A Cardiologist and a New Perspective

Life can get pretty stressful for me sometimes...and then something can happen that puts it all in perspective.  That's what has happened at our home during the past three weeks.

It all started with my husband having sudden chest pains about three weeks ago.  We thought he'd pulled a muscle while working on his truck.  After a couple of days, the pain went away.  Then it came back.  Finally, a week and a half ago, he made a trip to our family doctor.  The doctor did an EKG and set up an appointment with the cardiologist.  Last Monday my husband went to the cardiologist, who didn't seem too concerned but planned to schedule him for more tests.  Then Wednesday hit...

Robby's truck was in the shop, so I dropped him and our boys off at the church before I headed to class until lunchtime.  At 9:00 I left class for a break and checked my phone to find a message from my husband.  He told me that something was happening, and he thought it might be his heart.  A church member was driving him for an emergency visit to the cardiologist and he wanted to tell me that I might need to leave class and head over there.  He told me that he loved me.  I honestly didn't know if I would hear his voice any more after that message.

Panic doesn't even begin to describe what I felt.  I rushed into class in tears.  Classmates helped me get my things together and I sped to the doctor's office to be with Robby.  To make a long story short, five hours and two tests later, we found out that my husband's heart is in great shape.  Apparently he suffered a massive anxiety attack, and may have some underlying minor medical problems causing them.  Our family doctor is trying some different treatments until we find what works.  He's still having daily attacks, but he's finding ways to manage them a little better.  I've been giving him a little advice - I struggled with anxiety attacks for about a year in 2006/2007.

It's been a really scary week and a half for us.  I want to say thanks to all my Twitter friends, especially my Hello Mornings #mym2 girls and my Good Morning Girls group, Sisters in Spirit, for all your prayers and encouraging words.  All I can say is, I'm so thankful my husband is okay.  School is important, but I have to admit, whether or not I make an A on a test isn't quite so important anymore.  Life has a different feel after a crisis.  Gratitude reigns in our family right now.