A few Sundays ago I was engaged in my favorite pastime lying on the sofa watching sports and overindulging myself with super unhealthy foods. There was chips and dip, pepperoni and beer, ice cream of course and assorted pastries. These were a prelude to the garlic chicken I ordered from the local Chinese restaurant. I don’t know why but approximately a half an hour after consuming this feast I started to feel a tremendous pain in my stomach, chest and back. It felt like I had kidney stones all over. That night I slept maybe 45 minutes, as the pain was excruciating. Nothing helped not my 24 hour Nexium or my chewable Pepcid Complete.
The next day I had gone to work and the pain had not gotten any better, if anything it had gotten worse. When you’re in pain like this never discuss it with a co-worker. My fellow employee said I should immediately go to an urgent care because she didn’t like my color. She said that I could be fooling myself and this could be a heart attack. Really? That’s all you have to say to a hypochondriac! Fifteen minutes later I was at the Urgent Care begging the doctor not to let me die.
The Doctor gave me an EKG and a chest x-ray. She said she didn’t think it was my heart and that I should make an appointment with my gastroenterologist. I was feeling slightly relieved until she said “I did see some fluid in your right lung so I’m going to give you some antibiotics just in case.”
That same day I was at my gastroenterologist. I have periodic endoscopies for my Acid Reflux and since the pain had not gotten better I felt I should set up an appointment for another scope. He asked me a number of questions and I could see concern on his face.
“Look he said, I don’t want to put you under anesthesia until you have had a complete heart work up with your cardiologist.”
“Why? What do you suspect?” I stammered.
“Probably nothing, but with your history of type 2 diabetes, I would like you to go. It’s not an emergency,” he said, “but if you can do this by tomorrow it would be prudent.”
I was so stunned I couldn’t speak. The only thing that snapped me out of it was when he said,
“Roll over on your side and pull your underwear down. I want to give you a digital exam.”
“WHOAAAAAAAAA!” I believe I cried out, “That was painful.”
Then he tested the sample.
“Oh good no blood,” he said
“No blood? With what you just did there should be plenty of blood.”
That was the most painful digital exam I’ve ever had. The next day, you guessed it, I was at my cardiologist. He did a thorough exam.
“Don’t worry. It’s not your heart. Tell your gastroenterologist he can scope you.”
I was relieved and ready to go until he stopped me and said
“I would feel more comfortable if you went to your primary care physician first and kept him in the loop.”
I could swear there was a look of concern on his face and a forced smile. So the next day before work, I went to my primary. He examined me and agreed I should get scoped. I was ready to leave when he said,
“Listen, you have type 2-diabetes. I want you to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. I don’t want you to have a problem with your eyesight.”
“Ok,” I said resigned to another doctor’s visit. “But do you think you can give me a prescription for Xanax first?”