The Four Words Nobody My Age Wants To Say.

[athelind]

...besides "I'm in my mid-forties", that is.

"I'm having chest pains."

Don't panic. I'm not panicking. Really.

On Saturday, I took a long, very brisk walk with my son-in-law setting the pace, and toward the end, I got a strange little "kaFLUTTER" in my chest. Twice.

I've gotten these before; back in '96, I got them a few times, while running after a bus. I went in and had an EKG at the local VA hospital, and it didn't seem to be anything.

Sunday morning, however, I noticed a mild pressure in my chest, and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. It could be any number of things (including a bruised esophagus from a chunk of food that didn't quite go down right on Saturday night), but I'd rather go in and feel stupid because I made a fuss over something minor than to wake up in the ICU feeling stupid because I ignored the warning signs.

I worked in a hospital for four years, mostly with heart patients, and the number of patients who said, "I thought it was just gas/indigestion/sore muscles until I keeled over" outnumber the patients who said "gee, I caused all this panic and it turned out to be nothing serious" by, oh, about infinity to none.

My doctor can't get me in today, so they directed me to the local Urgent Care. I'm just gonna grab a library book and go.

Updates when I get back.

---

Comments

[leonard-arlotte.livejournal.com]

I wish you the best. here's to bruised esophagi.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Take care, O Dragon! *hugs*

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

I'd make the same call. *hugs* Take care of yourself.

[circuit-four.livejournal.com]

Eek, good luck!

[baphnedia.livejournal.com]

Let us know how it goes (simply by going, I think that Emergency Averted is in the works, no matter what the cause).

[ladyringo.livejournal.com]

You're in my thoughts! <3

[paka.livejournal.com]

Yike! I think maybe heart attack isn't so likely, but if you have some sort of esophageal thing that just keeps happening, that's just no fun. Hope you're doing better soon!

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

Here's to hoping you feel stupid by going, not by not going.

[silussa.livejournal.com]

I've had one scare that way myself; it turned out to be a pulled muscle (NOT the heart muscle).

However, make sure they do a STRESS EKG. That sometimes turns up problems that get missed in the more routine version.

[cpxbrex.livejournal.com]

The li'l woman and me are sending good thoughts your way!

[toob.livejournal.com]

One time I woke up on the night to an incredible, painful squeezing. It felt like someone was sitting on my chest. So I went to the doctor. He said it was just a panic attack, nothing to worry about. I said, "in my SLEEP?" But they were convinced nothing was wrong with me.

[thoughtsdriftby.livejournal.com]

Agree, just proper maintenance such.

[doc-mystery.livejournal.com]

All the best for a speedy turn-around in the Urgent Care Clinic.

::B::

Update

[quelonzia.livejournal.com]

Just wanted everyone to know that Athelind is ok - no need to be concerned. He'll let you know more when he gets home.

*hugs*
Quel

[araquan.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Be well. Keep us posted.

[rustitobuck.livejournal.com]

Due to you, I reported my heart arrythmia to my doctor. He wants me to try changing my ACE inhibitor.

I have a little stricture in my esophagus. See, I was microwaving stuffing from Boston Market, and it "bumped" and I pulled it out and grabbed a piece that landed on the glass plate. My mouth sent no warning, but inside the warm exterior of the stuffing was a microwave-heated nuclear fusion-based core of heat. Burned my esophagus.

So yeah, I've had interesting pain on and off for years now that isn't my heart, it's my esophagus complaining. Please be careful what you put in there.

I hope it turns out well for you, and ...oh, I see you're ok. Great!

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you are OK!