Adventures in my crazy life...

So, I had my tests today...It was rather eventful! I will back up though, and start from the beginning...

I went back down to Albany, and checked in at my cardiologists office for the testing that needed to be done. First test on the list, Echocardiogram.

I went in, got on the LOVELY gown ( shown above)

Then , a wonderful tech came in and probed my chest for 25 minutes. Which incidentally was more uncomfortable than a follicle scan, and lasted way longer...No word back on those results yet...
As soon as it was done, I got dressed, and waited for the Tilt table test ( aka- TTT)...

I was slightly nervous before, but nothing major. I had done a little reading, and even watched a few vids from the mayo clinic on TTT's, so I was aware of what they were going to do, to reduce anxiety. They called me back, and had my take off most of my top wear, and put on a gown. I then waited, while they went over the test, and what they were trying to find etc...

Then, they started to hook me up to all the machines...Holy crap, was it a LOT of wires. They would not let me fiddle with my phone or take pics..Boo...lol...But in hindsight, I am glad...

So, the first part of the test, you start out laying flat. They get a baseline heart rate and blood pressure. Then they raise me, to a mostly standing position, while strapped down to a table, also, while continuing to monitor. This goes on for 45 minutes. If I were to have passed out, they would have stopped the test, and had the results needed. But, I stayed awake. I had many issues with fluctuations, but none severe enough to cause me to pass out.
After the 45 mins, they lay you back down, then prep and IV line to give fluids, and to administer a medication called Isoproterenol. It acts to speed up the heart rate. Then they stand you up again for 30 mins, unless you pass out before then....

Well...Things did not go as planned when they gave me the meds through the IV...I ended up having a bad reaction...I was immediately unable to breathe, move, talk etc...My heart rate went up, my muscles started shaking and I started to have hot flashes and cold sweats...The monitors started going off, they stopped the meds, and started me on oxygen ASAP, then laid me flat, to try and stabilize my heart rate and Blood pressure. I did not even get to complete the second half of the test. They were all freaked out by the event, and made the DR come in and see me before I could go home, because it was soooo crazy! None of them had ever seen anyone react to the meds that way before. I was slightly traumatized...It was a bit much for me...My body is still so tired, even now from it all.

Anyway, I ended up, after all was said and done, with a 30 day event/loop monitor, that will continuously monitor my heart for any abnormalities over the course of the next 30 days...Here is a peek at my new "best friend" for the next few weeks...