Chest pains at 71 you just don't know what they are for sure. Signs of a up coming heart attack possiably? So Tuesday morning about 9:30 I have left side chest pains so sever it hurts to draw a breath. Not being a spring pullet any longer more like a very old stewing rooster slighty dinged up I tell Kare she needs to take me to ER ASAP. First what do I need to take and what should I leave home. Leave my hat home it isn't needed and I have went nakid before. Need a ID, BCBS Medical cards, Medicaid card for starters no need to take a wallet with my favorite tractors picture or my car even the grand kids could stay home in the wallet. Next time the car pictures go. I could also leave my cell phone home no need to worry about keeping track of it. I also sure didn't want all those yahoos I hunt with calling me and giving me a bunch of crap over dieing from a summer heart problem after all, after all the snows we have worked thru in winters just to kick off from walking my dogs thru a bit of mud. I know those guys, never give any one a break least they start thinking you care about them. Walk in ER sign my name and problem is chest pains and go sit down in the waiting area and see a dozen or more ahead of me. Ha cheast pains is a no wait, over rideing all other problems there at the time and I jump to the head of the line. Room one I detail the pain and from 1 to 10 where am I. Thats easy question in ER, ok a 9 then if you want a number. Get loaded in a wheel chair (I could have walked, really could have.) wheel me down a couple hallways not bounceing off to many times into a room. Very narrow with a padded bench to lay on and a chair for Kare who has decided she is't going to care for me a few years ago they have homes for that stuff. First thing Strip to under wear I left my jeans on, and a gown is given to me I am given a Asprin full strength, quickly followed by a glycerin tablet under the tongue. Then the blood pressure is taken and a Exray team is called, two chest exrays are taken. A short wait and the doctor comes in and says they are not seening any thing wrong with the heart but wants to keep me over night and also have a ctca done and a stress test possiably. I really like the little nurse who is telling me her 13 year old daughter says she isn't cool. Then in the next breath says mom buy me this it is cool. Mom replys I am not buying you that because I am not cool. As she has me lay back on the gurnny and starts wheeling me out in the hall to the elevatore she says I want you to know you were my first. I have never did a IV in any ones hand before, thanks, didn't want to say any thing to make you scared. I tell her she did a great job and I would let her stick an IV in me any time. Up starirs I am turned over to the crazys who work the isles like gamblers on slot machines. I get wheeled in a room near the window and alone a private room so far. Told to get in the bed and showen the controls and told to get comfey. They then gang up on me one asking questions, ever had a heart attack before (am I having one now) have you had chest pains before ya a couple times. While I am getting the 3d degree I am getting a second IV line installed in my right forearm. And a IV started, as another one is drawning viels of blood from my right hand after pokeing the elbow and finding nothing there. I have a forth show up and ask what I want for supper, What no dinner it is only 12:30. Nurse says I have a turkey sandwich you can have the cute one who I was her first.She say no it isn't her lunch but a few she trys to get from the kitchen every day for emegerancys like this. I am hungery so say Ok thanks. I get a cold fresh out of the fridge turkey sandwich on white in a brown paper bag a chocolate chip cookie and a small can of soda pop lemon and lime. Beat the heck out of a poke in the eye with a sharpe stick, even a kick in the tail with a frozen boot. She wishes me luck and says good bye as the new ones are taken over with a blood pressure cuff now and is 117 over 72 normal for you? No lots of times it is even lower so Kare pulls out my medical history book and reads off several 112 over 70's to them. The new doctor walks in and says hello see you are in good hands and leaves. Two hew girls walk in (any one 70 or less is a girl in my eyes) tells the other girls they have a taxi coming to get me soon so make ready for transport. A young fellow arrives with a wheel chair I am loaded on and wheeled out down the hall to a elavator to go down. Going to get the ctca done here. Much discuessin on where to do the IV it has to be bigger IV neddle for the die. They start trying to get it in the right elbow. I tell them they are wasteing their time there as I have been getting blood draws for over 20 year every 3 months for my simbastatins and they have never gotten a drop from there. They finally settle on the right arm and get an IV in and fuushed, tell me about the die how it will warm my body and make me feel like I wet my pants as they wheel me into the machine. 3 times and they say they are finished. they leave the big IV in the right arm. Becomes anoince to me as it is where it catches on every thing. The new nurses come in and start givening me meds I ask what they are and they tell me for my dibetis and I don't know any of the names. At 6:00 PM my blood sugar is 440. I am given a shot they said was novalog but name didn't look like nova log to me. Same with the 100 units of levemer I take in the evening only gave me 75 units despite my saying it was wrong. A blood check at 7:30 PM was taken and was over 500. The doctor was called and i explained to him we had given them a list of my meds and the doasages I take and I suggest you get your stuff together unless you want to kill me!!!! Got the remaining 25 units of levamear but they didn't check my blood gain till just before breakfast. Anyway a long discusstion with my afternoon nurse and wife going over what I have been doing this past week and the nuse admited I had been busy but it was the new lawn mower that made me think I wa shaving a heart attack and I had pulled my chest mucles pusing the thing about 145 yards by hand. This morning the Doctor who had read the report agreed that had probably did the trick, next time use one of my tractors to move it. He was thinking he would. relese me but a big problem had showed up on the ctca and a doctor was going to talk to me about it the doctor showed up and i learned why I have been spitting up those big green goobers of late. I need to make an appointment at his office The heart doctor showed up and gave me great news my heart is in great shape and he was sending a crew prove it was indeed a Heart and not a rock with the cookie monster utrla sound. I was releast at 12:30 PM today with been nice having you around. don't you ever sleep amd more nice comments from those girls. Al
That's good news. That chest muscle got me worried to a couple years ago. Here's a joke to lighten it up.. dont drink beer and eat hot cheetos. Because sooner or later your going to spit on the floor and your going to be to drunk to comprehend your looking at some hot cheetos in your spit and your not coughing up blood.
While the ride may have been less than enjoyable, you have proof that your mechanically sound. Enjoy your Independence Day!
