If you’ve never heard the sound of your own blood squishing its way through your heart, you should. It sounds a lot like water splashing around in a washing machine — only a lot more sinister. Seriously, it’s pretty gross … and amazing … all at the same time. So, anyway, as many of you already know, I went in for an echocardiogram yesterday. I was doing fairly well in the days leading up to the test. But, somehow, on the day of, I think my stress about the test began to rear its ugly head. I felt sick for much of the day, but I feel much better now. Anyway, so, let me tell you about the test …
Basically, an echocardiogram is a picture of your heart. If you’ve ever seen one of those black and white sonogram pictues that pregnant women stick on their fridges with magnets, it looks a lot like that. Actually, it’s more like a video than a picture. You get to see and hear how the blood moves through the heart. And, why would I need to see and hear that? Well, since my lungs are fine and I still experience shortness of breath, the doc wanted to check out my heart. (The heart sends oxygen-filled blood out to the body. So, if I’m not getting enough air, it could be a heart thing.)
“Ooh can you print out a picture of that that part over there?” I asked the technician, Dr. Chow, as I pointed to the echo screen. Dr. Chow cocked his head to one side and asked me why I wanted a print out. “Because I have a blog, okay? And, I want to post the picture so that people can see it.” Dr. Chow looked bewildered, confused and amazed. “Don’t worry,” I reassured him. “Everyone one who reads my blog already knows that I’m here.” Dr. Chow giggled and shook his head. In the end, I received neither a picture nor my test results. Dr. Chow is the technician; he isn’t allowed to give me any information. I have to wait until my own doctor tells me the results. Oh well. As soon as I know, you’ll know. If I don’t hear anything in a week’s time, I’ll call my doctor. In the meantime, hopefully all is well. Life goes on as usual.
This blog is about my life and my dates in New York City. Until I get the test results, expect to hear more about my dates and less about my (health) life.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
You are SO freaking adorable! Hahaha! I bet that’s the first time the tech has heard that line! :o)
So sorry you will have to wait (and wait) for the results and picture…that sucks big fat donkey balls. BUT, since there is nothing you can do, you might as well just go out and keep using that big heart of yours, since it always leads to great blog stories. Ha!
((HUG))
sucks to have to wait.
HaHa. FBC’s heart sounds like a washing machine!!
I just wish they had that Star Trek technology where they wave a little gizmo and tell you everything right away.
You need to get a recording of the blood sound and make it a ringtone on your phone. That would be cool.
AmyD: Thanks. :-)
sexpotdonna: It totally did!! It sounded just like a washing machine with the water squishing around the clothes!! It was kind of odd.
John: ME TOO!!!!! I’m an extremely impatient person. It kills me that I have to wait for the results. Years from now, technology will improve and people will probably get that stuff right on the spot.
Baba Doodlius: That would be cool. I’m not joking when I say that I really want that picture / video thing. It was pretty amazing. I know I sound like a total geek saying this, but I honestly had this moment where I was watching and hearing my own heartbeat on the monitor and I was like, “Wow! The human body is amazing!”
I’ve had a stress echo, not an ECG. Running on a treadmill for 12 minutes and then holding your breath for five is an interesting experience.
Haven’t done the stress test yet. I hope this is the last of the testing. Still heard the results yet! :-(
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