What's Funnier Than a Heart Attack?
by Scott Hardie on November 15, 2007
Everything, but especially finding out that it's not a heart attack.
The pain started after I finished my usual Tuesday dinner with my mom at 8pm. I stood up to leave, and stiffness shot up my back and across my chest. I had to sit down. It was an intense, crushing tightness, making it hard to breathe. Have you ever heard a heart attack described as feeling like an elephant sitting on your chest? That's what it was like. After an hour, I felt strong enough to stand up and drive to the ER, with my mom as a helpful escort. The pain finally subsided around 1am, but the tests continued well into this morning and I was discharged in the afternoon.
In the end, they found nothing wrong with my heart or cardiovascular system, no diabetes, no other conditions that could simulate a heart attack. The best guess they had was muscle spasms, caused primarily by carrying around too much weight on my frame. I'm somewhere over 400 pounds (the highest my scale will go) and almost all of the overweight is in my big fat belly.
So, while it's a relief that this incident was not serious, it's clearly a harbinger of medical crises and hospital visits to come if I don't do something about this weight. As much as I don't like it, I have to start eating throughout the day and restricting sugar, and easing into an exercise routine. Kelly will help, but more on that later. What I think I need most of all is a therapist who can help me develop self-discipline, since my hundreds of failed diets have left me cyncial that any attempt to lose weight will work out. It's weird for me to admit such a thing, but I simply can't control myself.
Anyway, thanks for the well wishes. I'm still a bit stiff and unsure how much work I can get done at the office tomorrow, but I'm going to try to get back to normal.
Twelve Replies to What's Funnier Than a Heart Attack?
Jackie Mason | November 15, 2007
[hidden by author request]
Steve West | November 15, 2007
Heartfelt (bada-bing) relief to hear you're okay. Sincerely, good to have you back.
Aaron Shurtleff | November 15, 2007
Now, see, Scott. I got it figured out. If you didn't get so upset about the Holiday season, you wouldn't be putting so much stress on your system, and you'd be fine. ;)
I kid, of course!
Well, I'm glad to hear that everything seems all right with you, for the most part. Diet and exercise is tough, but it's for the best, right?
Odd thing, though. My boss, who lives close to you in Bradenton, wasn't at work the past couple of days, because he was taking care of his wife, who had chest pains that turned out to be nothing definitive Tuesday night. She was at the hospital overnight, as well. You might even have both been there at the same time. Maybe there's something funky going around down there...
Denise Sawicki | November 15, 2007
Wow, scary... I am so glad you're OK. I hope you can find the discipline you need. Walks are a good idea for sure.
Lori Lancaster | November 15, 2007
[hidden by author request]
Anna Gregoline | November 15, 2007
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. That sounds REALLY scary, Scott! I'm glad you're taking steps to improve your health, we want you around for a LONG time! If there's anything we can do to help, please let us know.
Steve Dunn | November 15, 2007
Holy crap, man! Sorry I missed this earlier. When I emailed you about the goo I had no idea this had happened.
It's good to hear you talk about getting serious about addressing your weight. I've previously gotten the impression that you thought it was pointless to make the effort because there was no chance you could succeed.
I happen to believe that someone with your mental ability is MOST likely to be able to figure out a strategy that works. Just apply your brain to the problem. I'll be glad to help if you think I can be of any help. It'll be a little like designing a game - you have to conceive the potential obstacles and implement functional work-arounds. You can do it.
Anna Gregoline | November 15, 2007
Steve is totally right - you are one of the most grounded, thoughtful, and in control people I know. You can totally do this!
Kelly Lee | November 15, 2007
I agree one hundred percent. But you know that already. :P
Amy Austin | November 16, 2007
Someone I know recently compared a bad day to a demolition derby... feeling a bit like you've been there? ;-p ;-D ;-) Well, I'm glad to hear that it wasn't a fatal one, anyway...
