wake up call

[murdock]

been waking up with a pain just under my rib cage on the left side...thought nothing of it...might just be heart burn...from all the junk food i have been eating of late...the last 2 days when i got home i have been so tired that i am want to sleep...last night i had a sleep for an hour or so woke up feeling better...then this morning got up and it felt like someone had put their hand into the right side of my chest and was squeezing the living daylights out of me...i got my daughter ready for school had a shower and took 2 disprins ...logged onto the internet replied to a couple of threads and decided to take a look at what a heart attack feels like...contacted the hospital and tried to make a booking to see a doc...i was told their is no waiting for people with chest pains...so i rushed myself to hospital...i was taken thru straight away linked up for an ecg and so the tests began......i have to see a heart specialist...loose weight and eat healthy food


been down this road a couple of years ago...had pains in my chest...tingling feeling in my left arm...tired lazy feeling...went onto medication...but more importantly...got fit and ate healthy food and lost weight...within a couple of months i was a strong as an ox with no more aches...pains or medication....stopped walking and eating health food...put on weight again and now all the kak starts again...i know its easier said than done...being fat and lazy and buying cheap junk food is so much less hassle...but i need to have a little consideration for all the other little people...who want to spend time with dad and soon to be granddad...so best i pull finger and make an effort.

[Blurock]

Eat you broccoli Dad! You owe it to your kids to be around and help them growing up.

Good luck!

[Dave A]

Look after yourself, Murdock. I'd miss you, buddy.

[murdock]

thanks i will do...in fact started yesterday already...

about 10 or 11 years ago i decided to commit suicide and almost blew my brains out because i had no will to live...thought i had be given a raw deal in life...i had lost everything and i mean everything...loaded the gun put it in my mouth and cried like a baby for the first time in years...was too much of a coward to pull the trigger...thank goodeness...but went thru a couple of years without a care in the world...rode my bike like it was the last day of my life...lived reckless...drinking and partying without a care in the world...at the same time i had a good friend who was happy with life...had adpoted a young boy because she couldnt have children..then found out she had cancer and only had 6 months to live...i could never understand why she was so mad with me...when i arrived at their house riding like a hooligan...she would come out and punch me and scream at me...because she just wanted to live...the doctors told her she wouldnt make it to the new year...she had so much will power...she lived for another 2 years...before the cancer got the better of her...the young boy has grown up with his father who has taken good care of him.


i still have to see a heart specialist due to the symptoms related to the pain in the chest...tingling feeling in my left arm and fingers...etc...i have to go for blood tests...but i know already what the results are going to be...and what the doctor is going to tell me...high chloestral...loose weight...eat healthy and start walking again...my dad had the same problems at 55...the doctor told him if he didnt get fit again and start walking again he would die...he started walking everyday again and still does at 83...

about 5 years ago experinced these problem...just not as bad...went onto heart medication...was told to loose weight and get fit...so i did...within 1 month i had already lost 10 kg within the next 4 months i was no longer on any medication and felt on top of the world.

so from yesterday...no more
coke or fizzy drinks
pies
chips
oily dinners (fish and chips)
skin on the chicken
cheap chocolates
fish deep fried in batter

if anyone has advise on healthy eating plans please feel free to send them to me.

it is a tough world out there trying to decide what is good and bad.

some say nuts are good for you and will tell you they are full of essential oils another will tell you to stay away from them because they make you fat

i believe if you eat 1 ton of food no matter what it is...you need to get rid of it some how...be it exercise...into the pocelain thrown...or digested...it has to go somewhere...if it is around your waist line...hips or top of your legs...you either need to start working out more...walking or running faster and more often...take laxative...or just eat less.

however my concern is not only the weight issue...it is the cholestral...which is causing a fat build up in my veins ...so i need to eat less of a better quality food and exercise to make me feel better...

food for today

all bran for breakfast
brown bread sanwhiches with lettace...cucumber and chicken for brunch
salad fro lunch
some fruit for the day
and my disprin

tomorrow the BIG challenge...to get up a little earlier and exrecise....maybe go for a walk or have a 20 min work out on my rowing machine...eeeeish looking forward to it...NOT

[Pap_sak]

have you thought of taking up tennis/squash or badminton? Took up tennis 2 years ago after not having played for 20 years or so and really enjoy it. Get fit and socialize at the same time. Sometimes, of course, we socialize too much and undo all the hard work on the court, but good fun nevertheless.

