The slightest thing......
Last night, I was laying in bed watching a TV programme, nice and relaxed. Next thing, I've got the tingling back in my hands and arm, particularly, I thought, in my left. Ive had an intermittant sharp pain in my left side, under the rib cage. It's been there, on and off, for about a week. It comes on for no reason, not when I'm under stress either physically or emotionally, just when it wants to. I paid no attention as I thought it was the usual indegestion that I normally get. However, when the tingling started, I started to become a little concerned. Surely, I couldn't be having another issue? Not only 4 months after the last one? Although this is not impossible, it would be highly improbable especially seeing that I have been so strict with my diet, my meds etc. Nevertheless, I slept well.
I woke up feeling well and positive - full of energy. Then I had the stabbing pain in my side again. The pain is nothing like the pain I felt when I experienced my MI and I have been advised that this is the pain to look out for. The pain I experienced was a central pain, radiating down the left arm. It was accompanied by a severe pins and needles, cold sweats and the usual regalia. Not the stabbing pain between my ribs.
The panic then set in. Light headed and feeling generally spaced out. No change in my BP or HR (thank heavens), so I couldn't see that it was related to any cardiac issues. Here we go again. So i'm sitting here, having taken a couple of Diazapams, feeling calmer but some what irritated. I'm heartily sick of this, I can tell you. The panic attacks are few and far between now, which I'm grateful for. The Trauma Therapy did a great job. I just wish that when I'm mugged by these funky little niggles, it woulldn't kick off the panic. How on earth can a person be expected to function "normally" when this rubbish keeps occuring! Grrrrrrrr!
I keep a check on my BP - normally about 90/50 at rest and not much higher at any other times. Ive not seen my diastolic higher than 74 when stressed. My HR is generally between 60 - 68 at rest, so no complaints there, either. I eat NO SALT, no red meats or pork and survive on Chicken, Fish and vegetarian options. Loads of green veg, no sweets, cakes or buscuits. As for cheeses and fats - oh, forget it. Not since my HA have I indulged. My treat is a couple of squares of chocolate every now and then, just to prove my taste buds are alive. I've had to give up alcohol as the de-hydration makes my heart race. A week ago, I had three glasses of wine with friends only to find that my HR was up to 85 - 90 at rest. Three glasses of wine! Dear Lord. Of course, I no longer smoke cigarettes, haven't done since my HA.
So, what I want to know is, what's this rubbish pain? Why won't it go away and stay away? I'm losing my patience, I can tell you. I want my life back. I don't expect to have the one I had, that one nearly killed me. But a life of some description would be nice.
I'm whinging and should be grateful. I am but that gratitude is waning as I come to realise the retrictions in my life. I'm happy to eat healthily and exercise - it's a habit, now. When I think of Richie, I feel ashamed of being such a moaner. But I'm not Richie, more's the pity, and I don't have his fortitude.
I'm at the angry stage, angry at this crappy disease (but I haven't been told that I have any other blockages), angry at my family, who at first said this is a "wake up" call for them as they are all heavilly over weight - and have all given up their healthy eating and weight loss yet they are all obese. I am the only one that was never fat. I was always the most active, walking the dogs, doing 5k walks, cycling. I smoked. That's the difference. That's what they hang on to. It's my fault. Not so, say the doctors. There are no indicators as to why this happened. But it IS familial. It runs through the family. High cholestrerol (which mine wasn't overly - it was 5.1, the higher side of normal) is prevalent, heart attacks, CAD. My Father, for goodness sake, had Ischemia. Why do they think they can sit back and take no responsibility for their health? I have lost 36 pounds since my HA and people are telling me to stop. My sister, at 5 feet 1 inch is 234 pounds! Her daughter, more and a UK size 24. I'm a UK size 12 and 5 feet 7 inches!! If I'm trying, surely I should be a lesson to them? No, it's my fault, I smoked. Discussion closed.
Well, I feel better for the rant, if nothing else. The stinging pains are still jabbing at me but now, because I've vented my frustrations, they can go and do one! I'm off out into the garden to dig up some weeds. God help them - the mood I'm in they don't stand a chance!
Take care, all!
Alli xx
I woke up feeling well and positive - full of energy. Then I had the stabbing pain in my side again. The pain is nothing like the pain I felt when I experienced my MI and I have been advised that this is the pain to look out for. The pain I experienced was a central pain, radiating down the left arm. It was accompanied by a severe pins and needles, cold sweats and the usual regalia. Not the stabbing pain between my ribs.
The panic then set in. Light headed and feeling generally spaced out. No change in my BP or HR (thank heavens), so I couldn't see that it was related to any cardiac issues. Here we go again. So i'm sitting here, having taken a couple of Diazapams, feeling calmer but some what irritated. I'm heartily sick of this, I can tell you. The panic attacks are few and far between now, which I'm grateful for. The Trauma Therapy did a great job. I just wish that when I'm mugged by these funky little niggles, it woulldn't kick off the panic. How on earth can a person be expected to function "normally" when this rubbish keeps occuring! Grrrrrrrr!
