At the supper table on Friday, March 3rd, Susan was asking which activity the family should do for the evening when she suddenly began experiencing acute chest pains on the left side. As they continued to intensify, Kelvin had her lie down on the floor. Joseph monitored her heart rate and BP, both of which were normal and steady. Kelvin prayed and though the pain decreased, it did not go away. An hour later, to Joseph’s relief, we were on our way to the ER of Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, with hopes of being told “what it isn’t.”
After examining an “alert and oriented” patient, the ER physician ordered an EKG, chest x-ray, blood dimer (sp?)and tordal injection. Each of the tests came back that she was in good shape, including the blood draw which verified that the absence of blood clots in her system. She did respond to the anti-inflammatory injection, and so the doctor concluded that she must have pleurisy. We were surprised, as we had just discussed this condition at horse bowl practice earlier in the week. Susan’s inflammation of the pleura, or lining around the lungs and chest cavity, is deemed “mechanical” in origin, as she is experiencing none of the nasty cold/fever/flu symptoms going around.
Meanwhile she has been sentenced to a week of anti-inflammatories (9 Ibuprofen/day, which is more than she takes in a year!)and no lung expanding activities. There goes all the progress she made exercising to her new aerobic DVD for the last 3 weeks!:roll: Hmmmmmmm…….!!!
The ER nurse also recommended a trip to Hawaii. We asked if Florida was good enough. More on that in a future post, except to say that Kelvin has added to her list of things to do before we make the trip next week: daily naps, reduced commitments, and in bed by 10:00!
Blessed be the LORD, who has not dealt with us according to what we deserve…Psalm 103:10