200 bpm does not a heart-attack make
Symptoms: pain in right part of chest and shoulder. Wake up after midnight with a sense of doom, cold clammy hands and forehead; heart rate waaaaay over the limit.
Response:
"PLEASE TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL."
Signage at Toronto Western: Poor at best, had to drive around the block just to find the ER.
Tests: EKG was normal, blood pressure normal. Chance of survival ~%100.
Doctor's opinion: panic/anxiety episode, likely stress-related, possibly triggered by 'night-time' cold medication containing pseudoepinephrine.
Advice: Advil or regular Tylenol instead of Tylenol cold. If another episode occurs, breathe deeply; try Ativan.
Thanks to the pleasant nurse who brought me water - after 1.5 hour's lying in a bed waiting for the lone ER doctor to show up, so he could reassure me I wasn't dying.
But thanks mostly to Voula for driving me to the emergency room at 1:00 am, and shooting the shit with me till well past 4. Though I think she enjoyed talking with the cute MD - so it wasn't all tribulation.
I've got an entire day off work to scope out some happy pills, so why not also a new cookbook for V? She doesn't want flowers, but I'll do something nîce.
Response:
"PLEASE TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL."
Signage at Toronto Western: Poor at best, had to drive around the block just to find the ER.
Tests: EKG was normal, blood pressure normal. Chance of survival ~%100.
Doctor's opinion: panic/anxiety episode, likely stress-related, possibly triggered by 'night-time' cold medication containing pseudoepinephrine.
Advice: Advil or regular Tylenol instead of Tylenol cold. If another episode occurs, breathe deeply; try Ativan.
Thanks to the pleasant nurse who brought me water - after 1.5 hour's lying in a bed waiting for the lone ER doctor to show up, so he could reassure me I wasn't dying.
But thanks mostly to Voula for driving me to the emergency room at 1:00 am, and shooting the shit with me till well past 4. Though I think she enjoyed talking with the cute MD - so it wasn't all tribulation.
I've got an entire day off work to scope out some happy pills, so why not also a new cookbook for V? She doesn't want flowers, but I'll do something nîce.
posted by Monsieur Bonhomme at 10:53 AM
3 Comments:
I'd happily settle for some instant karma. What goes around comes around they say.
Ativan has some odd withdrawal effects. It actually increases your anxiety, so you'd either have to wean yourself off, or stay on it indefinitely. The surefire cure? ZMA a novel combination of zinc and magnesium that helps hormone levels, sleep, mood, and most importantly, can stave off anxiety attacks. It worked like a charm for me. Also, eat almonds.
I agree with Joe - watch out for the ativan. I have a sister who has been on it for years. Glad you're ok! Last time I had to make a late-night trip to the ER, my excellent friend Ada not only drove me and kept me company, she had to DRESS me as well. But maybe that's a story for another time...
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