"Why is your pulse 115 beats a minute?"
Not a question anyone wants to hear from their doctor. Not while sitting quietly in a chair. I was only seeing my primary care physician for a standard physical exam, one scheduled weeksin advance. I expected a prescription refill and maybe another 'polite' discussion about being overweight, and then a return home.
What I received was a strong "suggestion" that I head for the emergency room, post haste.
I'm supposed to be a writer, I've received awards, but I draw a blank trying to describe words to show you the feelings that went through me. I had zero symptoms or problems; no chest flutters or palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain or dizziness. Zero to show me that I was experiencing afib, or arial fibrullation as the doctor explained to me. My heart was jumping between 100 and 125 beats a minutes. An EKG confirmed the problem. The upper chambers of my heart were not beating correctly. The problem I had could result in a stroke. It was four pm on a Friday. There was no way to get to a cardiologist ... except by heading to an emergency room.
Yet, this was all a huge coincidence. My problem proved to be intermittant. My heart beat abnormally at 4 on Friday. Testing finally showed a return to normalcy at about 2 am on Saturnday. With medications, I was allowed to leave the hospital by noon. The episode has not repeated itself. I know because I check my heart about a dozen times a day. Basically, had my doctor's appointment been on Thursday or Saturday, my probelm might never have been discovered. This could have been my first Afib episode, or my tenth. With no symptoms I would nevefr have gone in have myself checked out. Afib frequently results in strokes.
The coincidence of timing for my regular physical could have saved me from that. Coincidence is a great tool for building tension in a story, but not much else. Authors know that using coincidence in story is a double-edged sword. My training as a writer is that readers usually consider it sloppy writing, unless it makes life worse for the main character. Fortunatly there are differences between fiction and real life. Coincidence does exist, and sometimes works for good. I love hearing stories of people who survive disasters thanks to a coincidence in their lives. I am thankful this coincidence gave me a second chance and the opportunity to do the right thing for myself.
Now I somehow have to figure out an effective, believable way to use this kind of positive coincidence in a story in a way that doesn't sound like sayting, "and then a miracle occurred."
P. S. I'd love to hear about any coincidences that have impacted you, if you'd like to share.
7 comments:
Barbara, so glad that particular coincidence happened! Since where I live we are experiencing "Extreme Weather aka Heat Wave" for several days, I found my indestructible hose had been chewed through, most likely by squirrels so that I got a water bath! Later that day a friend shared she'd just purchased a Kevlar hose at Costco! Not as dramatic a coincidence as you experienced but a welcomed one. I'd been at a hardware store earlier in the day and could not find the light-weight-flexible-type hose that had been chewed.
Sometimes its the little things, Judith.
We had new irrigation lines put in our yard front and back. Usually we sit in back in the evening. Last night I decided to take a walk around front and good thing I did! Part of the irrigation system had worked loose and the water was shooting out full force! Husband tied it off and fixed it the next day.
Enjoyed your post!
I'm glad this situation turned out okay, Barbara.
Recently, a family member had a medical emergency. Luckily, it was when she was sitting around a campfire with a bunch of people, so they could get help right away. I shudder to think what would have happened if she'd have been driving home or alone at the time.
I think sometimes the universe is on our side. I am so happy for you and your fanuky, Lynn.
You are, indeed, fortunate for this coincidence. Heart changes, particulaly Afib, is often symptomless in women. Both my mother and my sister first discovered it at a doctor's visit as well. Both were taken by ambulance to hospital where they stayed several days for testing. Both now take medication to keep it in check.
After the fact, they realized there were signs that they ignored or chalked up to something else. Being out of breath, for example, they attributed to their weight and being out of shape. In my mother's case, after the diagnosis it took awhile to get the medication right. A couple times of 180 bpm and an ambulance ride was definite cause for concern. But she's now been stable for nearly 20 years.
Take care. I'm so happy it was caught for you in time to make a difference.
Maggie, like your family membefrs, I can now look back and see signs that I didn't realize at the time. With my heartrate moving between 115 an 125, my doctor let me drive to the emergency room myself. I almost didn't follow instructions, but she looked to concerned, I ended up chosing to obey.
PS, 20 years stable sounds awesome.
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