Obviously, I have experience as a nurse and have moved on to become a nurse practitioner. In that program, we spend a great deal of time both with assessment and diagnostics (obviously since in the end we will ordering some type of treatment).  Well, I developed chest pain in the afternoon that was very sharp with some “tingling” in my neck and right arm.  Ok, I have talked to a few cardiologists that say the tingling is a huge warning sign and should not be overlooked.  Off I go to the ER.  Now we all love to be seen fast in the ER, but chest pain is a quick way into a room. Also, you end up with little or no chest hair and a lot of very fast tests followed by the wait.

I fought very hard to let the doctors in the ER work through their diagnosis and to be as concise as I could be in my description (I mean it is potentially cardiac). It was a tough fight not to play hospital gurney quarterback or to argue differentials with them.  I am stuck in that mode, and I will admit it is difficult and chest pain at my age is fricking serious. This diagnosis was thankfully “gas” for the most part from gastritis. Still not a pleasant thing to deal with. It also made me think, and this is some shit you should look at too.

What are you shoving in your face?… Karen I fucking swear, focus. I took inventory of my diet and realized I had been in denial and passing it off to convenience.  I have also had a soda problem that snuck up on me and that I just gave into.  I have gone soda free for years at a time; however, I have been at the soda heavy. I also eat a shit ton of processed foods.  High sugar, high sodium, high everything.

I also have all but stopped exercise because of school and then some painful kidney stones, from guess what? Soda. Since then I have not re-engaged as I should Yeah, I know, a shining example of health to my patients.  All of this is coming to a screeching halt after having the shit scared out of me, and the hair shaved off me (The tech offered to do a Zorro stripe, so there is that).

I was surprised at how quickly and began to feel better both in my joints and my epigastric region after I stopped drinking soda. I won’t lie it has been quite an adjustment not drinking soda or sugary drinks. I have lived my life drinking soda and sugary drinks but, it is the key to help you lower your caloric intake daily. It is actually a straightforward way to reduce your caloric intake daily and one that will help with other health issues as well.

Walking that’s it walking. You don’t have to turn in a marathon, as a matter of fact right now on walking less than a mile, you just need to move. American diabetic Association came out with guidelines that folks with diabetes or at risk for diabetes (that is all of us that are overweight and have poor diets) should exercise 20-30 minutes every day. This does not have to be high impact exercise just has to be exercise.

So, I sucked up my pride, quit the soda, leashed up that hell hounds and went for a walk. It has been interesting, to say the least. I’m having a lot of energy issues related to the fact that I no longer eat or drink tons of sugar. It is a work in progress just like you are. Simple things are the right things to do been trying to adjust behaviors such as the ones I had. And for God’s sake don’t fat shame people. I guy walking down the street that is overweight is a heck of a lot better than him driving a car across the street.

Lastly, when you have a cluster of symptoms go to a provider. Be concise so that provider knows what’s been going on, this is not the time to withhold any embarrassing information. Don’t make assumptions and don’t google your symptoms (it tends to make it seem far worse). If you have chest pain, especially on the left side, you need to go to the ER quickly. Even if it ends up being gas, would do you rather it be gas, or for someone to find you dead on the floor.

The Bats hate cleaning the bodies up