Heart Health

Heart Attack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack

Or something else entirely

No, I didn’t have a heart attack. . .I think.

On Monday, July 6th, I have an appointment for an echo-cardio stress test.

About 18 months ago, I had a nuclear stress test, which showed no abnormalities.

What Happened

About 6–8 weeks ago, I began to suffer from increased heart rate, chest discomfort, tingling and numbness in both arms and difficulty breathing. I had to stop frequently to catch my breath. It also happens when I exert myself, such as lifting heavy objects. On occasion, it happens when I bend over multiple time to pick something up.

It was also around that time I started on a new medication, lifted something way too heavy for one man, and had a horrible GERD attack.

Since December of 2019, I have walked on average 3–5 miles a day at a fairly decent pace. Since about 6 weeks ago, I can barely walk a block at a slow pace without feeling the discomfort.

Last week, we had the painters over the house to paint the inside. A lot of stuff had to be moved away from the walls and into storage or the garage. On July 6, Monday, the flooring guys are coming to install the new flooring in the upstairs space. All of the furniture up there has to be moved down by Sunday night. Then it will have to be moved back upstairs two days later.

I have to take frequent rest breaks to get back to normal. My sons are seeing their father’s mortality in action.

This is not usual for me. I am strong, big, and in fairly decent shape, though I could eat a little better. My bad cholesterol is a little high, but that is atypical.

About 4 weeks ago, after a particularly physically difficult day at work, I decided to go to the ER. My hospital is only 2 blocks from my workplace. I had talked my self out of it several days in a row. This day, I finally decided to go.

I was reluctant for several reasons: I am afraid of catching “The Virus” and bringing it home to my family; the expense, and; the wait time.

I convinced myself I would drive by and see how crowded it was. If it was too crowded, I would keep going and wait til another day. It wasn’t crowded at all.

I pulled into a parking space near the front, and noticed they were doing Covid screening outside near the entrance. I was second in line. The first question they asked was, “Are you having shortness of breath or trouble breathing?”

“Yes,” I said. The nurse took a step back without even realizing it. I was masked, she was masked and gloved. “That’s why I am here. I think I am having heart trouble.”

They quickly took my temperature, which was normal, bundled me into a wheel chair, and bypassed the waiting room, which was unusually empty.

I was immediately placed in the pre-screening room and given an ECG, blood pressure check, and oxygen level check.

Everything came back normal, but they still immediately moved me to a bed, where they promptly took about half my blood and set me on the monitors. That was when I first learned how low my pulse was.

After explaining my symptoms to 3 nurses and a doctor, they sent me for a chest x-ray. It came back normal.

The blood tests came back normal, but a little high for bad cholesterol. Eventually, my blood pressure measured in the “perfect” range, and my resting pulse was 45.

The nurse asked if the low pulse was normal. I told her I have never seen it that low before. Usually, it is in the low 50’s. I asked if it was a problem. “Not by itself, it isn’t” she answered. The doctor eventually confirmed this, saying my heart may just be in excellent condition.

The doctor gave me the choice of staying in the hospital overnight for monitoring and getting the stress test in the morning, or being discharged and setting an appointment for the stress test.

Since I didn’t want to stay over night, I chose the latter. Little did I realize it would take 4 weeks to get an appointment.

I lived in fear of a heart attack the whole time.

Low pulse

Of course, when I got home, I immediately consulted Dr. Google about the low pulse. Apparently anything under 60 is considered bradycardia, or, “low pulse.” Thank you Dr. Google.

There are several things that can cause bradycardia: thyroid problems, medications, high blood pressure, smoking, obstructive sleep apnea. I have sleep apnea, but it is a minor case.

Some athletes, such as professional cyclists, have resting heart rates as low as 35 beats a minute. Years ago, when PEDS hit the market, several top cyclists died in their sleep due to bradycardia and the taking of PEDS.

PEDS, or Performance Enhancing Drugs, increase the amount of red blood cells in the body, thus allowing more oxygen to be carried to the muscles. The more red blood cells, the thicker the blood. While sleeping, the heart has trouble moving the blood, and you have a heart attack. Cyclists have learned to set an alarm when their heart rate drops below a certain level so they can get up, get their heart rate back to normal.

I haven’t taken PEDS, don’t smoke, have excellent blood pressure, and don’t drink.

Heart Attack Statistics

I won’t go into all of the stats regarding heart attacks, but here are a few: according to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in most ethnic groups; 647,000 people die each year from heart disease. That’s 1 in 4 deaths. Every year, 805,000 people have heart attacks.

Now

Am I worried? Yes. But I am more pissed than anything. Things were going well, despite the virus stuff.

I was enjoying my job, personal things were moving along well, I was feeling good physically and mentally, and getting there emotionally.

Then this happens.

I have a ton of heavy stuff to move this weekend. I have to miss work for this test.

This weekend, the Fourth of July, I have essentially self-isolated to avoid strenuous activity(until Sunday, at least).

If nothing else, it has given me greater empathy for those who have had to stay in for the past several months. One long weekend is more than I can bear.

I am writing this primarily because you guys are my friends, and I need to talk about it. Thanks for listening. But no pity parties, please. Unless I am invited, then I will bring the meat-loaded pizza! I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Also, I read a story today by René Junge called The Roemheld Syndrome-When the Stomach Gets the Heart Out of Rhythm and No Doctor Recognizes What’s Going On. What he wrote incited me to do more searches on Dr. Google.

In particular, this bit of information makes sense to me:

Dr. Roemheld’s findings are sometimes misunderstood because compression of the heart and vagus nerve result in a SLOWING of the heart rate. What is not understood is that this slowing, as well as the nausea and dizziness from the buildup of pressure, can produce a panic reaction — resulting in tachycardia due to a panic attack. Also, upon the quick release of pressure through gas expulsion, the heart rate increases immediately, especially when lying down, due to the heart compensating for the pressure change. This is the purely physiological tachycardia response. Sufferers often can’t differentiate between these three, which makes the symptoms all the more difficult to discuss clearly with their doctors, or receive a proper diagnosis. roemheld-syndrome.com

I want to remember to mention this to my doctor during the test, see what he says. It will be interesting if he listens, or just blows it off because the patient didn’t go to medical school.

Well, Saturday and Sunday are going to be long days for me. I have to move slowly, but I have to move heavy stuff with my sons. No parties due to the upsurge in virus cases here.

Time for some sleep and, hopefully, some “feeling better” before Monday.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July! Please thank your first responders for working on this holiday to keep us safe while we celebrate.

Peace and Love, Chuck

Chuck Roast tries to write Satire and Humor. Sometimes other stuff, too. This is some of that “other stuff.” But one thing he likes is comments from readers to interact with. Please feel free to leave a comment, Or, if you write your own story about your “health issues”, please tag me. I’d love to read them.

PS: If you enjoyed this story, here’s my subtle push towards my newsletter. When you subscribe, I’ll send you some original, never before published content, and some links to my Medium stuff. Thanks, Kristi Keller for the wording of this blurb.