When we returned from our fabulous trip however, I began having really severe chest pains. I have been having them off and on for the past two weeks, but they were quite bad so I decided to go to my family doc to see what the problem could be. He suggested I go to the hospital right away for a cardiogram.
With my anxiety level quite high, I decided to follow his advice for a change and go. When it comes to the old ticker, I don't like fooling around. So off I went. When I arrived, I was taken in right away which gave me another shocker...usually there is about an 8 hour wait, our medical system being what it is.
They brought me into a room with two other elderly gentlemen apparantly there for the same reason as I. By this time, I was feeling a little silly being there. I am 35, and in pretty good health. I have severe anxiety and panic attacks which I figured was causing the chest pain. When I was brought into the room, the man beside me was burping, hacking and spitting into the basin. I thought, great, this guy is dying and sick, what am I doing here???
The nurse came in, and I was given a cardiogram, and had the old blood pressure tested, and was asked a series of questions about the pain etc. All the while, this poor guy beside me was asking about pain killers. With only a curtain separating us, it was tough not to listen in....
The nurse left, and I was all by myself listening to this guy beside me. I'm usually not so nosy, but with nothing to do but kill time, I couldn't help but listen.
The nurse asked him about his pain. It didn't sound good to me, he had severe chest pain in his chest that felt like severe heartburn and his left side was tingling. He was burping, and well, grossing me out, but I was engrossed in what he was saying. He was taking zantac, and different antacids. All the while I was feeling silly for being there when this guy was having a real heart attack, I was sure!!!
When the nurse asked him what he thought may be causing the pain, he said he wasn't sure, but thought he may have an idea. Apparantly at 1:00 AM the night before, he ate a whole coconut. Who eats a whole coconut at 1:00 in the morning? 
And how could the nurse keep a straight face? I let out a little giggle, and quickly put my hand over my mouth. The nurse said to him "Well, that could definitely have caused the heartburn and chest pain. A coconut is very high in fat content, and can be hard to digest." Suddenly, I didn't feel so silly being there anymore. As it was, I was stressing because I had a few beers the night before, and was hoping and praying they weren't going to ask me if I had consumed any alcohol. I don't smoke, but that guy took the cake!
It turned out I was having a severe panic attack, and the muscles surrounding my heart are inflammed and swollen. Apparantly that is where I hold my stress when I am having a panic attack. I was given some anxiety medication, and of course was told to walk about 1/2 hour-1 hour per day to relieve any stress I may have. I will never forget the damn coconut though...I know I would never be cut out for the medical profession...I can't keep a straight enough face!
| posted by Warm Fuzzies at 12:42 PM
Glad to hear that Shauna is hanging in there. I have been through the exact same thing you just wrote about, minus the coconut! LOL I have really bad anxiety attacks, especially since my mom had her heart attack 5 years ago. I went to the hospital 5 times in less than 2 months, and after that I felt really stupid and just keep taking my xanax! So dont feel bad, I think we have all been there. Have a great week. Glad to have you back!