God is good and He truly looks after us. Recently, I had an experience which I now know began with God giving me a nudge. I was at work and felt a sensation I had never felt before. It was a little buzz right over my heart, like the vibration you feel when your smart watch alerts you to a message. It did not hurt but was very noticeable. The buzz continued every half minute or so for the entire day.
Because it was around my heart, I called my Primary Care Physician who said she would like to see me and squeezed me in the following day. The “buzzing” continued, even when I was in her office, but she could not hear it even when listening to my heart. She then scheduled a calcium score card test (which I had never heard of). The result of the test was a score that was “off the charts,” indicating I had a lot of calcium buildup in and/or around the heart.
It was no surprise that I was referred to a cardiologist who expressed her deep concern about the calcium score. Her next words were not ones I wanted to hear: open heart and bypass surgery are the probable outcomes for this problem. The cardiologist would, of course, first want to perform an angiogram to see exactly where the blockage was. My insurance coverage required that a stress test and echocardiogram be done prior to the angiogram.
For the next several weeks while procedures were being scheduled, I did begin to have symptoms: heart palpitations and shortness of breath. My anxiety increased greatly!
The stress test was looming and brought with it the fear that I could have a heart attack during the procedure. My blood pressure was taken before the test, and it was unusually high. Feeling out of control, I centered my thoughts on Jesus and imagined touching the hem of His robe as I asked for healing. Immediately, I felt much calmer, and my blood pressure came down. I made it through the stress test beautifully, not having any of the side effects that had been mentioned as possibilities. How blessed I was that the stress test results, although abnormal, did not indicate a need for bypass surgery. My first prayers had been answered, and the relief was tremendous!
The angiogram was next. This is a procedure that uses X-rays to highlight blood vessels in the body by the injection of a special dye in the bloodstream. It shows narrowing or blockages in blood vessels, the flow of blood through the heart and other organs, and any aneurysms (bulging or areas of weakness in the wall of blood vessels). If a blockage is found, an angioplasty can be done, which is a tiny balloon inserted to increase blood flow by forcing the blockage against the artery wall. For more significant blockage, a tiny metal tube called a stent is placed in the artery to keep it open.
Because it was known beforehand that the blockage was calcification, there was the chance that the doctor would not be able to put a stent in, but a more intense procedure to drill through the calcium would be required. My prayers were again storming heaven. And the Lord answered incredibly. The blockage was confined to just one vessel, and the doctor was able to pulverize the calcification and place the stent in during that same procedure.
I truly felt God’s hand on me throughout this “ordeal.” He answered my very specific prayers and provided peace to my naturally worrisome mind. And that buzzing sensation that I mentioned earlier -- it ended the day I went to see my Primary Care Physician. God nudged me with a buzz that only stopped when I obediently went to the doctor and then provided the best possible outcomes to the problems that were revealed! His presence was so real to me through it all! To Him be all the glory for His love that never fails!
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
Psalm 105:4
