My Frightening Week

I haven't been feeling so well the last few weeks, which I attributed to the overwhelming demand of my summer nursing classes. I'd been having lots of fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and general exhaustion. Finally, last week I felt so terrible, my husband took me to the ER to be checked out. I had started having this burning sensation through my chest into my shoulder blades. As soon as the Triage nurse heard that, I was taken straight into the back and put on an EKG. After many hours and tests, which all came back mostly normal, they decided to admit me over night for observation. The next day I had a echocardiogram, and the Cardiologist came in to see me. He felt that in light of my very strong history/risk factors, such as my Dad's coronary artery disease and early death at age 50, my high blood pressure and my low HDL [good cholesterol level} that I should have a cardiac catheterization to know for sure where I stood. Turns out I have 30% narrowing in 2 of my 3 coronary arteries.
My anxiety has been through the roof and I've been so scared. I feel angry too that I've tried all these years to do the right things for my heart and STILL I have the beginnings of CAD. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I'm a vegetarian who exercises ALL THE TIME!
But, I now know that it is going to take an extra level of diligence from me to stop the progression of this disease. I don't want to die young. I want to live into my 80's at least!
I am going to monitor my blood pressure like a hawk, and to continue to lose the weight I've needed to lose for a long time! {I have already lost 32 lbs over the last 4 months simply by keeping a food diary and exercising religiously}
I am also now on Niaspan which is supposed to raise my HDL {the little 'scrubbers' that help carry out the bad cholesterol}
I have also taken my diet to a whole new level of healthy.
I'm still very scared, but I think I'm supposed to be.
Only that will motivate the right amount of change to make a difference.

Ahimsa

“A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

-Albert Einstein

Our Boy Is All Grown Up!

My husband took this picture of Samsun a few weeks ago, and I can't get over how grown up he looks. We have started to ride him lightly and he's been a wonderful trooper about it all. He just doesn't like the particular bit that's in his mouth in this photo. I have since switched him and he seems happier.
I can't wait for my Summer classes to finish so we can spend more time with him.
He's such a sweet boy!