Straight to the heart

Today my blog comes to you from my hospital bed. I have been very sick and that is why I did not post yesterday, I am still not feeling well, however, the blog must go on!

I was working at K-Mart, I was there a little over a year when this scary thing happened. I was sitting on the floor in front of my couch while Noel, my daughter, put french braids in my hair. I was trying to put my makeup on at the same time, I had to be at work soon.

I started to get a pain in the right side of my jaw, soon after I got a head ache, then my head felt funny. I tried to get up but couldn't, the room was starting to spin. So my oldest boy fixed me something to eat thinking that maybe it was because I hadn't eaten had brought on these symptoms. I took a few bites and felt like I was going to lose it.

I stood up and went to sit on the love seat just a foot away and laid down. I though to myself  "you can't do this, you have to get to work" so I mustered up my strength and stood up. My kids told me I went down and hit my head on one of the tables. I don't remember this, I just remember my son trying to get me back up on the couch.

911 was called and the EMT's came out to get me. I had slurred speech, high blood pressure, and couldn't remember much. I was put in the ambulance and they started and IV, gave me a baby aspirin and we were off to the hospital. as soon as I got there the took blood, EKG, gave me a nitro tablet (these give you a headache like you have never felt before) and medication for the headache.

My blood pressure was now 169/137 and the Doctor believed that I had a heart attack as well as a mini stroke. All I knew is that I was scared and wanted to go home cause I didn't want to hear what they were saying, being only 36 and having a stroke and a heart attack? Too much!!! Needed less to say I went through a battery of tests, yet they found nothing. The one E.R. doc still believes I had a heart attack, but it was not noted in my chart.

When I followed up my my specialist and told her everything that had happened and she explained that people with Lupus are prone to have Pericarditis, this is when the sack around your heart become inflamed and causes chest pain, it can be mistaken for a heart attack.

Here is a little more about Pericarditis found on www.lupus.org:


Heart disease is a major complication of lupus and is now a leading cause of death among people with lupus. Blood tests, chest X-rays, an electrocardiogram (EKG), or an echo cardiogram may be used to find out if you have a heart condition caused by lupus.

The most common way that lupus affects the heart is through inflammation of the pericardium, the sac that surrounds your heart. The symptoms of pericarditis that you may experience are sharp pain in your chest and, occasionally, shortness of breath. Pericar-ditis usually does not damage your heart’s ability to function because it does not directly involve the heart tissue. However, inflammation that is chronic (long-lasting) can scar the heart tissue, which can interfere with the heart’s ability to pump blood.

Thank you for taking the time to read today's blog. I want to draw your attention to a new item. I have placed the address of the two Hospitals that I receive my care from. If you would like you can make a donation to the cost of my Hospital bills. I have filed for temporary disability but it has not come through and I am not receiving a paycheck. The children and my family would be most grateful for anything you could give and if you can't give, please keep us in your prayers. Thank you for your support and God bless you all,
Dori