During my last stay in the hospital I was supposed to have a tilt table test. This test measures your blood pressure and heart rate while you are in different positions. My cardiologist ordered it because I have been having dizzy spells where I get extremely hot, turn pale and then almost pass out. They rescheduled the test and I went today. Here is what this lovely test looks like....
I was on a table just like this, strapped down with monitors taped all over me. I also had an IV for the second part of the test where they add a medicine that acts like adrenaline to speed up your heart rate and see how your body reacts. Mom and I got there at 8am ready to go. It took forever to "prep" for the test getting IV in, heart rate monitors on, blood pressure cuff, etc. Once I finally started the test it seemed uneventful. I was just lying down on the table trying not to fall asleep. They got a measure on my heart rate and blood pressure for about 10 minutes and then raised the table to a standing position. This was the miserable part. Off an on for over an hour, I got super hot (like a feeling from the inside of my body out and like my skin was hot to touch) then I would get dizzy and disoriented. For some reason they felt the need to let this happen multiple times before they were satisfied with the results. I was gearing up for part two where they add adrenaline, but she said I didn't need part two because I failed part one so badly. Awesome. I guess? I got to go back to my hospital room with mom and finally get some food and drink. I didn't really think much of the test because I have those "episodes" all the time and it is just kind of part of my day. I learn to adjust to them, sit down until they pass, and move on.
While we waited on the doctor, we listened to the most incredible talk by Tobin Cassels, who lost his son Toby at age 21. His talk was titled "In this world you will have troubles". He talks about how we will all have troubles at some point. Some of us now, others later. God says in John 16:33, I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!" How awesome is that verse? Whether your trouble is in your marriage, with your children, a job, school, friends, or your health, God has overcome it all. He will take care of you through your time of wilderness. Tobin talks about how we cannot control our life circumstances, but we can control how we react to them. Sure, it is easy to lash out in anger to God. Why me? Why can't I be healthy like my friends? (Or whatever you are going through) Or we can look to God in our times of troubles and praise him. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Glorifying God doesn't mean your troubles get easier, or you aren't sad or mad. But you can impact someone else's life through what you are going through. Listening to Mr. Cassels talk was so calming and reassuring as I waited on the doctor to come back in. And I really needed to hear it....
Because I got yet another diagnosis. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Dysautonomia. They are disorders of your autonomic system. What is that? Its what your body automatically does. Controls your temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. That system isn't doing its job automatically in my body. Which is why I get super hot or super cold when others aren't. My body doesn't control temperature like it should. And why I cannot stand for long periods of time or my legs and feet go numb. Because of my Ehlers-Danlos, my connective tissue abnormality allows excessive amounts of blood to pool in my lower extremities when I am standing. So yes, for those of you wondering, the EDS and Dysautonomia are very much related. I now have to wear compression hose (toes to tummy) that are super tight and help constrict my blood vessels. Today was my first day wearing them and let's just say I will have to set my alarm an extra 10 minutes earlier each day to put these babies on! Whew! Par for the course for me, I showed odd signs of dysautonomia. Instead of my blood pressure dropping when standing, my heart rate sky-rocketed. A normal heart rate is between 60-100. Mine was 150 when standing for 10 minutes. So it is more cardiac issue than blood pressure.
When hearing the new diagnoses, I listened and nodded my head. When she asked if I had any questions I said no m'am. When she left, I got dressed and got my things together. I wondered... am I so trusting in God that I am not phased by this new news or am I totally numb to yet another problem to add to the list? I would like to think its the first, but I really don't know. Maybe it hasn't hit me, but honestly, what would I do differently anyway? I am still going to live my life like I was and be thankful for each day. I may have one more disease, one more medicine to take, and one more specialist to see, but I love my life and I am thankful for everything and everyone in it. We all have troubles, but God has overcome it all! AMEN!
xoxo
Riley
