Yes... I do have one !

 I had to have stress test this morning!

Talk about being stressful...just the thought of it stresses me out.

I do tend to be a great worrier. Anyone that knows me will confirm that but then anything medical I think would concern most people. 

So the story goes...just having a check up at my doctors. Everything fine, numbers great,  a push there and a probe here all good. It was as he was finishing up and the results of a heart check taken earlier were scanned he noticed something.....and out came the stethoscope.

Yes I DO have one....a heart that is....some may disagree 😏

"Mmmm," he whispered listening intently. Of course a worry wart like myself doesn't like to hear that but then again not many would; especially from a doctor!

"There's a bit of a murmur",  he whispered still listening intently. Then he checked the print out the nurse just bought in from a check earlier. "See that there...not quite right!" He showed me but it didn't mean much to be honest.

"But I feel well? " I questioned.

"We had better get that checked out" he said while writing down the name and 'phone number of a specialist and sending off a referral.

Panic..me..NOoooo 😱😱

I went this morning and after a somewhat sleepless night and a very early start..had to be there at 9.15...of course I was awake and ready by 6.30! But then that's just me...

"Oh back again," the friendly nurse greeted me on arrival. I was only there just over a week before to first of all see the specialist and also had another ECG taken. Once seen never forgotten that's me I guess 😉😇😀

"Yes here again," I replied "Just can't stay away!" So after taking a measurement of my height..not quite sure why😕... but anyway I was guided into THE room...instructed to lay down as wires were attached to my chest and a couple to my ankles. A cardiologist entered the room..."Ah Michael..yes yes,"..and so we began in silence.

If my heart wasn't racing before it certainly was now as I tried to relax...tried being the operative word...maybe not operative...that sounds too close to....O P E R A T I O N !!!!😖😱😱😱

Just relax I kept saying to myself as gel and "the hand thing" was pressed on my chest. A clicking could be heard from the machine by my side. A click...then a whoosh of heartbeats. This went on for what seemed like ten minutes.. I was then instructed to go on the treadmill.

Now I was prepared for this as I had been walking briskly, very briskly, for the past few weeks knowing this was coming so I knew I would be okay...or so I thought.

With wires still attached I stood on the machine and it started, slowly, gradually speeding up every couple of minutes. I was fine until the incline began and then I started to puff 😣😵😵💦💦

After around ten minutes the specialist himself came in while I was still briskly walking and he checked the print out..."You have a slight problem there with a heart valve. Nothing to worry about at this stage. I have no need to operate!"🙏  A sentence I loved to hear....YESSSSS!!

"It's hereditary... family members should get checked as well," he continued.

With that the machine was speeded  up..one last lap as it were...just before I almost fell off the back!

A quick shout out from the attending nurse in panic.. "Stay at the front...hold on... stay at the front," as I quickly recovered my footing.

"We'll keep a check on it...just come back in one year." he said. And with that he wished me good day and away to the room next door where I could hear someone else panting heavily on another tread mill.

So that was my day, or my morning I should say, followed by a very rewarding coffee and blueberry muffin in the hospital cafeteria. 

Aren't we fortunate to have so many people, specialists, doctors, to take care of us. I think we really don't know just how lucky we are until something happens; something goes wrong.

Very appreciated indeed...and very grateful as we should be.

So for now...life goes on🙏 ...and so pleased that's over!