Before I begin I am 38 ,11 stone and more than capable of doing a 10k run. I haven't smoked in 4 years and I drink around 6 pints a week top whack. I have quietly worried on and off previously about the aches and pains I have had but I ignored them as it was easier than getting them checked out.
It all began on Thursday really. Got up early, jumped on the train for my weekly commute into London and Ohh Ahh thats a pain around my heart. Eeek shooting pains down my left arm and pins and needles.. Umm best I ignore that and hope it goes away. It didn't go away.. I reasoned that I'm too young for a heart attack and I have way to much to do to be sick.
The pain remained with me all day although it was mild. It felt like a pressure and I was very aware of my heart pumping which is something you generally aren’t. Filed it under ignore with the excuse that I will go to the doctor in the morning if it's still there.
Got up yesterday thought to myself ahh still there I shall ignore it for a bit longer see what happens. Mean while sensible mode began to kick in and I started to worry.. I remembered all the little niggles and pains I have had over the last year. Thought about my smoking and families lumps that they grow and really got worried.
I made myself a appointment with the GP (Lazy git wont be interested I thought) and off I went.
Ahaha Locam she'll know nothing..
Actually it was now my turn to wake up.
The Dr was great, took me seriously and listened to what I said.. Told me I was doing the right thing and not wasting there time. Booked me in for a ECG and told me to bugger off for a bit.
I came back later and it took around 5 minutes.. Ho HO my heart was beating much faster than it should be for my age and as I am at rest. Now I began to panic a bit.. Blimey I really could be having heart attack or I may really have Angina. But the
most worrying thing was that I became convinced that I won't be able to dive and that was far worse than dying! bizzare!
The Dr said that I should come back later and talk to another Dr and start things like Aspirin etc.
It then got worse as I had another phone call when I got home and they'd decided to contact the Cardiac Registrar and I should make my way to A&E Asap..
Brown Trousers time. I get into A&E and they rush me through the waiting room onto the treatment room. ECG and Oxygen and now I am really worrying.
ECG proved inconclusive and then nothing 3.5 hours on O2 and boredom. People walk past, people get seen I get ignored. I begin to consider walking out or making a nuisance of myself. I think better of it as I am convinced that I am 2 steps away from keeling over.
Anyway.. eventually a really nice Dr approaches and begins to explain that I am not dying, she’s very interested in my diving and lets me know that she thinks it’s a blood clot on my lungs!.. Great I am now not facing a heart attack I’ve swapped it for a possible Stroke.. Damn anyone want to buy my Twins?
Blood tests rule out a Heart attack and off for a chest X- ray. I get wheeled back to my cubical (Not allowed to stand in case I keel over FFS)
Okay now they move me off to the ward and I am told they want me to stay in over night and I still don’t know what’s going on. I also don’t want to stay in.
Ahh not a happy Bunny I now feel fine and a little sheepish.. There is all these ill people around I am quite okay.
Dr visits and I am in the clear they have no idea what’s going on they suspect it might be mild Angina but that’s unlikely.. it’s most likely muscle damage or back problems possibly caused by my Twins and I am booked into tests next week to confirm or deny.
So why have I written this? Well I have quietly worried for years about this ache and that ache. I finally got of my butt and got myself checked out. I am pretty much in the clear. I am very relieved and feel stupid because I should have done this sometime before. If your doing the same go sort it.. It’s probably just your imagination! But you never know….
