Emergency Room

Wednesday morning I awoke slowly. I started my coffee maker as usual and drank my first cup as I put on my make up. Soon I began to feel winded. I felt as if I could not catch a full, deep breath. I continued to get ready but I asked God to comfort me and strengthen me. I also practiced breathing exercises hoping I would feel better for school.
Feeling out of breath is not new to me. It has been going on since early 2004. The first time it happened I had just quit smoking (yes, I has smoked off and on since 2001) and felt that maybe this was related. The breathing problems persisted occasionally over the next 3 years as I continued to smoke.
On October 31st 2006, I quit smoking for good. That was it. I had to be done with this nasty habit because of it's devastating effects. I no longer wanted to reak of it nor did I want cancer.
This past year after I quit, whenever I worked out, I felt it was incredibly difficult to get through my cardio without feeling worn out and breathless. There also were days when I would wake up and be out of breath for no reason. I would have to lie down and try breathing exercises. I finally took myself to the doctor in July of 2007. This doc said it could be asthma so he gave me Singulair and an Albuterol inhaler to use before physical activity. I slowed down on the work outs but was still waiting tables and used the inhaler infrequently.
Nothing much changed with medication. I began teaching and had about 4 or 5 episodes of feeling out of breath. Not just out of breath but it felt I had this pressure on my chest. I also felt faint and weak for most of the day.
Last week I had 3 days of it. By Thursday I broke down. I tend to keep health issues to myself for some reason. Maybe I think it is not that bad. Maybe I do not know how to talk about it. Whatever the reason, it was not the best idea to keep it to myself though.
I was at school trying to make a dr. appointment but my doc did not seem too accomodating or caring about my issue so I quickly found a new one. The nurse said she would try to get me in by Friday. It was Thursday and I needed to see a doctor today! So right as my 6th period kids were entering class, I just started crying and could not stop. Luckily my friend the speech teacher came to the rescue. He took my kids into his classroom so I could calm down. I called my mom and she gave me advice and prayed with me. Soon enough I was ready to take on my last 2 classes for the day. I then had to work my usual d-hall shift and then went home to relax.
Friday morning during my conference period I got into my new doctor. The nurse administered an asthma test which showed my breathing was just fine. No problems there. The doc asked questions and basically surmised that my sinuses were backed up and I needed a nasal inhaler to breath better. Okay, she seems to know what she is talking about I thought.
Fast forward to Wednesday where I left off...
I got to school and had an hour and a half before my first class because of finals. I was still struggling to breathe deep and I felt more faint by the minute. I got online to research my symptoms on Web MD. Everything about chest pressure and breathing problems kept saying to go immediately to the ER. What? I have never been to the ER and that only happens on tv anyway...besides, I have a class coming in soon. What will the administration think? So I just started sobbing. I prayed about it to calm down and sent a quick email to the appropriate people that I would be leaving to go to the hospital and asked if they could cover my classes. The secretary swiftly arrived in my room to see how I was and let me leave to the ER. I left crying and called my family. I called my sister and before I could get the words out, she was on her way to meet me. I talked with my dad and eventually my mom. My sister met me at the ER and I filled out the paperwork. Soon, I was seen by the entry nurse and then taken to a room where I was told to put on a gown. Why do I need to do that? I wondered. Another nurse arrived to ask me questions. Then another nurse came in to ask me other questions. She was very competent and knowledgeable. She was also funny and full of positivity. A little while later I was getting blood drawn and having an EKG done on my heart. I was then take to get chest x-rays. This whole ordeal was about 3 hours long so it was awesome to have my sister be there for support. It was very encouraging to have her by my side as we talked about life. Eventually Dr. O'Malley (yes, Holly and I grinned at each other when we heard that was my dr. for all you Grey's fans) came to review the tests and rule out possibilities. He was a Northerner with the gentleness of a Southerner. He was very thourough and kind. He said my oxygen levels were perfect and my x rays showed nothing. Heart was great too. He, along with the nurse, thought it could have been anxiety or a panic attack. I do not think it was that at all because I am still having the same problems today. But they did suggest that I get my thyroid checked as well as my hormone levels. In the ER, they are prepared for emergencies so the other issues need to be checked out by specialists.
Praise the Lord I was checked out by 12:45pm and on my way to lunch with my sister. The principal's secretary called to check in on me and of course my family wanted to know what was going on. My mom wanted to drive in from Lake Charles but I told her that would not be necessary. I am a big girl now ;)
I spent the rest of the day napping and resting. My breathing was still a struggle up until I fell asleep. The next day I felt better but not perfect. All my students wanted to know what happened to me. The staff and teachers were also very sympathetic to what was going on with me. It was incredibly encouraging to come back to such warmth. I really feel like we are a family at school and I am thankful the Lord has placed me there. Most everyone is so understanding and supportive.
Today I am still feeling the effects of this breathing issue. The next step is setting up an appointment over Christmas break to get everything else checked out. I would greatly appreciate your prayers at this time for wisdom from God and that I would not be fearful.
Joshua 1:9 says, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Even though I still do not know what is wrong with me, I am trusting the Lord for the direction. He was taken care of me through this experience and for that I can only be thankful. I am definitely praising Him for allowing my sister to be there, for my school to have been so understanding, and for great hospital staff that made the experience more enjoyable.