[Newretailer]

Are you taking the low dosage disprin? I read the other day that you must slow down on the disprin if you notice you get bruised very easily. It can even cause bleeding around the brain. I know this is no help and probably right now taking disprin is better than not. Just don't overdo it

[daveob]

I believe that it's effect is to thin the blood.

[Newretailer]

Yes it is, but the side effects are easy bruising etc. I took it for a while because it does prevent strokes and heart attacks, but I thought there were no side-effects. As long as one keeps it in mind.

Murdock, I am so glad you didn't pull the trigger. My brother did and the effects on all that stays behind is devastating.

[murdock]

sorry to hear about your brother...

chatting to a mate last night he was telling me about his brother in law...same problem as i have just experienced...went in for an ecg all indicated ok...went home died 3 days later from a heart attack...so i will make sure i visit the heart specialist on monday...still have the pain in my chest...just not as bad...started getting numb feeling up my neck and left side of my face...and under my left arm...pain is just above my left nipple...i cant press on my chest...and feel tired all the time lately...been also getting what feels like clots in my feet...and bad headaches at night....just taking it easy this weekend...spending lots of time with the family.

my mate was telling me about his dad...been having problems with bleeding...been going for extensive tests...found the problem is caused from taking a full asprin tablet a day...was told by the doc that at his age around 70 + he should only be taking a quarter of a tablet.

[AndyD]

Yeah 1/4 or 1/2 standard dose asprin per day is sufficient and should keep unwanted side effects to a minimum. A full asprin per day is too much unless it's prescribed by a Doc.

Chest pains of any sort should be investigated ASAP. Heart pain can also present as referred pain in other places. Numbness, pins ad needles, muscular weakness, lethargy, swelling of ankles and feet/wrists can be signs of heart issues so I would err on the side of caution and get yourself checked out.

[mother]

Gosh Murdock, it must be scary! I think you're doing the right thing slowing down a bit, and taking the time to enjoy the people around you. The more you relax, the less chance of a heart attack. Good luck! When you seeing the doctor again?

Murdock, is it the CV Disprin you're taking or the regular one? You know the CV is specifically for this purpose? My mom had thrombosis once, and now has to take Disprin CV for about a week everytime before she flies, to prevent clotting. Oh, and PLEASE remember to eat something with the disprin, otherwise your next problem will be an ulcer!

And I'm gonna offer my previous advice again: BANANAS!!! Seriously, it's a scientific fact that bananas make you feel happier. And the happier you feel, the easier it becomes to tackle difficult things like changing your habits.

[murdock]

goods news and bad news...was feeling really down today stressed about the quack visit...i was running late so i decided to take the stairs to the 3rd floor...thought well if i am gona have a heart attack...no better place than the hospital...so i ran up the stairs by the time i got to the top i thought i was gona pass out...cut a long story short...the heart specialist did a few test which included a scan like they do when a women is pregnant except on my heart...ran on a tread mill...was told if it was for an insurance assessment i would get the go ahead to be insured...still dont know what the pains in my chest are from...but am relieved it not my heart...he said the test are only 80 % accurate...so next step blood tests....loose some weight and carry on eating healthy food....waht a relief


bad news is it looks like you are stuck with me a while longer...

the thing that scares me most is leaving my little 3 year old without a daddy...she was cryiing this morning...calling for me...i think she had a bad dream...i went into the room touched her on the forehead spoke to her and gave her one of her fluffy toys and within minutes she was sleeping again...my wife lost her dad at 12 years old...and i can see how it affects her.

i hear "men" bragging about things like never changing a nappy etc in their lives...like i use to...man you just dont know what you have missed out on...i feel i was given a second chance with my little one...and boy i have taken it with both hands...in all my life i have been spoilt with most material things...nice cars...fast super bikes...boats etc etc...wasted lots of money thinking i was living the life...parties...holidays etc....if you havent got a connection with your kids and family you actually have nothing....just my opinion.

