Waking up the morning after the midterm elections was a delight. The sky was a pretty orangey pink and the results were a gorgeous blue.
Maybe the entire country has not gone completely crazy.
While the results were wonderful, what impressed me the most was the turnout – reputed to be the greatest number of midterm voters in decades. The past two years seem to have awoken citizens to their collective responsibility in the democratic process.
This is no time for silence or apathy.
The weather was spectacular, eventually tying the record for highest temperature recorded in the area for the date. When my old boy gave me the “please may I have a swim?,” look while on our morning walk, I had no choice but to unclip his leash and let him go.
My afternoon was occupied with a routine MD visit and my monthly indulgent massage therapy appointment. I drove from office to office with the sunroof open under a sunny sky.
It was a good day.
In the early evening I walked to Lark Street, still warm despite the early autumn sunset. I wanted to check out the new cocktail bar, Aberration, that was just launching. Despite being neither family nor friend of the owners, the hostess allowed me to grab a single seat at the bar for a limited time. This was their soft opening and officially invite only.
I ordered the Black Manhattan Boulevardier. As it was prepared, I chatted with some friends who were there, which was wonderful, but I missed my chance to more fully explore the space. I’ll swing back around over the holidays to do that, hopefully.
My cocktail was great, however, it was one that was made for sipping. I was only able to drink maybe half of it before it was time for me to move on to my final destination for the night – Lark Hall and a much anticipated Carsie Blanton show.
Seeing Carsie for the third time, a day post-Election Day, was the ideal way to celebrate the remarkable results while staying cognizant of how much further work there remained to be done.
The opening band, The Burning Hell, was fun and the room pulsed with positive energy and excitement for the headliners. I stood near the stage, club soda in hand, and smiled at my good fortune at being at a midweek show without the weight of any morning obligations.
Lucky me.
As the room filled with spectators, I began to feel a little off. It certainly wasn’t the drink since I had consumed so little of it. I finished my club soda, but my thirst remained unabated. I headed to the bar for a water.
The bartender quickly took my request, placing a cup in front of me on the bar at precisely the moment when I realized I needed to sit down. Immediately.
I have a history of low blood pressure and a low heart rate and have learned to recognize when these conditions combine with adverse results.
I’m a fainter.
I think I pivoted 90° from the bar in an attempt to make it to the bench against the wall. Unfortunately, I didn’t initiate the move to a seat quickly enough. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor with two young women next to me. I don’t think I fell hard, nor do I think I hit my head on the way down. The first sensation I felt upon becoming conscious again, was a mild pain in my elbow. I believe that was my landing point when I slumped down.
These fainting episodes are annoying and embarrassing and generally follow a similar pattern. This one was no different, except it took me longer to regain my physical strength. I simply could not get up on my own, or with assistance, for what felt like a long time, but was likely more than five minutes, but less than 10.
Eventually, these lovely young women helped me to get to the bench that I had attempted to reach on my own. I was lucid and aware and pretty adamant that I did not want them to call 911. My last two fainting incidents resulted in my being taken by ambulance to the ER and I just didn’t have it in me to land there again. I knew there would be a series of tests conducted and I would be given a bag of fluids and sent on my way.
No, thanks. I just wanted to go home and lie down.
The two women were steadfast in their attention to me. We talked about my history of fainting and they shared their observations as witnesses to my fall. I had a second moment when I seemed to again lose consciousness during this time. It was weird. I was both aware of where I was, yet felt kind of removed and lost in my head.
I was provided with ginger ale and water and a bag of ice to wrap around my neck. The care these strangers and the Lark Hall staff gave to me was off the chart and I aspire to be the same calming angel if I should find myself in their shoes in the future.
I sat, and eventually laid down on the bench, trying to gather my strength to get downstairs (in the elevator) and out to the car where a friend would get me home. By this point a number of friends were with me, including one who is a doctor. Those two young women, though, remained within reach.
The kindness shown to me was overwhelming.
That’s when the nausea hit.I expressed my need for a receptacle, which was provided. I proceeded to vomit, tidily I hope. This has happened before, so I wasn’t too concerned, just mortified. At least my bladder held this time. Nothing like being a spectacle, right?
After about 40 minutes in total, start to finish, I was able to get to the car. The semi-reclined seat was the most palatial of beds and I was so happy to be comfortable. I vomited once more before we pulled away from the curb, but felt reasonably well and fully aware for the ride home. With careful spotting and support, I was able to get up the stairs and onto the couch where I spent the night.
So, now it’s back to the cardiologist for me. On my primary doctor’s recommendation, I went to the walk in clinic at Capital Cardiology at the end of the week and will return to one of their locations this week for an echocardiogram. I’ve got an appointment scheduled early in the new year to pick up a heart monitor to wear once again for a week to gather some data.
This time around, though, I’ve been advised to bring a neurologist into the mix for added perspective. Anyone have a recommendation for someone local that they’ve seen? I’ve got a couple of names, but I’ve heard this area is thin when it comes to that specific speciality.
I’ll be packing some electrolytes for my upcoming trip, but don’t anticipate any issues. These occurrences generally come very infrequently with many months or even years between episodes.
Life sure does have its ups and downs, doesn’t it?
