Rough week (update on my uncle)

This has been one of the most trying weeks I have had in a long time.

My uncle was upgraded to stable condition yesterday and remains in the cardiac icu, the doctors still aren't completely sure why he had a heart attack that seemed to come out of nowhere as he didn't have any real risk factors and just had his yearly checkup a month or so ago.

I have visited him every day which is not doing good things for the anxiety levels but supporting my aunt and uncle takes precedent. One of the hardest things is that his "roommate" is a 29 year old male much the same build as me who jut had open heart surgery. I have avoided asking him or his family what contributed to his condition, but just the mere presence of "someone like me" being in the cardiac icu takes it's toll on my mind.

I am taking today off from visiting him just for a mental break but I feel horrible for doing it as I have been there everyday and he kind of lights up when I am there.

Please keep him in your thoughts

Oh one more thought...

Although we never want to see loved ones go through anything like this...

...there could be a positive side to this experience in that it could have the effect of ultimately lessening your health anxiety.

My daughter had a friend who was hosptilalized for months last year. She was quite sick, and we ended up visiting her dozens of times until she was discharged to go home.

I never thought that I was going to make it through the first few visits. I am quite hospital phobic...actually all things having to do with medical procedures are a trigger for me.

It was hard, very hard, in the beginning...but I ended up being a lot stronger as a result of the experience, and can say that I have gained some significant ground over my fears. (not just over the hospital/medical phobia, but health anxiety in general)

S.C.