I was mowing a small section of the lawn Tuesday morning. It wasn’t real hot, but I hadn’t felt 100% for a couple of days. Didn’t take me 10 minutes, but it was really humid out there. I got through, came inside and checked my blood pressure and pulse. Pulse was 88bpm and I thought that was odd as I never run over 65-70 after exertion due to the meds they have me on to control my heartbeat. BP was slightly elevated. I decided to lay down for a nap. After an hour, I got up and felt awful. Shaky.
Pulse at that time was 120 and BP 191/102 way above normal for me (120/80). So even though I’m not one to complain, often waiting until it’s nearly too late to seek help, I decided to do it differently this time. I had Michelle call the paramedics to check me out since my heart felt funny and there was tightness in my chest and throat.
Keystone Medics, I’ll need a bigger yard.
Let me start by saying. I am a staunch supporter of medical personnel. They are the front-line defense in times of emergency. I am, however, very intolerant of inefficiency and stupidity. So I call it as I see it, as fairly as possible. I have blogged before regarding volunteer emergency services here in Alabama. I have given praise in the past and criticism as well if deserved. Sitting here, not feeling all that well, I did hear some of the traffic on the police scanner here on the desk. I thought it was a lot of chatter for one call to check out a person with chest pains, but didn’t think any more of it. I figured, either they like to talk a lot, or I must be a celebrity and didn’t know it. It sounded like an awful lot of radio traffic for one call. The first unit paramedic drove past the house which the address was plainly marked on the mail box by the driveway in 6-inch letters 4121. He thought the call was 4131, Michelle had to run outside and flag him back toward the house. Then the true Keystone syndrome kicked in. Three, count them, THREE ambulances arrive and fill the front yard. So we now have three ambulances and a paramedic truck. We told them on the phone it was chest pains, and that we needed a unit for assessment. So rational people would expect a medic unit and maybe one ambulance. However, the med units here also transport. Basically, I had four ambulances in the yard.
The men on the primary (first in the house) unit hooked me up and determined I was indeed in Atrial fibrillation status. Since I was ambulatory, and they didn’t transport to the city 10 miles from us, I opted to have Michelle drive me.
12 guys standing around.
I thought perhaps having moved some miles from our last residence close to a small city with it’s own fire department I wouldn’t be seeing volunteer units racing to each and every call. Apparently being just outside the city limits, we fall into the first arrive, first paid category. I have mentioned before, volunteer fire units get around $32 each time a member rolls and arrives at a call. So anyone and everyone within fuel tank range apparently decided to try to collect on my single medical call. What if, someone several miles away, had been in cardiac arrest or had a limb amputated and had to wait for one of these speed racers to leave my residence and get to them. I mean, really. Three ambulances and a paramedic unit that doubles as an ambulance for one call? Anyhow, once I was checked out, Michelle and I thanked everyone, which took a while with about 12 guys standing around. The neighbors next door came over. We rarely see them, but I guess it looked like a mass shooting might have occurred and people love to gossip.
I would then begin the adventure in the hospital that was overcrowded, but that will be the next post. Gives me a little something for post material, and keeps this one from being so long. Suffice it to say, I am back home after a 26-hour stay at the large hospital in the capital city, 10 miles from here. I’m fine now with the Atrial fibrillation under control but just worn out.
On the bright side, the “Chaplain Truck” didn’t show up. I might have suffered a cardiac event at the sight.
Correction: Michelle says there was a tanker fire truck and another paramedic truck. Total of 6 units in the yard.
This made me laugh. Last Thursday I had an auto accident. One car, just me. It’s wasn’t bad although my chest hurt from air bags/seat belt. A good Samaritan stopped and called the police. Only 1 ambulance showed up but there were 5 police cars blocking the road (my car was off the road). I asked the good Samaritan if there was another accident up the road and he just laughed. It could have been a case of everyone being in the area. I’m not knocking it though. Two years ago my husband passed out in a mall parking lot. He had a head wound and bleed profusely. It took 45 minutes and multiple calls to get an ambulance. It even took about 15 minutes to get a policeman. Fortunately once he was there, he did the communication with the medics. He could see the blood. My husband was fine except for multiple tests to find out why he passed out. Two years later they still don’t have a definitive diagnosis. Take care!
I’m glad he was alright. People tend to think of emergency services as instant, always on. In truth as you found out, it can take a while. Sorry they haven’t found anything that caused it, when that happens to me, I just call it a “reboot”.
Wow, your husband passing out reminds me of our friend who passed out in a mall, also (what is it with malls?!) – same thing, blood from fall, hospital tests, no idea why. Odd, eh?
Glad you’re ok after your car accident!!
Thanks. He’s ok now too but no diagnosis.
Thank goodness you are OK!
Thank you, it’s good to be back home in my own bed. That small bed felt like someone had thrown a medium quilt over a set of monkey bars.
Glad you are doing OK now, but oh gosh on your story! Shaking my head, and I did have to laugh. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it. That’s what I meant for it to be, entertaining. You have to laugh at some of this stuff.
Yes, you do! We can’t control the circumstances at times, but we can control our attitude. 🙂
My goodness! It doesn’t seem proper to say OVERKILL! I enjoyed reading your story, knowing you survived the incident.
What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger? Incidents just seem to hunt me down at times.
You do seem to have more obstacles for ordinary living than most folks do. It’s not fair at all!!
I seem to be an obstacle magnet, Anne. No worries though.
I admire your attitude.
I am so glad you are back home and okay. Events like these are some of the worries about living in rural America.
It’s so much fun when Jim Bob and Billy Joe and maybe Carl Wayne all show up to share in the glory. We nearly had more medic units in our yard, than rose bushes.
I suppose it is times like this we should be thankful it wasn’t the other way around.
Ha! You sure have a way of telling a funny story – well, picking out the funny part and telling it so we LOL!
One thing though – if there is a next time this happens, Ron, maybe this isn’t such a good idea: You wrote
“Since I was ambulatory, and they didn’t transport to the city 10 miles from us, I opted to have Michelle drive me.” I think it’s always better to go to the hospital in an ambulance with paramedics aboard. Just in case something happens, there they are with proper equipment etc., ready to help you on the way. My two cents. Take care.
I’ve seen how these “volunteers” drive. Even rode with a couple as a “ride along” once. Scared me to death, and I was a cop.
Omg. Better Michelle, then!!