I've been here before. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has a way of appearing in the middle of the night without any special announcements.
I believe this is the issue so I get up early and call my doctor. First the operator encourages me to get medical attention by going to Urgent Care. All she heard was heaviness in the chest and difficult breathing. I assured her that this was most likely an RA issue. She continues to stress that I should hang up and go to an Urgent Care. We hang up. About 20 minutes later my doctor calls me. He has seen me in this condition before. But to my surprise he remarks, "no messing around with Prednisone, get yourself to a cardiologist ASAP!" He said, let's out-rule any issues with the heart.
Scripture likewise encourages us to examine ourselves and to guard our hearts. Heart issues can surface at any time without warning. Often, we bury emotions, pain and different matters and never go back to resolve them. We might find ourselves easily aggravated or having small scenarios become exasperated quickly all because our heart is off beat.
The Lord wants to get to the root of the issue so that we can become free & healthy in our thinking, emotions and just enjoy this beautiful life he has given us. Whether its confrontation and resolutions we have avoided, God's Holy Spirit come along side us to settle the matter. We don't have to be afraid. We do however have to bring restoration for PEACE to continue to flourish.
So, I get to the Cardiologist and though he is aware of the RA disease that has destroyed many of my joints, he too pushes past the "obvious" and begins to conduct several studies. EKG, check! Heart sonogram, check!
The consensus is that if the heart has an issue, then RA flareups are now secondary. Well, praise the Lord, all test came back and I passed!! The last test, chest x-rays which actually checks the chest cavity and lung surroundings is pending. I'm looking forward to a good report. I took some medication to reduce inflammation and it has proven effective, praise God!
Check the heart first! "Above all else, guard your hear, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23)
I was reminded again today that the heart is key to life, both physical and spiritual. Let's guard it and saturated it in the Word of God. He can keep it healthy and strong! Then, as life's situations come knocking, we will be better equipped to address them.
God knows how to get past the "obvious" and go deep to resolve what troubles us.
I've committed my heart and soul to the Lord.
Examine me Lord and heal anything that may be causing arrhythmia.
God bless you!~Liz
