While laying in bed on Wednesday night, I had a tightening feeling across my chest along with a shortness of breath. It felt strange, especially given that I hadn't been doing anything physical and that I had never felt it before. After about an hour, I guess I simply fell asleep, not a lot to worry about, right??
The following morning, I woke up and got busy with my standard morning routine. Our daughter had a late night, so we decided that she could make it a slow morning, and I would give her a ride to school. I was filling out some paperwork for a doctor's appointment when the tightness & shortness feelings struck again. For whatever reason, the encore was bigger than the initial appearance. It hung around for more than three hours! I thought I'd heard of an MS symptom before that involved a tightening feeling around the chest and midsection. So, I "googled" it, and found enough to make me feel safe with the diagnosis of this being just another item that comes with the territory.
I will say that due to this episode, I was given an opportunity to experience what must have been my first panic attack. I must say, I took full advantage of that opportunity!! I wasn't so much afraid that I was having a heart attack, as I was just scared of this feeling that I couldn't take deep or at times even normal breathes without that leading to a little fit of rapid breathing. We contacted my neurologist's office, who advised that they wouldn't do anything until I got clearance by way of cardiac testing that I wasn't having problems with my heart.
I REALLY didn't think that was related to the problem I was having, but at the same time, I guess it is worth having that clearance, of not over looking the fact that MS has not, a and cannot declare my body off limits to other ailments of living. After all.... I am STILL A MAN!!!
