So, there I was innocently minding my own business last Wednesday night. That was the night I had the Wok Tossed Salmon with Chilis, which set my psycho acid reflux on a rampage, waking me up early Thursday morning with CHEST PAINS. Now, I always get chest pains when my acid reflux goes nuts. But, this time, I also had A PAIN IN MY ARM. The left arm, in fact. So, I played a fun mental game, which goes like this: "I'm dying!" "No, it's just GERD." "No, it's the big one!!" Finally, I went to the ER and after some tests, nice Dr. Wong decided the pain was from my acid reflux (damn those chili peppers). However, nice Dr. Wong also decided the EKG was a little hinky (it had bundles or tendrils or something like that) and I wound up being admitted to the hospital, "just for the night". It's a long annoying story of how I wound up staying there, a virtual prisoner in my room, for FOUR DAYS. And the final word? I have a tiny little bit of scarring in my heart, which they call an "artifact". And this means that sometime in the past, I had a itty bitty heart attack! Yikes! I guess I'll have to start limiting the buttercream frosting.
This is never good to read just before you eat your meal.
Don't be fooled. It was completely tasteless.
Damn Sher!
That's kinda scary!
So what now? No nothin' any more? Take it easy? Get out the wheelchair? Throw out all the tasty food?
Posted by: Rosie | April 25, 2006 at 03:54 AM
How scary. I am glad to hear that you are ok. Please take care of yourself.
Posted by: kalyn | April 25, 2006 at 05:37 AM
Yikes --
Posted by: Alanna | April 25, 2006 at 06:04 AM
eep!
at least its almost time for some nice gardening and fresh vegetables!
those are really good for your heart!!
pet your cat (that's good for you too) and take care of yourself!
Posted by: ann | April 25, 2006 at 06:05 AM
Rosie, Kalyn, Alanna, and Ann,
Thank you all! I do feel a lot better now that I'm home. It was no fun being in the hospital that long. Despite the fact that my tests showed I had a small "incident" in the past, everything else is OK. My cholesterol levels are average now, but they were higher several years ago--maybe that's when it happened. I'm starting to hear from other people that small heart attacks that are only detected by these tests are actually pretty common. I was told that I can continue to exercise every day and they didn't put me on a special diet. I will work with my doctor about this, of course. You never know what life has in store for you! Thanks again, I sure missed my blogs while I was in the hospital.
Posted by: sher | April 25, 2006 at 06:44 AM
Oh my gosh! How scary. I'm glad you're better now, but getting stuck in the hospital for 4 days is no fun. And they serve hamburgers and fries in the hospital? Seriously strange.
Posted by: kristi | April 25, 2006 at 06:52 AM
This is really scary, Sher. Please do start exercising rigorously everyday. And I guess we wont be seeing any cupcake recipes from now on....
Good to see you back & posting !
Posted by: Sonali | April 25, 2006 at 06:59 AM
Kristi,
If you had tasted the hamburger and fries, you would laugh. The fries were actually not that bad, oven "fried"--but no salt at all, so they were very bland. The hamburger had an unsalted meat patty that was almost non-existant. I rarely eat fries or burgers, but when I do, I'd like it to be a little tasty.
Sonali,
No--any cupcakes will be for others. Actually, if I'm moderate, I can have them. I walk on a treadmill for an hour each day right now and was very happy when they said I could continue to exercise. That's a relief. The thing that sent me to the hospital was actually my crazy acid reflux, which felt like a heart attack. But, that was good in a sense, because I found out about the prior incident. So, now I will have to make sure I continue to exercise and eat healthy.
Posted by: sher | April 25, 2006 at 07:37 AM
Oh Sher, I was worried about you, believe it or not. I actually had a bad feeling that something was wrong, as it was clear you weren't around and had given no vacation warning. I'm so glad that you are pretty much alright though--big sigh of relief! And of course, even if you do end up on a special diet or having to cut back on whatever, leave it to you to create some tasty recipes as a result!
Thanks for the kind words on my blog, by the way. I was so happy to hear from you finally!
Posted by: Shannon | April 25, 2006 at 09:52 AM
Thank you Shannon! You were on my mind as well. I was really pulling for you. So far, no special diet. Thank heavens! I don't have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. While I was in the hospital they wouldn't let me have any caffeine or salt (horrors to both). But now I can have them. It was so nice to have a good cup of coffee this morning. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to lose some weight..........sigh.
Posted by: sher | April 25, 2006 at 11:03 AM
Holy crap, Sher!!
