Don't rain on my parade....

Its been a very hectic day here in Northern Minnesota. I was set to have a root canal this morning--instead I found myself in the ER in Duluth with symptoms of a heart attack. For years I have been reporting on symptoms telling women to get to the ER when they arise....funny I never thought I'd have to heed that advice.

I have also become somewhat of a spokeswoman for the Northland Chapter of the American Heart Association...talking about my transformation and the importance of heart health.

Just five months ago I had gone thru a testing regiment that put my risk of heart attack in the next ten years at just one percent. (I have BFL to thank for that.)

But last night I awoke in a sweat, had chest pains, a radiating pain from my jaw....and pains in my shoulders.
Sounds pretty classic. All the symptoms I have preached about.
We'll instead of going to the ER last night I took two aspirin and went back to bed.
When the symptoms persisted this morning, I cancelled the root canal and the mammogram and went to the Emergency room for a workup.

Testing is inconclusive at this point.
Blood work looks good...but I have a strong family history of fatal heart attacks.
Vital signs were great. My resting pulse was 48. My blood pressure was 100/56. The young Doc in the White Smock who asked...are you a runner?

No I answered, I'm a BFL'er.

Well before I could explain to him what a BFL'er was...I was poked and prodded some more...IV'd...and forced to take Nitro.

When the nitro failed to resolve the symptoms I was given a powerful strength Maalox cocktail. After two of those my symptoms began to flag a bit.
At this point my diagnosis is Atypical Chest Pain--likely Gerd. Gerd is a fancy word for acid reflux. As I was eagerly pulling out my IV I told the Doc. I thought it might simply be a reaction to all of the aspirin products and antibiotics I'd been taking because of my tooth pain.

Just to make sure next Friday I will have a stress ecocardiogram.

After all of this I am feeling a bit foolish...but I keep telling myself there are hundreds of women no longer in this world who thought the same thing but failed to go to the ER. One in two women will died of heart attack or stroke. We need to be vigilent and take heart disease as a serious threat.

So here I am at work---I just popped a new pill and have chewed a couple of maalox tabs. In about an hour we will begin our Christmas City of the North Parade.
I have helped announce the parade live on television for the past 14 years.

It's raining but families are already lining the streets to watch the fun.

My boss wants me to go home. But I can't imagine not taking part in such an important tradition.

So I'll bundle up---take along my maalox and enjoy the big kick off to Christmas.

Have a great weekend.

I'll be kicking back.....I may even have to take two free days from exercise...but come Monday watch out! I'll be back!