The highest HR this device could read on me. At > 200, it gave an error. Normal HR=60-90 |
What's SVT? Supra ventricular tachycardia. It's these episodes where your heart beats so fast (in my case, in the 200s) that you can see and feel it jumping in your chest. And you usually have some chest tightness, shortness of breath and lightheadedness with it. You could even pass out. For days after, one could feel sapped of all energy. And it can be dangerous but so far, God has been good. People have had heart attacks from it. With my medication and a certain bearing down maneuver that we call the valsalva, I am able to break an episode without calling 911, at least not since the first one when I ended up in the ER two and half years ago.
But it's that thing among a few others that stops me from being the superwoman I want to be in my head. The one that doesn't allow me to juggle wife, mother, MD, author, blogger, mentor as well as I would like. I know how Apostle Paul felt when he spoke about the thorn in his flesh that God didn't take away.
But I don't write this for pity. I write it to encourage others that they are not alone in dealing with health problems and limiting factors in their bodies. The good thing is this. My soul and my spirit are untouchable. And the joy of The Lord which is my strength makes me sing this morning as I get over an episode, "I'm reaping the harvest God promised me. Take back what the devil stole from me. And I rejoice today. I shall recover it all." As you can see in the 2nd HR (heart rate) reading below, my HR is back to normal.
Any type of heart disease is no joke. Author Dee Stewart recently died at my age after a decade of battling heart failure from peripartum cardiomyopathy. May her sould RIP.
What thorn do you have in your flesh that you are pushing through?
Blessings.
Folake.
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Dr. Taylor,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing! I'm slowly learning to let go of that Superwoman mentality. I was shocked to learn that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the U.S. As I have completed chemotherapy, for breast cancer, I am forever challenged to take care of me so that I can be of better service to others. Stay blessed!
Tameka Shanae
Thanks for visiting Tameka. We will continue to hold on to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. And to encourage others who may not be as bold or strong, or who may not have as much faith.
DeleteAnd we will do our best to take care of ourselves too, and only do what we can, when we can.
God is good all the time. :)