Much Ado About Nothing

My stress test turned out to be an anticipatory stress test. I was so worried about the IV and the treadmill that I stressed myself out (per usual) and it turned out to be a breeze. The nurse gave me a warm compress for my arm and was able to get right into a vein, and the treadmill part was easy. I was breathing heavy but still able to carry on a conversation. In fact, when they slowed the treadmill down, I thought that was just the first part and they were going to run it faster and at more of an incline. Nope, I was finished -- and in under three hours.

Here's how the morning went: I arrived 10 minutes early, filled out the required paperwork and then sat and waited for 20 minutes past my appointment time. A "technologist" (yes, she actually referred to herself that way) came out to review my form (9:20 a.m.). Then I was called in to have my IV line started and receive the injection (10:05). Then I had to wait 30 minutes until they could take the first scan of my heart. Afterward, I had an electrocardiogram (along with my blood pressure) taken as I laid down, sat up and stood. Then I walked on the treadmill at a modest pace while they took another electrocardiogram. They increased the incline and the speed and then injected me again and took another electrocardiogram. After that, they waited until my pulse returned to normal and sent me to the waiting room until my next scan (11:30). Fifteen minutes later, they called me in for the scan and then sent me packing (12:05). I, of course, went immediately to the deli and got a sandwich.

This stress test sounds different from the stress tests I've heard about. First, there was no point at which they said I could eat anything. I was informed that eating draws blood away from the heart and to the stomach, so no food until the test is completed. Also, this clearly doesn't take five hours, unless you spend even more time waiting between the different activities. Third, there was no point at which I thought I wouldn't make it through the treadmill portion. Maybe those daily walks are helping!

My spa retreat on Saturday was wonderful. It was a little weird talking with strangers about my cancer, but there was a woman who loved to talk (actually a few) so she took the pressure off the rest of us. After an hour of talking, we drove over to the salon for our treatments. I had a pedicure, a manicure, a massage and a mini-facial, and they were all a treat. The women at the salon who volunteered their time to pamper us were all lovely, and I'm truly grateful to A Time for ME for sponsoring this day spa. It was a relaxing afternoon, and as you can see, my nails and toes look beautiful. I really went out on a limb with the polish color, which Ed calls either burple or purgandy. (In the photo, it looks like a light burgandy, but I assure you, it's dark burple.) It's quite a change from my usual pinks or neutrals.

Nothing else happening this week except for a celebration on Thursday of being married for 21 years! There have been times when I thought we wouldn't make it another day and I know Ed felt the same way -- maybe at different times -- and there are days when we make each other crazy. But after 21 years, he still makes me laugh, we still always find something to talk about, and he's still my rock. I never would have gotten this far through this fight -- or through this life -- without him, and I am truly blessed to have him as my husband. I'll have to ask him if he feels the same way. He says yes (good thing he did). :)

I hope you all have a good week!