That's Something I Didn't Expect

I will be very happy to go back to my boring little life, thank you.  I've had an overly exciting few days and my life has changed again.
So here's the story.  I had a transfusion a few weeks ago.  Transfusions usually give me more energy, but this one didn't.  My numbers were good when I had chemo, but I was still terribly tired.  This last Tuesday, I was tireder than usual, and short of breath in a different way than usual.  But it was a Mark day, so I got dressed, drove to the BART station, and went downtown.  When I got off the train at Montgomery, the escalator looked like it was miles away.  I got there, but it took a while, and I had to stop and lean on a few pillars.  Walked the half block to Mark's office, sometimes leaning on the buildings for support.  When Mark came out to get me, he said "What are you doing here?"  I said it was a Mark day.  When I got settled in the office, he asked if I wanted to go home--"not for 50 minutes," I said.  He asked how I was going to get home, and I said BART.  He said that wasn't a really good idea--was there anyone who could pick me up?  I caved and called Glenn, who said of course.  So we talked, which is what we do.  At the end of our session, I collected my hug.  Mark asked if I would be all right going downstairs--of course I would--then proceeded to gasp in a whole new way.  Glenn and I took a little time finding each other, but we did and he drove home.  I started gasping again, and he asked if he should just take me to emergency.  I really, really had to use the bathroom, so I had him call the Cancer center--it was a chemo afternoon.  They told him to get me to the hospital.  Now the fun begins.  I got into my coat and started out.  At the top of the stairs, I knew that wasn't going to happen, and dropped to my knees--at least that was the plan.  Ally will have to tell you what happened next--she was right behind me.  I passed out.  I came to with her telling me she needed me to take some deep breaths while I heard Glenn on the phone calling 911.  I heard him say dire emergency.  He hung up and we heard the sirens--they being two blocks away.  There followed a house full of paramedics, eventually getting me out of the house and into the ambulance.  It seemed a long and involved process.  I thought I could get myself out of the house, and they said "not with what your heart is doing."  Did I mention I was scared.
Anyway, they got me to emergency, trying their darnedest to get an IV going.  I have tiny veins and they roll.  I now have several bruises from the tourniquets and attempts to start the IV.  I think they finally succeeded.  I don't honestly remember too much of the time in emergency.  I met a new cardiologist (for me, that is) and a new Hospitalist.  I was admitted and taken to the ICU.  I think this whole process took two hours--but as I said, I really don't remember.  Glenn, Ally, and Dory were there.  The reason for admission, according to my discharge papers, was "3 degree AV Block."  My heart rate was jumping all over the map, but mostly in the 30's.  They put me on a medicine that was supposed to speed up my heart rate.  I didn't like it.  It made me nauseous and made my heart pound.  I kept hearing people say "pacemaker."
Fast forward to Wednesday.  I had a nurse who wasn't a regular ICU nurse.  I didn't realize that was a problem.  I needed to use the restroom, once again.  She got a bedside camode, because that was all the further my wires and tubes would let me go.  I proceeded to take care of business then tried to pass out again.  There were suddenly about 10 regular ICU nurses in the room.  I got back into bed myself (for which I'm sure they were all grateful), then went in and out of consciousness.  I DID hear someone say "We're losing her!" and hear them talking about crash carts and paddles.  Fortunately, I converted to a sinus rhythm on my own.  The cardiologist has now been summoned.  He determines that it was a bad reaction to the medication, which they stopped, and put me on an external pacemaker.  We then had a discussion about how much I needed one, immediately.  Fortunately, it was already scheduled--for 10 o'clock and it was by now about 9:15.  I figured I could wait that long, but not much longer.
It was actually 12:15 when they took me to the Cath Lab for the procedure.  By then I had talked to the doctor who was going to do the procedure and one of the oncologists from my group--and my Pastor.
Getting ready for the procedure took forever.  It was done with a local and light sedation--which because of the meds I take for the cancer--meant I was awake for the whole thing.  I could feel pushing and pulling as the wires were fed through my vein into my heart.  It was uncomfortable, but the worst was my back.  I was lying on a frozen slab with my legs and back flat against it.  The procedure took about two hours and my back was screaming.  I was taken to a room in the TCU, or ICU Step-Down.  Now here's the miracle.  Except for my back, which took a long time to calm down, I felt better.  Much better.  I spent Wednesday night and most of Thursday in the TCU.  Elaine badgered all my doctors to keep me another night.  I was transferred to a regular Medsurg room. and came home after Glenn got off work this afternoon.  I am feeling much better.  I have some restrictions while the incision heals, like not using my left arm--it's in a sling to keep my from doing anything foolish.
That's the gist of it, and it is past my bedtime, but I wanted to get this done while it is fresh in my mind.  I am grateful to have survived.  God has blessed me with amazing friends and excellent health care providers.  It was not how I'd planned on spending the week, but there you are.  I'm good for a while longer, and I'm glad.
xxooxx