Saturday, April 27, 2013

Dehydration and a very, very scary day...


First I would like to say that this morning I competed in a 5k race (I raced walked and placed 3rd overall in the female division) so I am in excellent health...just in case my mother is reading this.

But let me tell you about yesterday.  The morning was cool.  I went over to the museum to water the roses and I came back to my own property and turned on the sprinklers.  I started watering the roses along the drive and my chest started hurting.  I walked a bit more and my ears started stuffing...a few more steps, and shortness of breath...the last one is a huge warning sign.  So I opted to take it easy a bit, and I went into the house to sit down.  I walked in and took two aspirins because I felt maybe my blood pressure was up.

I sat down and looked up signs of a heart attack and it wasn't looking good for me.  I called my husband and said that maybe I needed to go to the doctor.  After I hung up, I started feeling worse.  I knew that if my husband took me to the doctor and I have signs of a heart attack they would simply call the ambulance.  So I thought maybe I should skip the middle man.  Before I called 9-1-1, I turned off the sprinklers (because heaven forbid, I die and over water my roses).  After that I called my husband and told him I was calling 9-1-1.  

So I did, and the lady ask if I felt faint or light headed.  When I called I did not but as the call continued I really started to feel very faint.  I told her where I lived, put the dogs in a room where they would not bite the paramedics, and sat in the library waiting for them.  I started blacking out.  I began thinking of my husband, my family, my rose garden I wouldn't see, and D#@! this had to happen AFTER April 15!  I'm a CPA.

The medics showed up, I barely remember the ride to the hospital and next I woke up in the E.R.  The good news, I am in perfect health.  Better than that..I'm in excellent health.  The doctor said my heart is that of an 18 year old, lungs, kidney, liver all in perfect condition (not good, but perfect).  No blood clots, no diabetes ..nothing......he said there is absolutely nothing wrong with you health wise.  No, I didn't have a panic attack.  I was dehydrated, and the bending over and up again caused something I believe he called vasovagal syncope...which makes you faint. The good news is the doctor said I should live to be 120 years old.  The dehydration sparked it.

Moral of the story, watch out for dehydration.  I am certain we are all guilty of it.  After some saline, I was begging to go home.  Anyway, I do not regret my decision in calling 9-1-1.  I would rather be wrong then dead.  First time, I ever had been in an ambulance.  So when in doubt, call.  But all that being said, drink water and listen to your body.  Today is my 39th birthday, and I'm happy to see it.

4 comments:

Jean Campbell said...

Glad it all turned out okay. Drink water before you go outside, take breaks to cool down and rehydrate. It's fairly simple. Don't wait until you feel thirsty.

If you don't take care of yourself, who will care for your roses?

Cerberus German shepherds said...

Well, at least I learned I was completely healthy. Didn't hit me until this evening when my husband was taking me to dinner and I heard the song "When I die young.." It was very scary to think you are taking your last breaths....but I have a gazillion more...hopefully... It was a cool morning, just a freak incident but when its hot it easy to stay hydrated but when the weather is so extreme it easy not to take as many precautions...

HolleyGarden said...

I am just now seeing this. What a terrible ordeal, and I am so glad you are alright. Yes, it's best to be safe than sorry. My dad suffered a case of heat stroke a couple of years ago. Ever since then, I have become very aware of what my body is telling me when I am outside. So glad you called 911 instead of just not knowing - it could have been much worse.

Cerberus German shepherds said...

It really could. The thing is that is was chilly that morning. So it was hard to imagine dehydration when it is cool/.....versus steaming hot. During the summer I down gallons of fluids but I took for granted this time of year.