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During the cold, wintry evening of January 2, 2005, I was experiencing an unexplained pain in the left side of my chest. Along with the chest pain, my right arm was tingling and my fingers were very cold. My first thought was, “Oh My God, am I having a heart attack?” I woke up my husband, hurried to the car and drove to the nearest hospital, less than 10 minutes from our house.
The Emergency Room technicians were quick and orderly. When I explained I was having a sharp, explosive pain in the left side of my chest, they too were concerned I was having a heart attack. I added other information I thought was vital such as the tingling in my arm, my cold fingers, difficulty catching my breath, and a funny feeling like my heart was skipping beats (Heart Palpitations).
The rush of concerned technicians all around me was comforting, however a bit scary as well. “Was I having a heart attack at the young age of 41?” Monitors were connected to me with tubes and cords laying over my hospital gown, machines beeping and buzzing. Blood was being drawn for tests.
RESULTS: The EKG “did not show any life threatening problems.” Then off for X-Rays. The X-Rays “did not show any life threatening problems.” My blood tests all came back in the ‘normal’ range, showing “nothing that is life threatening.” It seemed like I had heard the phrase, “Did not show any life threatening problems,” a hundred times that evening. Little did THEY know, Lyme Disease IS a LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM!
I mentioned several times that I had been treated for Lyme Disease in 2004. They didn’t make anything of the information I provided. I mentioned that I had a PICC line running up in my arm, into my chest and heart for 4 weeks to treat Lyme Disease. Could that be the culprit? Scar tissue? Possibly Lyme Disease still in my body? Again, they did not make anything of the information I provided. The tests that they performed “showed no life threatening problems.” Ok, so then what IS the problem?
They sent me home with a diagnosis of Costochondritis:
“Costochondritis (kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis) is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.”
I was not convinced, however, what did I know?
They also felt this incident was due to stress. “STRESS?” I questioned. “I have the most laid back life a person could have!”
The following day I broke out in hives all over my body. I continued to experience pain in the same area of my chest, especially when I participated in physical activity, whether it was low impact exercise or high impact. My regular doctor (at that time) suggested I increase the anti anxiety medication I was on, as well as take Zyrtec for the hives. Again, no concern even with my past history of Lyme Disease. After discussing my further concern that something just wasn’t right, he gave in and decided to set up a Stress Test for me.
My Stress Test came back in the ‘normal’ range. My heart appeared ‘normal.’ I left the doctor’s office with the same diagnosis of Costochondritis which just didn’t make sense to me. All these new health issues appearing after my onset and first treatment of Lyme Disease, yet no one in the medical field would even consider that maybe, just maybe, I still have Lyme in my body.
All of the symptoms I provided to the medical team around me ARE “symptoms of Lyme Disease.” ALL of them: chest pain, heart palpitations, air hunger (can’t catch my breath), cold fingers/toes and more are the symptoms. However, my information was dismissed. I was released from the emergency room, released from my doctor’s office and sent home without any answers.
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Me and My Mom
A very wise person (My Mom) continues to remind me, “Every interruption is an opportunity!” I took this interruption as an opportunity to continue my research on Lyme Disease.