[top: old navy, cardigan: target (gifted), jeans: ross, belt: cozy, boots: target]
For the last ten years or so, I’ve had arrhythmia. It happens once a month, or so, and my heart just starts beating really really quickly, as if I’ve just run a marathon (when all I’ve actually done is um, drive my car. Or bend over and pick up something off the ground. Exhausting!). It usually lasts for a few minutes and if I just sit down and relax, it goes away.
The other day I was out with some friends and it started…and wouldn’t stop. For three hours. I felt like I was dying — I couldn’t catch my breath, I was sweating like crazy, and my heart felt like it was about to jump right through my skin. Not fun.
So off I went to the cardiologist a few days later to get things checked out, just in case. Sitting in the waiting room for forty-five minutes with twenty other people, all over the age of seventy, was anything but comforting, but after an EKG and a heart ultrasound, the doctor said he thought it was pretty harmless. If anything I might have to have a little outpatient surgery where they connect two little “wires” of my heart that are probably causing the racing. But still…that’s heart surgery. Terrifying.
But before we get all serious about diagnoses, I’ve been instructed to wear a heart monitor for the next three weeks so they can record any episodes of arrythmia and then be 100% sure in their diagnosis.
Today is my first day wearing the heart monitor and I feel kind of like a robot, hooked up to wires and ready to push “record” the moment my heart starts racing.
You can call me Mrs. Roboto.
You need to come help me get dressed every day. Bring your whole closet while you're at it.
Scary! Hope it doesn't have to reach that point!
And I LOVE that top! So cute!
I hope it helps explain it : )
My mom had to do wear one of those as well. I hope it doesn't get to the point of surgery! Good luck with that, I will keep you in my prayers.
oh my goodness! so scary! my husband actually has had the same thing, and one morning he woke up with major chest pain and shortness of breath. we took him to the ER, and turns out he has WPW! [google it!] it was really scary, and he actually got the little heart surgery/procedure done. he is supposed to be cured now but he says he still feels the arrhythmia sometimes. hope yours isn't as serious as his was!
Hmmm, hopefully, it is something you eat or hormones that triggers this. Not fun, but getting a pace maker(or whatever) is better than passing out sometime when you are driving or taking care of a baby, yes? Hope the fix is simple.
You look gorgeous, as usual. I love that top!
I had a friend who couldn't eat chocolate for years because that small amount of caffeine would trigger arrhythmia. She ended up having surgery, and has been enjoying chocolate ever since.
I hope all works out well!
found your blog via pinterest and then realized you were Janssen's sister. Small world!
I wore one for a month in high school. They are no fun. Make sure you change where you stick the pads a little bit each time. If you constantly put them in exactly the same spot, it starts to take your skin off. I learned the hard way. Best of luck!
My six year old daughter has the same condition, I was glad to hear what it feels like for her because she never explains it to us. Sorry… and do move the stickers around or you will get horrible sore spots. Best wishes.
i've got that, too. there are some tricks to make the racing stop… email me. 🙂
Ummm…….I totally feel like pinning this outfit. Would that be weird?? So cute.
That is scary! And I really hope that the doctor is right and it's not anything to be worried about.
Mer! That is so scary! I'm glad they were able to pinpoint it right away. Maybe if you thought of something really boring or tiring when it happened… like… calculus?? Seriously though, I hope you're able to track it and they can decide what the best course of action is. Love love love.
Merrick! I keep thinking about this and hope that they can get it fixed. That is quite amazing that they can just send you home with a portable one. Hope that all goes well! Love you!
OH I know just what you mean, I had a Holter Monitor for 2 days only..and then had an ablation 2 years ago Feb 01…I have AVNRT, its very common, and easy to cure.. in the like 97% cure rate! Don't worry..if you do have to get the procedure yes, its scary..but it helps..i don't take any meds and don't have those episodes anymore…:)
I know this post is OLD OLD, but I'm a teacher just pinning your entire blog to her outfit board (ha!), and when I saw this post, I thought I'd comment.
I have the same arrhythmia. Had all the same test. They told me it wasn't anything to worry about. But it's bothersome too, right? I found out that if I lay down on my side immediately after it starts, it goes away almost instantly. Hope that helps!
I am late on finding this but I feel like I found your blog for this very reason! I too have this arrythmia, it's called tachycardia, and pretty harmless, so they say, but it sure is scary. I will read more and see how you have progressed, but I hope things have gotten better.
How did this go?
I just noticed the date, your picture came up in a search for wearing a heart monitor. I just finished 30 days.