Member-only story
I Had A Heart Attack — Part 1
I’m writing this from my hospital bed.
Though I am in my late seventies, I am in excellent health. I walk a minimum of 10,000 steps a day, go on long hikes two to three times a month, eat a relatively modest diet, stay away from fast foods and don’t drink to excess.
I woke up around 1:00 AM on Monday morning with a very painful left arm. I sat on the edge of the bed for a while, thinking I had lain on it the wrong way. When the pain had not gone away, I took some prescription painkillers I keep on hand. Eventually, the pain subsided and I went back to bed.
In the morning, I was feeling a little washed out and not feeling up to breakfast which was unusual. I look upon breakfast as the most enjoyable meal of the day, a time to ease into the day, enjoy a coffee, read the newspaper and some Medium stories.
I mentioned the incident to my wife who is a retired hospital Lab Tech. She suggested checking my blood pressure. The reading on one arm came back 207 / 95 and on the other arm 217 /100. I almost fell off my chair. (Normal is around 120/80) She was heading out for the day and told me to see my local MD. I phoned his office and his receptionist said he could not see me for two days so I made an appointment.
