Glimpse into the Future

So last night I had bad chest pains, coupled with nausea. Couldn't sleep or lay down, so I wrote sub plans so that I could take today off work and go to the doctor.

When I called the Dr.'s office to make said apt. they asked what I wanted to be seen for. As soon a I said chest pain, they forwarded me to a nurse, who took all sort of history questions and asked about the pain. Then she put me on hold and came back with, " I talked to the Dr. and you should go right into the emergency room."

What! I didn't think I was really, really sick.

That was scary. My physician didn't even want to see me first to listen to my heart and lungs, take blood pressure, receive a copay, etc. He just wanted me to go straight to the ER! Isn't that where you go when your having an emergency? Like dying, or having an episode that leads to dying? Is chest pain, no, pressure really that big of a deal? I mean, yes it hurt, but sending me to the emergency room, isn't that a bit drastic?
So I cried and then chatted my husband, Velo. He left work and came to get me. The good man. I felt lots better with him by my side.

We got there and the nice young worker asked me what I needed as soon as I told him my story, he took me to be admitted. When the next person asked about the chest pressure and I told them it felt like a cowboy was standing on me with his big 'ol boot, he said that is the description most commonly associated with a Heart Attack, and with my diabetice, it's not unlikely.

So lots of worry on my part and many hours later, the hospital staff had done an EKG, which apparently mines is a little abnormal, because I am a little abnormal, not cuz' I was sick. They did some blood work to find that my enzyme levels were o.k. and not showing signs of recent distress. They also found my kidneys and liver seemed to be doing well. Great news, again because of the diabetic thing. So finally to figure it all out, a CT scan. Making sure I didn't have any blood clots in my lungs. Wow. Radical stuff.

After all that the doc came to tell me "there isn't a thing wrong with you."
Good news, yes. Frustrating to the person who couldn't sleep through the pain though.
He told me his ideas on how to avoid the problem again and what he thought it most likely was. Then reminded me to take care of my diabetes because it puts me at greater risk for all this to be real. Not the future I want. Making this experience a valuable slap in the face. I need to make some changes in my life. Even though it was all benign, I think I'll make a little more effort to eat right, exercise and watch my bg.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part. I was so freaked out that the entire time all nine people who took my history asked about heart failure and disease I told them there was none. It wasn't until I was almost done that I remembered, my mom died from a heart attack just four years ago. Durh! Bet the doctors thought I was a dummy when I had to correct myself on that one so late in the game.