I wish I knew what else to say to be of some encouragement -- it's got to at least feel good to have so many friends rallying around you in support... myself included, if I can call it something so... "active"... ;-)
If it weren't such a hugely negative trade-off, though -- and fraught with its own set of miseries (the least of which, for you, is being married!) -- I'd highly recommend the Divorce Diet... lose at least 15 pounds, or your money back... guaranteed!!! (Hey... I *said* it was a shitty trade-off!!!) ;-)
Seriously, though... trying hard to send whatever remaining little bits of light and good vibes I have left your way -- it isn't much, but try to think of it as the one last grain of sand left of Fantasia at the end of The NeverEnding Story... (it will at least make *me* feel better anyway! ;-D)
Scott Hardie | November 16, 2007
Holy cow, am I one lucky guy. You folks are the best friends I could ask for. Thank you for the big virtual hug. :-)
Jackie, I agree. I don't like eating throughout the day, and I especially don't like the idea of annoying my coworkers with stinky food, but for my health, I'm willing to cross certain lines. Let's see what the nutritionist says.
Steve, you picked up that vibe more or less accurately. On one hand, I know the solution is within my control, so it frustrates me to no end that I keep failing. But on the other hand, I've failed hundreds of attempted diets over all these years, and, well, a string of hundreds of failures with no success tends to get you down about your prospects. Whenever I start another eating plan, I can't pretend that I don't know how slim my chances of success are from extensive experience. Attempting weight loss is one hell of a bummer.
You're all very, very good to me. Thank you for the kind words and support. I will provide updates as time passes. I'm scheduled for a cardiovascular stress test the week after Thanksgiving, and fortunately it's not the same day AS Thanksgiving or I'd be in the hospital again.
Logical Operator
The creator of Funeratic, Scott Hardie, blogs about running this site, losing weight, and other passions including his wife Kelly, his friends, movies, gaming, and Florida. Read more »
Grousing About the Mouse
Kelly and I still have our annual passes to Disney World, but we've had more trouble going recently because of disabilities that slow us down. A friend suggested joining a busy Facebook group for Disney World fans like us who struggle with disabilities and share advice with each other. I clicked the button to join, and up popped a 4-question form asking questions that are required for membership. Go »Moved In
We are moved in and settled, or as settled as we can be with little money and way too much stuff for a two-bedroom apartment. The final move will come in April when we transfer to a house. We have our eye on a house in Ruskin, 30 minutes from here – four bedrooms, two-car garage, cable included, never lived in, all for $50 less a month than I pay now. Go »Good Company and Busy Nights
Highlights from my last two weeks, in no particular order: - Miah Poisson, his fiancée Ines, and her friend Denise have always wanted to see The X Files, and it just so happens I have the complete series on DVD. We've started getting together every Monday night to watch a couple of episodes and eat sandwiches. I'm taking the opportunity to do something I wanted to do the first time I watched the series, which is keep a kill-count. Go »Heart Burn
The recurring pericarditis that I mentioned elsewhere is now believed by my primary-care doctor to be heartburn or possibly an ulcer. The latter explanation is possible I suppose, but I'm skeptical about the former since it feels less like an acidic burning than like a sharp localized lower-chest pain such as a knife wound or bullet wound. Either way, it still keeps occurring every few weeks, it still hurts like a son of a bitch and keeps me awake all night, and I'm way beyond sick of it happening. Go »Trekkers Will Understand
The Netflix summary of Deep Space Nine (Season Two): "Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) heads the crew of Deep Space Nine -- including Odo (Rene Auberjonois), Worf (Michael Dom), Dax (Terry Farrell) and others -- as it travels through space, trying to keep both the ship and the areas it travels safe, secure and free. One of the first (and greatest) challenges the intrepid voyagers face is the violence of the Dominion, a group composed partially of the shape-shifting Changelings." Gee, I wonder why fans call this the most misunderstood of all Star Trek series. Go »
Russ Wilhelm | November 15, 2007
Glad everything turned out okay this time. Hopefully you find the discipline your looking for. The world needs you to stick around for a much longer time.