[Just Gone]

Hey murdock you look after yourself now. I am very similar to u with the weight issues etc etc so lets just both stop this kak eating during the day just cos we are on the road. Lets start to pack the proper healthy lunches at home!

[murdock]

ditto...

trust me since last week when this started...i changed my eating habits the same day...went back to my old eating plan...just been waiting for the all clear from the heart specialists to start my walking again...my excuse is always i need something i can eat while i am driving...so 2 pies and a coke....samoosas....chips...cheesie vienas at spar and so the list of life threatening food goes on....there is never time for breakfast...and good food is expensive...a salad at woolworths is over R20 more like 30 and there is no time to stop and make something during the day...and then you still need a sanwich etc for the vooma...so food becomes the least important part of my day...and so the stress levels rocket....cholestral goes thru the roof and next thing BAM...lucky for me a wake up call...for some its a heart bypass (which by the way cost over R200 000 nowdays) for some 6 feet under....just a warning if you are over weight and a diebetic...the sister was telling me at the hospital this morning that if my results indicate that i have become a diebetic from being over weight...most patients dont even get pains in their chest they just have a heart attack without even knowing it...that was rather interesting...i dont know how true it is but as a sister ina hospital i am sure she knows better than most.

went for the blood tests this morning...so i decided not to walk because i couldnt eat until i had done the tests.

from tomorrow morning i start...just short 10 minute walk to get me started...then i will increase as i feel up to it...and then start the hill.

as a person who always manages to think up excuses why i cant walk...be it rain...forgot to put out the shoes and clothes...i make sure before i go to bed everything is ready for the morning....

shoes....check
shorts...check
sock...check
undies...check
earphones...check
cellphone set for music or radio...check
tear gas...check
remote...check
water...check
all ready then go to bed...i find doing this just makes it so much easier...it is just tooo easy to wake up and cant find the earphones for example...good enough excuse not to walk...oh well do it tomorrow and so everyday becomes a problem until eventually i stop it all together....which is what happened last time.

having people to walk with also motivates me to ge tup and go...my walking partner moved so now i need extra will power.

to start
5 am up and go.
5.30...pick lettuce...strawberries...paw paw and stuff out the veg garden for lunch.
make lunch...
2 slices of brown bread
chicken salad
peel fruit and cut to bite sizes for the road
yogurt which i mix some fruit in with it.

wake up and dress my daughter for school...hold her hand and walk to the car with her...put her in the car seat and wave goodbye...highlight of my day believe it or not...this i believe is the most import thing i do everyday...nothing else is as important...in fact i have left site at 6 am after working a 23 hours shift just to make sure i am home for this ritual in the morning...and will continue to do it as long as i can.

by 6.30am i am ready to go to work...the only thing i have changed since last week is waking up a little earlier to fit in the aditional tasks...so when you think you dont have the time all you gotta do is wake up a little earlier...and go to bed earlier...instead of playing on the internet or watching tv

hold onto what ever is important in your life and makes sure you look after yourself because as i believe if you dont look after yourself...how can you look after other people who just want to be with you or need you in their life.

[City Adults SA]

Murdock, I had to read this a few times to let it sink in and get a grip on my own emotions. It almost felt like I was reading a legacy from my own past that had come back to haunt me. Back in 1991 I was engage to be married to this girl I was hopelessly in love with and sadly she was killed after a drunk driver T-boned her car after running a red light. This was a week before we were going to get married. I was devastated and lost my will to live and dreaded each and every sunrise. If it wasnt for an older sibling that insisted I join him in the US I probably would have outed myself! I'm glad I did'nt and I am glad you have'nt done so either. Point of fact is that no matter how teribbly disconsolate, depressingly sad and cruel life can be you never know what the next day brings and there are lessons to learn, a purpose and a reason.

I am glad you have been to see a specialist and I sincerely hope that this new regime and diet will change your life for the better my friend! When you take your dispirin in the morning, why not dilute it in a glass with fruit juice and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder or get the capsules from a health shop. I'm not pulling your leg! Go google turmeric health benefits.

Stay well my friend.