible pain in my chest area.  So I drove myself.  It felt weird pulling up to the ER and walking in alone.  They were quick to check me in and started an EKG immediately.   I had another pain. Then they moved me to a small room.  I was given baby aspirin, Nitro Glycerin, and some cocktail that numbed my esophagus and stomach.  They also put in an IV and drew about 6 tubes of blood.  They took me for a chest Xray.  Then I laid there...waiting.  It wasn't long before a woman came in to finish my registration and collected my $150 co-pay.  (ouch)

I was so glad I grabbed my book club book.  I hadn't even started it and book club is tomorrow!  I got started and luckily it was an easy read.  It made the time go by quickly and kept me from getting too stressed.  They came in after about an hour and told me the labs were normal but they wanted to pull more as they need to check it 2 hours from the first draw.  No problem.

When the second lab came back normal, the doctor gave me a choice to stay for the standard protocol and have one more lab pulled or to go home and keep my fingers crossed.  He explained the lab is checking for clots.  The fact that I didn't have any clots after 4 hours was a good sign but to be thorough, I could stay for one more.  I decided to do that. What is 2 more hours at midnight?  So I kept reading my book.  It was tough to concentrate because there was a baby crying like crazy for about 45 minutes in another room.  But I made it.  Everything was normal again so they discharged me with firm instructions that I need a stress test on Friday morning and if I have any more pain, to come back immediately.  He also mentioned my chest Xray was clear and there were no tumors seen. That wasn't even on my radar!  I walked back out of the ER at almost 2:00 am.  No water...no snacks....no dinner.

On the gurney for 6 hours.

They don't know what is causing the chest pain.  Just because everything was normal, they were not checking for heart diseases and I need to continue to pursue that.  I know with almost 5 years of Prednisone, I am at risk for heart problems.  Also Myositis is a muscle disease and alas your heart is a muscle so that could be a big risk too.  At least I didn't have a Heart Attack.  Although I felt really stupid for going in, I think it was necessary and good to rule that out.  I should not feel disappointed it wasn't a heart attack.

So things are okay.  No answers for the pain.  I'll continue to get tested and figure out what might be wrong...if anything. 

Ever since I was a teen, I've always joked that I would never be the one that goes to the ER with chest pain that turns out to just be gas!  I don't know that was my issue but I do believe it is always better "out than in" when it comes to gas!