Monday, December 2, 2013

How Am I? Why, Thank You For Asking.

I am having a hard time with the Christmas shopping this year.  Usually I start way in advance and have everything done by this time.  This year, I still have over half my shopping to do.  I have ideas for everyone on the list, just need to execute.  And ship.  Most of the people I buy for require shipped gifts, which always throws me for a loop.  I do most of my shopping online, so I either have to have the gift shipped to me so I can wrap, insert a card, and pay to then re-ship to its final destination, or have it shipped directly to its recipient which requires getting the timing exactly right so it doesn't get there too early or too late.  The latter choice is the most cost-efficient and convenient, but it bothers me to send people gifts I haven't actually seen in person and it makes buying from multiple stores for the same person tricky.  These are not actual problems, mind you, but this is simply more insight into my over-thinking brain. 
 
Speaking of over-thinking brains, I went to the emergency room on Friday night because I've been having this strange problem every so often lately of being unable to breathe.  It has happened a handful to times in the last month or so.  Only at night and it lasts for several hours.  It feels like my lungs aren't filling up with air, like I can only take in so much air and it's not enough.  I can't take deep breaths.  I don't know how to explain it better than that.  Friday was the second night in a row it happened and Joe said he could hear me from the next room struggling to breathe.  Then I actually started to wheeze.  I told him I was fine, just you know, couldn't breathe, and he politely excused himself and then I heard furious typing coming from the living room. 
 
"What are you doing?"
 
"Googling."
 
"Let me guess: blood clots or cancer or death."
 
"So you know then."
 
After a rousing discussion about all the possibilities, we decided this was silly.  We have health insurance, it was a weekend night so nowhere to be the next day, I can't breathe, it's been happening a lot lately, let's just go make sure it's not one of those scary things.  That was around 1:00 am.
 
Six hours later, after blood work, a chest x-ray, and a V/Q lung scan, they found no clots or tumors or anything wrong.  Which is okay by me.  Sometimes I just can't breathe for no reason. 
 
The doctor suggested anxiety, which maybe.  This phenomenon is corresponding with my job becoming a million times more stressful.  But I'm not so sure about that for a few reasons: 1) I've never had any type of anxiety issues before (which doesn't necessarily mean anything); 2) I'm not typically an anxious person, I mean I over-think and fret, but I'm pretty good at putting things in perspective and know how to step away from stressful situations to take care of myself (I realize this also doesn't necessarily mean anything); and 3) it's not a sudden attack, when it happens it lasts for hours and I still am able to go about my business, just with  less oxygen (which again doesn't necessarily mean anything).
 
I'm going to keep an eye on it and not worry about it.  My main concern was death, and now that that has been pretty much ruled out, I'll see what happens. 
 
Let's see, what else.  I have six stitches in my back from getting two suspicious moles/freckles removed at the dermatologist two weeks ago.  The stitches come out on Tuesday.  I have two strange large scratches on my left hand and I have no idea where they came from.  I had a bad reaction to the bandages the hospital used on each of my arms after they took blood/gave me an injection which stayed bright red for over 24 hours, which has never happened to me before.  I think I'm also dehydrated.
 
I turn 30 this month and apparently my body knows.  It has decided to fall apart.   
 
What was that about anxiety again?

3 comments:

LWhits said...

Have your doc check you for GERD. My sis had the same symptoms. A bunch of heartburn meds might do the trick. LOL and you are getting old, my Nana could have written this post! ;) miss you!

SG said...

Wait a minute, you guys give me a hard time for waiting to visit the doctor after a few migraines -meanwhile, you cant breathe and wait to go?!? Here's a little something I learned from my blood clot: if you cant breathe, GO TO THE DOCTOR ASAP!
xoxox

Christina said...

Whits, if I'm old, what does that make you? Love you!

Sara, obviously I care for you more than myself. Speaking of which, have you been to the doctor yet?