September 5, 2012

Well, today was exciting.  I had my first, and I hope, last ride in an ambulance. 

I went to the gym as usual for an 8:00 client.  We were chatting while she warmed up and I said I was feeling peculiar like I had indigestion.  She said that women manifested heart attack symptoms that were quite different from men, just in conversation.  The indigestion got worse and then I felt pressure against my diaphram, then pain in my left chest.  Now I was worried.

One of my colleagues is a nurse, so I asked her.  She said that I should have it looked at.  I thought that I would finish my client and then phone my doctor who I have seen only once in 6 years.  My colleague said, no she meant immediately.  I phoned the doctor's office, but of course, they weren't open.  Then she said I should go to emergency in Port Alberni.  I called a friend to come to get me to take me to Port Alberni.  In the mean time, my left cheek started to feel a little numb and my jaw started to ache. 

I was trying to call the hospital in Port Alberni to say we were on our way, along with my symptoms.  By the by, they don't answer their phone in Port Alberni.  While I was doing that, my colleague came over to see how I was and decided that things were not going well and called the ambulance.  Now I was having chills as well.

So off I went to Nanaimo hospital.  I asked them to take me to Port Alberni, but they said that they would not take sick people there.  One of them even lives in Port and felt the same way.  Not a really good recommendation for Port Alberni hospital.

They tested me for everything:  ECG, chest x-ray, blood work.  Everything came back normal.  The doctor said that he was a bit concerned as the symptoms I described were classic of a mild heart attack.  I even tasted a metalic flavour at the end which is the taste of adrenalin.  So everything turned out OK, but I think I did have a very mild heart attack.

I guess I have been under more pressure than I realized.  Everything is back to normal now, but that is an experience I do not want to repeat.

Thanks you to the B.C. Ambulance Service and the staff at Nanaimo emergency.