Riding the Roller Coaster

I have had a strange few days with ups and downs akin to riding a roller coaster. Tuesday I went to my appointment with the cardiology specialist who calls himself a "heart electrician." After looking through my records and talking with me, he prescribed a new heart medicine. I always take a deep breath and say a prayer before starting any new medication because I have unfortunately inherited my mother's tendency to react to many medicines. After two doses, I was ecstatic at how much better I felt. I hadn't realized how much the heart irregularities had slowed me down.

Then, yesterday morning, I had a serious allergy attack. I immediately thought of the new medicine as nothing else had changed in my life in the past few days. This attack was bad enough that I dug out my EpiPen and re-read the instructions. Fortunately I've never had to use it, but I was grateful to have it available. I called and talked with the nurse, who consulted the heart electrician and called me back. The doctor thought it unlikely that the reaction was related to the new medicine, especially since I'd already taken several doses.

So I said a prayer at supper and gingerly took another dose. My husband's prayer at supper was for me not to die. I sat up reading for some time last night with the EpiPen close by, and then I said another prayer and went to bed. My husband asked me this morning if I'd said my "Now I Lay Me's" last night, and I told him I had indeed. Sometimes the simplest prayers say it best: "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." So far today, I'm breathing okay. I'm so thankful to God for another day of life and for feeling so good again!

Grace and Peace,
Donna Sue