You
may have heard bits & pieces of what happened last week, so I just
want to take some time and let you know the whole story (off of
Facebook).
On Wednesday, while at
one of my client's staff meetings, I started having severe chest pains
around 2:30 p.m. that lasted over an hour. At 3:45 p.m., my client made
the executive decision to call THE ASSOCIATED's HR Director, who called
Hatzalah (Jewish emergency services in Baltimore) and came over right
away from the HR office. Hatzalah performed an EKG (heart test) and
started an IV line and oxygen. There were two abnormalities on the EKG
that led them to insist I go to Sinai hospital.
One of my closest
colleagues, Jenny Seidman, followed the ambulance and when we arrived at
the hospital, my vitals were taken (looked normal) and another EKG was
taken. Then began the fun… 3 hours in the waiting room… finally being
taken back to a room at 8:00 p.m.
My primary nurse
Ami hooked me up to a heart monitor and blood pressure machine and a
nice man (I forget his name) took x-rays. Then another nurse Lindry came
to attempt to take blood. That didn’t work so they called two more
nurses, Ellsworth and Erica. After 30 mins of poking and prodding, they
finally got it through the IV in my hand. (P.S. I hate getting blood
drawn, as was evident by my colorful language, nail marks left on
Ellsworth and disdain for Jenny for being allowed to drink water when I
was not.) At that point all we could do was sit and wait for the
results, which took 2 hours.
Tim arrived around
9:30 p.m. to relieve Jenny of her duties (but not before she threatened
my life if I did any work that night). The doctor, William, ruled out
anything with my lungs & heart and believes it is a severe muscle
pull/spasm, more along the chest wall than inside (possibly from stress,
possibly from a sudden start of exercise). He discharged me around
11:00 p.m. and of course, Tim followed me home so I didn't have to leave
my car in Baltimore. It was suggested that I take a few days to rest,
but otherwise I should be fine.
I did not go to work
on Thursday and I only lasted a few hours on Friday because tight
clothing (including bras) really hurt when pressed against my chest and
deep breaths remained a strain. I tried a bit of grocery shopping cardio
today and felt alright, so I know that a bit more rest and I'll be back
to normal. I hope to take my first longer walk outside on Monday
evening.
Thank
you thank you thank you for your phone calls, texts, emails, Facebook
messages and general concern. While I'm obviously going to live, it was
quite a week and I'm now trying to catch up on the past few days of
life. I'm sure I'll talk to each one of you soon!
Love,
Sara
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