20 days. That’s the longest I’ve lived without chest pain since this whole thing started. 

3/26: The Vigil of Easter and the day the chest pain stopped.

45: the number of visits to my doctors’ offices before we got things right. 

Yes, nothing has been easy. But this week I had a follow up appt and it went a little like this.

My favorite Medical Assistant, C, checks me in and takes my vitals.

Doctor walks in and sits down, “how’s my favorite patient?”

“I’m feeling good, no chest pain, no palpatations, no lightheadedness, BP in reasonable range, no Shortness of breath. Overall I feel good”

Doctor grabs his chest and says “I think I’m going to start having chest pains” (a little cardiology humor) and nearly falls off his stool, (literally). He has a huge smile on his face. Today’s victory of feeling good was just as much a victory for him. We’ve had honest conversations about how hard my case is and he’s been fighting to figure this out just as much as I have. 

We chatted a few more minutes about some lab tests, my meds, etc and then he walked out to get his doctor pad, into their staff area, pumping his fists in the air. It was a good moment, that has been a long time coming. 

..it’s been so good to feel good. But it also came with some fear. Fear of how to “live again” in a way. There is no manual on how to resume your life after being sick for so long. I always wonder how my body will fare in a situation, will I be tired, will I get palpitations? Chest pain? 

But earlier this week I got the will power , to start fighting Satan’s attempts to steal my joy each day by filling it with fear. I have some work to do in the spiritual and emotional (and physical too) life that is going to hard, messy, dirty, tiring, so I ask for your prayers for the grace to be courageous to do the work.

But overall life is good. Still working on chronic pain and working building up my stamina but overall, I am good.

Thanks for the prayers!