This past Thursday, I had dozed off in my recliner and awoke about 2 pm with chest pain, pressure, short of breath, pain radiating up my neck and shoulders.....all those obvious symptoms. I waited awhile hoping it would go away, but no such luck. My hairdresser was coming at 4 pm so by that time I decided to call my GP's office. Naturally no doctors were there so the nurse told me to go to the ER. Soooo.......called 911. In no time flat, the intensive care unit, ambulance and around eight cars were parked outside. How embarrassing!!

It took them four "sticks" to find a vein to start an IV -- eventually on the underside of my right arm between the wrist and elbow. Then all the bloodwork began at the hospital. Was afraid to have a drink of water, thought my body would be like a sprinkler!! This is a small, country hospital without a telemetry floor, so they put me in ICU for monitoring for two days. Oh yes, it was Atrial Fibrillation which I've had twice before. I've been on warfarin (blood thinner) for 20 months and now Digoxin has been added. It wasn't a heart attack, thank you Lord, just something that happens -- as if I don't have enough to deal with!

It took over 24 hours and two different IV meds before the heart converted back to a regular beat. My son brought me home Saturday. Now I'm just really tired.

But it was great to get back home and into my usual routine. Being on familiar turf is so much better than in the hospital where the nurses are trying to help me move, but actually making matters worse. One thing that most people don't appreciate in the hospital, having a catheter put in, was a "God-send" for me! Didn't have to worry about accidents plus they wouldn't even let me sit up in bed for 24 hours.

As the doctor covering for my GP said, "All diseases are awful, but MS really sucks!" I couldn't agree more!!!! Hopefully this won't happen again for a long time.