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| LiDoña Wagner Radiating Pink |
“Maybe the fibers fray over time ….” the surgeon who installed my pacemaker murmured. He was speaking to himself, exploring what might have happened over my 22-month journey from an initial visit to ER in January 2020 to a heart rate that was sometimes falling to 21 and mostly stuck in the lower 30s: 60 and above is considered normal.
During my two visits to ER in 2020 no cause was determined for my discomfort and lightheadedness.
On July 29 a wasp stung the back of my neck, close to the spinal column. A day later, as I was returning from watering my garden, I felt my body being jerked to the right. Sometime later I awoke on the garden’s rock path. In my mind’s eye I saw a seated woman in a red dress holding out a cup to me. Bewildered about why I was on the ground, I determined that I needed water.
After groping my way inside, I ran a glass of water, but before I could drink it, I passed out again. When I awakened on the floor, once again I saw the seated woman in a red dress handing me a cup.
This time I crawled to the sofa and lay down until things began to come back into focus. I was between primary care providers (PCP). An appointment with my new PCP was scheduled for three days hence. Since my bodily and mental functions seemed to have recovered and ER visits had been unproductive, I determined to wait for that Monday morning appointment.
My new PCP did an immediate EKG, examined for stroke and other things, and noted a concussion on the right side of my head; evidently, I hit it on a rock when I fell. She initiated a series of other tests to determine what had happened and why. First was an MRI which showed nothing wrong in the brain.
In succeeding weeks, I had a series of ‘almost fainting’ spells, usually in the morning while preparing breakfast. I would sense my body shifting sightly to the right, grab the counter, lower myself to the floor and wait for stability to return.
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| LiDoña Wagner Breaking Out |
In May 2021, I had an episode in the back garden. By then I had clued into two accompanying features: changing the elevation of my head and getting overheated. My naturopath suggested that since I reported feeling dizzy, I should be tested for vertigo. After a hassle about who could authorize the exam, I was tested and assured that I did not have vertigo.
Then in August I had an episode while working at the computer. My vision blurred, there was pressure at the base of my skull, my shoulder muscles were hard, and I felt faint and short of breath. By the time I lay on the sofa, things were spinning, and my heart was pounding. An electrical current ran down my spine and left arm. Slow deep breathing brought things back to normal after a while.
Since it involved my eyes, I called my ophthalmologist. After hearing my symptoms, he said it wasn’t an eye issue and recommended seeing a neurological ophthalmologist. Checking with my insurance company, I learned they would not pay for the recommended professional because he was not in their network. Since my annual visit with my PCP was coming up soon, I decided to weigh in with her. She referred me to their neurology department; an appointment is set for next month, Nov 10.
Toward the end of September, I spent an afternoon helping a friend move so she would not be evicted. After three hours of continuous lifting and moving, I was drained of energy. Afterwards I felt consistently sluggish. I chalked it up to the onset of fall with rain and cold.
October 15 the climax arrived.
I was in a gallery viewing a show where a friend had a first-place winner. Partway through our tour, I became short of breath and overheated. After resting and drinking a bottle of water, we headed for the teashop. Finding myself weak and unstable, we changed course and instead came home. My friend has a pacemaker and while I rested on the couch, she suggested we use her wrist-band monitor to check my heart rate. It was low. So?
It was time for her to go. As I followed her to the door, she turned around to say goodbye, stopped, and said, “Your face is white as a sheet. We have to do something.” “Okay, take me to the emergency room.”
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| LiDoña Wagner Hint of Hope |
INTERMISSION
Later I will share the experience of getting a pacemaker and how my pacemaker got her name.
