Health Scare....Will it be the reason I finally change?
I had a wonderful week chasing after my 3 grandsons and I thought ...wouldn't it be nice to live closer so I could see them more often and be an active part of their lives.
It took me a good week to recover....not good I thought. So I said to myself, "Well, when the weather gets better it will motivate me to get healthy."
Hello Spring! My eating is much better but only because I had an episode of Atrial Fibrillation with my heart rate in the 140's for several hours. Charlie gave me a Toprol pill that he takes for arrhythmias and it stopped within 30 minutes. " Good I thought, I'm glad that's over. " Two days later, I found out from the ER doctor that that tablet could have killed me!" Good to Know!!! I won't be doing that again!
From experience I realize that there is a 1 to 1 correlation to my cardiac issues and what I've eaten. Chocolate, coffee, cheese, and dairy do not love me as much as I love them. Sure enough my blood pressure has been elevated and I began having "a sharp pain" on the right side of my chest. I figured it was chest wall pain from coughing or lifting boxes. It got better so I didn't pay any attention to it.
Sunday was Easter....a full day with church and visiting friends. During church I starting jaw pain on my left side. It was like a spasm and only lasted about 15 seconds. It was intermittent and I thought...."Oh great, now what?" Every time I thought it had quit.....it would sneak back again. I should have told Charlie put I figured he would freak out so I didn't.
Monday.....I called my doctor to get a refill on my blood pressure medications. I was afraid he would make me come it before he would refill them. I have been on the same BP medications for 30 years now so I'm seriously wondering if I have become immune to them. Surprise, surprise, he actually renewed the prescription without insisting I come in.
I called Charlie to see if he would pick them up for me at the pharmacy and casually mentioned having jaw pain. Next thing I know I'm sitting in the ER as jaw pain is a symptom that should never be ignored as it is a symptom of a heart attack!!
Long story short....everything is fine. Good EKG, no elevated cardio enzymes and no more running out of BP meds. The ER doctor looked over my medications and said the drugs that I'm on in combination are good for my heart and my occasional arrhythmias. He even liked my supplements and said they were excellent quality. He thinks the jaw pain could have been from reflux and asked it I had been drinking more coffee that usual.
So I am eating a vegan diet now...no meat, diary, eggs. Lots of salad, fruits, veggies, water, and occasional Crystal Light. My one treat is a small 250 calorie container of crunchy peanut butter I eat with apples.No more chest pains....BP excellent, pulse in the 60's and regular. I've lost 7 pounds, no swelling in my ankles or legs and no shortness of breath.
I have "White Coat Syndrome" every time I go to the doctor or ER my BP goes sky high. During my Non Cardiac Episode....my BP was really elevated 200/140. That was my nerves and my stress level going through the roof.
Looking back I am glad I went to the ER. Knowledge is power. I know what I need to do. Now I just need to do it.
One thing I know I need to do is to write every day. I need to cut out my emotional eating so I'm hoping my blogging will help keep me focused on my goals and keep me from grazing at night.
So ....I am older....hopefully wiser....so wish me luck I'm on my weigh.
Labels: Health issues...ER visit
| Permalink | 
