So was it heart disease or anxiety? Well we don’t know exactly yet, but a number of things have come into play. I recently inadvertently went off an SNRI that I take for a variety of pain disorders. I thought it would arrive from my mail order pharmacy when I got back from my trip, but no such luck. So I have been off it for about a month. No wonder I feel like hell! Rest assured, it has been ordered, so now I can wait for it! Going off the SNRI in and of itself could cause anxiety.
I also recently started taking a bunch of supplements for Mark Hyman’s detox diet, so there’s another significant change. In addition, I recently began consuming apple cider vinegar on my salads as part of this new diet. It may be that the apple cider vinegar is causing esophageal spasm, which mimics heart attack. That just might be the chest pain that I have been experiencing. It’s front and center without any radiation, anywhere. As much as I like the stuff, I think I have to lay off the apple cider vinegar and see if any of these symptoms calm down.
Admittedly, none of these has anything to do with the breathlessness I have been encountering when doing simple things like walking 5 houses down the block, bending over to do a couple minutes of weeding, or pulling out the garden hose to water the flowers on the patio. The breathlessness is particularly concerning. Nonetheless, I did manage to walk around the block this morning. It was punishing the whole way, but I did do it.
Deep vein thrombosis is another concern and something I am at risk for given the recent back surgery. A friend who is a pediatrician brought this to my attention. I know too many cooks, spoil the broth! The concern is pulmonary embolism in the chest, which causes breathlessness. My intuition tells me this isn’t so. Despite being highly limited regarding my movement, I have been taking care of the boys daily and took them solo on vacation for two weeks in August. Can you really do all that and have a pulmonary embolism?
Thus far, the EKG shows no sign of changes in the heart. Thank God, for small wonders! A thallium stress test has been ordered and we will see how my heart is functioning. For those of you who don’t know, this is a resting stress test, which I need due to my current limited mobility.
In the meantime, I have also seen the rheumatologist and have been advised that because of my “severely advanced osteoarthritis in my right knee,” that I need total knee replacement in the not too distant future. The doctor recommends that I plan this for 6 months out, in order to give myself a chance to have 6 months of physical therapy under my belt subsequent to my May 2015 back surgery, to strengthen both back and thigh muscles before knee surgery. No rest for the weary!
I have to admit, this is a lot to grapple with all at once. However, there is no choice!
My hope is that if I can pull through this mess with exercise, diet and surgery, that maybe you can repair your body too. Sure it takes a bit of bravery and some stick-to-ititveness, but I believe it can be done. What might you change about your routine today, to lead to a better outcome tomorrow?
Go ahead commit it to writing. Take some time and think about what outcome you want in your body and then break it down into some action steps. Most of us know three things we could be doing right now to improve our overall health and we don’t need a professional to tell us to do it. We simply need to do as Rip Esselstyn says, “make a change and then make it a habit.” I just love that sentiment, thank-you Rip Esselstyn! I urge you to put this plan somewhere where you will continually bump into it, to keep it top of mind. You work your plan and I’ll work mine.
Never forget building better bodies today rocks!
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
The Wellness Coach at Building Better Bodies Rocks
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
A Single Mom by Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written at CCF Beachwood Waiting to See Another Doctor