I'm glad you're okay - that's really scary.
The hospital food thing is funny - hopefully had you been in there any longer, someone would have shifted you to a specialized diet.
Here's a silver lining - you know besides not dying! - think of all the great posts you'll be able to create for FitFare! ;)
Seriously, glad you're okay. Let me know if there's anything I can do.
Posted by: Sheryl | April 25, 2006 at 01:16 PM
Oh, Sherry! I'm so glad you're out. . .I was going to call you en route home from the office today but now I don't have to rush. And I'm glad your on line friends are caught up and know that you're still alive and kicking. By the way, that hospital food looks dreadful. Wouldn't even have fooled me . . . and I'm not a foody . . . in the sense that I don't cook.
Hope the treadmill is repaired and you can carry on. Only good health to you, Sher. H.
Posted by: Helene | April 25, 2006 at 01:18 PM
Hey, lady; leave it to you to have the presence of mind to take a picture of the hospital food and diet notice. LOL!!! Always were quick on your feet! I'm VERY happy you are okay. I agree with an earlier comment, too: if you ARE ever put on a special diet, we know we can count on you to make it appetizing and exciting. Keep walking! Talk soon. Lizz
Posted by: Lizz | April 25, 2006 at 03:23 PM
Hey, Sheryl,
I spent some of my hours in my hospital room drafting my next article for FitFare on Power Bars. One thing I never want to have again is salt-free hospital Cream of Wheat! Shudder.
Helene,
Yes, the hospital food was odd. I don't understand why they cook innocent vegetables to death. What did sugar snap peas ever do to deserve being cooked until they shrivel up like raisins? So good to be home!
Lizz,
Well, I hope they don't put me on a special diet. But, they didn't tell me to avoid salt or caffeine when they released me. That has to be a good sign, right? And doesn't everyone carry a camera around to record what they eat???
Posted by: sher | April 25, 2006 at 04:10 PM
!!!!
Oh my god! I hope you get better soon Sher - no more Thai Chillis for a while! Maybe you can start posting dishes that are still part of your special diet, but tasty!
Posted by: Gerald | April 25, 2006 at 06:57 PM
Boy can I relate.....I woke up in the middle of the night almost 4 years ago feeling ill then had the pain in my arm and jaw......in my heart I had a feeling what it was didn't want to believe it. My hubby took me to the ER and within minutes they had me hooked up to nitro, morphin and god knows what else. The next day they said that I had a very mild heart attack. Thankfully there was no damage but I have a shiny new stent that opened up the offending artery.
You just never know, do you?
Glad to know you are doing better.
Posted by: Barbara (Biscuit Girl) | April 25, 2006 at 07:05 PM
Sad here your sudden indisposed health.Glad to hear that you are now doing fine.Our sincere wishes for speedy recovery back to normal and get going with your posting.
Posted by: ramya | April 26, 2006 at 06:15 AM
Sad to hear your sudden indisposed health.Glad to hear that you are now doing fine.Sincere wishes for speedy recovery back to normal and get going with your postings.
Posted by: ramya | April 26, 2006 at 06:16 AM
Gerald,
If they put me on any special diet, it has to include fish sauce, garlic and ginger. :):) Thanks for your good wishes.
Barbara,
Oh my, I can relate to what happened to you. It's scary and not something you ever think will happen. You live your life thinking all this happens to other people, right? Then you get your wake-up call! :):) Glad it all worked out so well for you.
Ramya,
Thank you for your thoughts, I'm feeling pretty good now.
Posted by: sher | April 26, 2006 at 08:36 AM
I haven't heard from you for a while, you must be busy fixing up your garden. Make sure BOB keeps those roses sprinkled plus all the other plantings when you come to Florida.
Love, Bunty
Posted by: Bunty | May 11, 2006 at 05:25 PM
WOW! I have a story to relate. I was on Oprah's show due to similar circumstances.
In 2000 I had "horrible indigestion" while watching the Oprah show about symptoms of women's heart attacks. When the same indigestion woke me up in the middle of the night, and I was sick to my stomach and sweating, pain in chest, etc....I remembered the Oprah show. I was having a heart attack. I woke my husband and he said "No more Oprah! You have indigestion." I finally convinced him it could be my heart.(I was 50)
At the emergency room, they determined I was having a heart attack and I was life-flighted to the nearest city. Oprah had me on her show to tell the tale!
Go to the hospital if you think you MIGHT be having heart issues. It saved my life.
Posted by: Susan McBeth | June 21, 2006 at 08:08 PM