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I believe that many of you are aware that I take care of my mom who is elderly and disabled. Tonight, while out with Dri and Dov, I received a couple of phone calls from her -- it seemed that she was having severe chest pains and very short of breath. Grudgingly, I drove home...thinking that yet again she had ruined my night due to a false alarm. Well, I now sit here feeling guilty, exhausted and still a bit shaky after tonight's events.
I drove her to the emergency room at our local hospital. Finding the lobby full of people -- some sitting on the floor, I wasn't sure what our chances were of being seen straight away. I immediately gave the admitting nurse her symptoms and luckily, they examined her within 5-7 minutes of arriving. Within an hour's time, she was already hooked up to an IV, been examined by the doctor, had an EKG and x-rays were on there way to being developed. Around 2am, the nurse informed me she was definitely being admitted due to her heart being affected by fluid retention around it. My mom seemed to be in better spirits, so I bid her 'good night' and went home.
About 4:30am, I received a phone call from the attending doctor. My mother's situation was grave -- her blood pressure very low and it was important that "her family members be here at this time". Holy shit! I called my sister, told her to meet me at the hospital, and off I sped into the night back to the emergency room.
Fearing the worst, I thought I'd find my mom in a semi-comatose state or...seriously, I'm not sure what I was supposed to think. Instead, I found my mom alert and speaking to everyone. That's when her doctor pulled me aside and said -- "Your mother's blood pressure is very low. With the multiple symptoms that she has, if it continues to decline, we give her 90% chance of not surviving the next day or two." My heart stopped. I wasn't prepared for this. When he walked away, my mother asked me what he had said. I didn't know what to say. Desperately trying to control my emotions, I finally was able to tell her and my sister, who had finally arrived, the news. Fuck.
An angiogram was immediately scheduled. But the risk of having it meant that my mom was now destined to go on dialysis. We took our chances, agreed to the angiogram. and if something was found blocking her arteries, it would hopefully be able to be treated.
After sitting in the waiting room for what seemed an eternity but was only an hour, they learned what we've known along -- my mom has congestive heart failure. But, the good news was that her blood pressure was just fine. Whew!! That was the main concern -- the other symptoms could be treated without having to worry.
I can't even begin to tell you how relieved we were. To go through an emotional roller coaster such as this in one night is insane. I think I can finally get some sleep now. And if you could, my mom could use some positive vibes.
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eter, aka 
usty 
halk
