Adventures in Cardiology

For those of you who don't know I just spent an adventuristic weekend in Chandler Regional Hospital. I went in because I had some pain in my chest and some trouble breathing on Friday. I really didn't want to go in because I figured they would just tell me it was gas or my imagination. But it wouldn't stop so I went. When I arrived at the hospital and took a look at the ER I almost got back in my car and drove home. It was packed. But I discovered something during my visit that might be of use to some of you. If you ever have to go to ER for any reason and you want to avoid the long lines just walk up to the front and inform them that you are having problems with your heart. Let me tell they get all excited about that. You will be moved right to the front of the line. Then when you are getting taken care of you can just kind of mention your real problem and hey you are already there.
Well my little visit turned into several hours in ER and then getting checked into the hospital. The next day it resulted in a heart cauterization. Which is where they stick a tube up through your leg and into your heart and spray dye all over to see what your problem is. They didn't discover any blockage but they did discover some heart disease and some narrowing of the passages. I ended up not getting out of there until Sunday night. Needless to say I am now on several medications I can't even pronounce. They said the first week or so they would make me tired and dizzy. Like that would be any different from how I feel all the time now. They were right, I have spent most of today drifting in and out at my desk.
I am not exactly happy about all of this, especially when I saw the diet they want me to follow. It should have just said, "Eat Cardboard." Now I have to reorganized my life, because these pills have be taken at certain times under certain conditions and I have to be aware of certain side effects. I also have to pay close attention to my diabetes. So now I am making doctor's appointments and trying to figure my schedule for eating and I have to cut down on coffee, popcorn, salt, butter you name it. It is going to be a real pain.
The good news is I am still alive and it looks like I am going to keep breathing for some time. In the end I look at it as a God thing, because I had not been taking my meds as I should, and I had not been eating the right way. I was skipping breakfast, drinking to much coffee and pop and paying no attention to my sugar levels. Well now I don't have a choice. Or at least I don't have more than one good choice. Get my act in gear or die in my backyard clutching my chest. I think I will chose the first option. I can still drink a little coffee and most importantly I might just be around for my kids graduation from college.
So I would encourage all of who are not taking care of your health to start, because even spending three days in the hospital was hard, imagine spending weeks there. Plus if you don't take care of yourself you will find yourself facing all kinds of fun restrictions on your diet and taking all kinds of pills.

Pastor Fred