I keep a check on my BP - normally about 90/50 at rest and not much higher at any other times. Ive not seen my diastolic higher than 74 when stressed. My HR is generally between 60 - 68 at rest, so no complaints there, either. I eat NO SALT, no red meats or pork and survive on Chicken, Fish and vegetarian options. Loads of green veg, no sweets, cakes or buscuits. As for cheeses and fats - oh, forget it. Not since my HA have I indulged. My treat is a couple of squares of chocolate every now and then, just to prove my taste buds are alive. I've had to give up alcohol as the de-hydration makes my heart race. A week ago, I had three glasses of wine with friends only to find that my HR was up to 85 - 90 at rest. Three glasses of wine! Dear Lord. Of course, I no longer smoke cigarettes, haven't done since my HA.
So, what I want to know is, what's this rubbish pain? Why won't it go away and stay away? I'm losing my patience, I can tell you. I want my life back. I don't expect to have the one I had, that one nearly killed me. But a life of some description would be nice.
I'm whinging and should be grateful. I am but that gratitude is waning as I come to realise the retrictions in my life. I'm happy to eat healthily and exercise - it's a habit, now. When I think of Richie, I feel ashamed of being such a moaner. But I'm not Richie, more's the pity, and I don't have his fortitude.
I'm at the angry stage, angry at this crappy disease (but I haven't been told that I have any other blockages), angry at my family, who at first said this is a "wake up" call for them as they are all heavilly over weight - and have all given up their healthy eating and weight loss yet they are all obese. I am the only one that was never fat. I was always the most active, walking the dogs, doing 5k walks, cycling. I smoked. That's the difference. That's what they hang on to. It's my fault. Not so, say the doctors. There are no indicators as to why this happened. But it IS familial. It runs through the family. High cholestrerol (which mine wasn't overly - it was 5.1, the higher side of normal) is prevalent, heart attacks, CAD. My Father, for goodness sake, had Ischemia. Why do they think they can sit back and take no responsibility for their health? I have lost 36 pounds since my HA and people are telling me to stop. My sister, at 5 feet 1 inch is 234 pounds! Her daughter, more and a UK size 24. I'm a UK size 12 and 5 feet 7 inches!! If I'm trying, surely I should be a lesson to them? No, it's my fault, I smoked. Discussion closed.
Well, I feel better for the rant, if nothing else. The stinging pains are still jabbing at me but now, because I've vented my frustrations, they can go and do one! I'm off out into the garden to dig up some weeds. God help them - the mood I'm in they don't stand a chance!
Take care, all!
Alli xx
Replies
Oh my. Sorry this pain is nagging at you. That pain would surely result in a panic attack for me. You are doing so well with all of the lifestyle. Ganges that you\'ve made. I\'m sure the pain is nothing, but to. E safe and put your mind at ease why don\'t you call your doctor and see what she/he thinks. They
At want to see you or. It but at least you\'ll feel better about it. Take care!
Hey Alli,
I love your expressiveness (is that a word?) and your humor. I do believe in the power of \"getting things off of our chests\", especially for us heart attack survivors. And I hope it\'s continued to help you. I\'m sorry to hear of the pain you\'ve recently experienced. It rots that now we end up feeling more anxiety about use aches and pains, given everything. I agree with waiting4the sun, that it\'s probably ok, but worth consulting your doc.
It is a bit hard to accept the bad genetic luck some of us have received. A couple of days ago, I was in the locker room at the gym, and a few women were talking about how they\'d lost 40 pounds or so, and it was nice that they were cheering each other on. I glanced over, and they were all probably in the obese range of medical classification. And I thought to myself, \"And I\'m the freakin\' heart attack survivor!\" Yes, it\'s all a bit hard to accept at times. But of course survivor is the key word. I thank God for that. Your family\'s reactions, even if not ill-intended, must be irritating at times.
Given that your symptoms seem to appear when you are stressed, maybe you can add on some yoga or meditation. Do as I say, not as I do! Haha!
I hope you\'re feeling better.
Love, Sue
Do you know, after my rant, I felt a lot better. People wll make their own life decisions and I have to let them. But when they have the same risks as me, its hard to watch, especially when they\'re your siblings.
Thank you both for your continuing support. Its easy to look at other people and cast judgement and I really should mind my own business and let people get on with their lives. It\'s so hard, though, when we\'ve been through our experiences and can see the train coming head on at other people.
Take care, all and thank you.
Alli
x
I\'m late but I felt your pain o m g
I hope I didn\'t do something with whatever I might of type here...I am not always good at this messaging thing....I feel so bad for you.
I hope you are coping better today? I haven\'t heard from you so I thought oh boy what did I say this time...if I did please except my apolgy
I hope you did call your doctor.
I call the nurse line here...I always take my blood pressure and nitro too.
I think you are so far ahead of people with your limited diet like you have done....I wish I could be more like you in more ways then you know....
I hope that they will be delievering food starting this Thrus mostly so I get the right diet from what my husband bless his heart trys to do but is too hard for him....
I hope you are ok...I am worry about you Alli
beez
Hi, Bee
You\'ve done nothing, lovely lady, don\'t be a mad woman! It was just me getting stuff off of my chest, that\'s all. As soon as I did, I felt better and everyone is so kind and of course, can empathise with the frustrations. No, Bee you are a lovely lady and have been a wonderful support and friend. Look forward to talking to you soon.
Much love
Alli