June 24th, 2005
What A Long, Strange Week It’s Been
Monday
I finally have my outpatients appointment following on from my heart problems earlier this year.
I have a brief ECG which comes out normal. The doctor is amazed that I was told not to exercise, and tells me that I’ll be scheduled for some treadmill tests to confirm that I can get back to work on my fitness.
Scans and monitors are also mentioned.
I leave buoyed up. Mayhem is go.
Tuesday
10.45 a.m.
I’m preparing for a meeting at work when the palpitations come back. I call my GP for advice. It’s stark, but simple.
Dial 999.
Fifteen minutes later I’m in the back of the blood wagon wired up to the ECG showing a fine example of a sinus tachycardia.
No more work for me today.
I’m taken straight to the local emergency unit, and after an hour making strange patterns on the monitor in emergency I’m transferred to the medical assessment unit. Along with a worrying amount of people also suffering heart problems.
Fortunately for my sanity my wife is allowed to join me.
I expect that I’ll be allowed home for the night as by the time the consultant comes round my rhythms are back to normal. Beep. Wrong answer. Straight to jail do not pass Go. I’m not going to be let out until they’ve done some exercise tolerance tests. This should take place this week, but might not. Mayhem is looking a very long way away.
Palpitations kick in as I start to drop off to sleep.
Wednesday
After a restless night I am finally transferred to a ward in the afternoon. I’m not allowed to walk to it. Once there I walk outside to get some fresh air, and prove a point.
I am bored.
No tests today, no way out.
Palpitations restart just before I drop off.
Thursday
Palpitations first thing until I wake up properly. There’s a pattern developing.
My exercise tolerance tests are today. I am not allowed to walk to them. Bonkers. The tests remind me of intervals, only less strenuous. I manage the whole set with no extra beats kicking in. Wahey! They’ve got to let me out now.
Except…
… I can’t go until the consultant has seen the results and written up his notes. Which isn’t going to be until tomorrow. I want to discharge myself, but the nurses recommend against it and even my wife insist that I stay. The nurses reassure me that the doctor will be round by 8.30 a.m.
I can’t remember when I was ever so low. I feel that I am going to be forced to stay here all weekend as one delay after another crops up.
Mayhem looks impossible.
Friday
8.30 a.m. I am packed and ready to go. The consultant comes round and visits all the other guys on the ward in turn. Before he gets to me he leaves.
Eh? I ask the duty nurse, who tells me that my doctor will do his rounds later. It could be this afternoon. I am gutted.
My spirits are lifted by my wife who has brought me a video greeting from all our animals. Except that my mare, Pukkeenegak looks so depressed. I so need to be back home.
10.20 a.m. The consultant comes round and tells me I’m free to go.
My exercise tolerance tests show that exercise doesn’t kick off my problem. Wahey! I can officially go and ride my bike. I am given a sick note signing me off work for 5 days with stress related palpitations. It’s like the best sick note in the world ever. I can’t work, but I can play out!
As we leave the hospital I don’t care that it’s raining, Mayhem Here I Come!
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