You probably think I mean "I LOVE YOU"....well, that's a very close second...
for me...the best words are "YOUR HEART IS FINE ".
and, that means to me, that I loved myself enough to find out !
so...the story goes like this....
For 'I dont know how long' I have not exercised. Years.
I was always out of breath when I had to go uphill. I've been horribly out of shape.
I always went for my regular checkups....bloodwork, etc.... but I absolutely put off doing a stress test because I didn't want to 'fail it'....(you cant pass or fail BTW, it's not rated like that)
My best friend Connie asked me a million time to just go get a stress test.....no..no..no..no I was afraid....and told her to stop nudging me!!!
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FINALLY....and I mean FINALLY....I came to the realization that I needed to brave up, own up, grow up, and just do it.
So......I went for the EKG, the ECHO, the nuclear stress test (happy to report...was able to get to the target heart rate) , the pulmonologist, and then...
I went for.....
The catherization !!!
Yesterday !
and guess what....I have a heart...and it's a good one !!
I was able to watch as the dye went into the arteries...I was awake for the whole thing and feeling calm and maybe even a little spaced out (aaah Versed!)...and the test was a nothing.
I don't want to say "A BIG nothing".....I think just being in the whole hospital setting is a bit unnerving....as my 'arrival in the hospital blood pressure' told me....but, when it was over (maybe an hour) I was a very happy camper and my blood pressure was happily way back to normal ! No stents were needed! I could eat, talk, whatever.
So....what's the score....well, I was told to lose weight (yup..I AM overweight ...I just hide it) and, to get off my butt and start moving.
SO.....here's what I want to say to you guys....
DO IT.........DO IT.......DO IT........
Get the tests done....don't let it go out of fear. Heart disease is the Number 1 killer for women....
I want to be able to go on lots more trips and be able to climb.
Overcome whatever fear or nervousness you have
JUST DO IT. Take care of your heart.
whatever YOUR outcome, you'll be glad you did it and if needed, got it fixed !
(BTW.....I found my wonderful cardiologist by asking a girlfriend who just had triple by-pass who she recommended and she was right...he was amazing...if you need more info and are in the central NJ area, just email me)