Dear Friends,

What a day yesterday.  A day that started at the gym and then ended in the ER.

Let me back up by letting those of you who don’t know, I have about 30 extra pounds stuck on me like glue.  Most of which is around my middle which is supposed to be the worst place to carry the extra weight.  I’ve tried a number of different plans to get those stubborn pounds off.  Truth be told, I just like eating.  Plain and simple.

For the last year and a half I’ve been going to the gym 4 to 5 times a week. (Yeah me!)  And I really work out there.  Let it be known I HATE exercise but I know it is important for me and honestly I do feel younger and better each time I go.  I have been working with a trainer and have been going to some of their classes.  (Still not losing weight but I know my health is improving)  Anyway, yesterday I was doing a strength/cardio class and about 20 minutes into the 45 minute class I didn’t feel well.  I’m thinking, don’t throw up and don’t pass out.  I just took it easy the rest of the time and finished off with some stretches.

I came straight home and had lunch thinking my blood sugar was low, hopped in the shower and still didn’t feel well.  I have an automatic blood pressure machine from Walgreens.  (I just went to their website so I could share with you which one I have but they don’t carry that one any longer.  It was around $50)  The machine tells me my blood pressure, heart rate, and usually says I have prehypertension. (I take blood pressure medication)  This time it also said, “an irregular heart rate has been noted.”  It also said my blood pressure and heart rate were both high.  I waited about 5 minutes and took it again.  Same thing.  I still wasn’t feeling well, and just feeling like something wasn’t right.

It was nagging me just enough to give my doctor a call and they said to come on in.  While there they ran an EKG and it showed my heart was in atrial fibrillation.  A Fib for short.  And that I needed to go to the emergency room.  Seriously?  I’m 51 years old.  This isn’t supposed to be happening.  I wasn’t feeling like myself, but I wasn’t feeling THAT bad.  No pain, no dizziness, I just felt like if my body had gears, that the gears weren’t lining up right.  I did drive myself home and Mike came home to get me and take me into the city.

In the emergency room, it still showed I was in A Fib and my blood pressure was up and heart rate was 148.  They started an IV and gave me some IV medication to slow my heart rate which also brought my blood pressure down.  The rhythm of the heart remained abnormal, fluttery like, and didn’t want to straighten itself out.  To correct this, they put me to sleep for about 3 minutes and shocked my heart, called a cardio version.  It worked like magic and my heart resumed beating in a normal rhythm.  I was released and told I could resume all activities but to use moderation.  I’m to take an aspirin daily and the cardiologist they consulted with should contact me today to follow up.

This morning I feel fine, but I’m scared.  I’m just scared that I might do something that will set the A Fib off again and I don’t want to have to deal with all that again.  I keep checking my pulse to see if the rhythm is normal.  I’m not going to the gym today, but if it isn’t insanely cold out I would like to take a walk after the cardiologist calls.

It was a crazy day yesterday for sure.  The doctors and nurses were glad I came in when I did as some people wait longer and then they cannot always do the cardio version which is considered the simple fix.  Today I feel just fine.

I guess the moral of the story is don’t go to the gym any more.  Ha!  Seriously friends, I share this both as documentation for me as well as to encourage each of you to listen to your bodies and don’t put off things when you know deep down something isn’t right.  Get it checked out.  I care about you all and you are loved…by me!

Here’s to a healthy day.

Nancy

be creative daily and live life beautifully