An ER visit was not how I intended to spend 11/11/11. What got me there? Server chest pains, felt like someone was shoving an icepick through my sternum and splitting my shoulder blade apart. Sounds like fun huh? NOT.
After a number of hours of testing, I was admitted overnight for "observations" and scheduled for a Echo and stress test in the morning. Why the big deal? Well having past issues with my heart it was their "Lets play it safe move". Which I get really. But so didn't want to spend my night there.
Laying in my lonely hospital bed I came to realize a few things:
1) I really need to get healthy
2) I have great friends who kept texting me until wee hours of the morning, since they couldn't come see me.
3)There are a lot misconceptions about obese people and I still hate being lumped in (no pun intended) with those stereotypes.
4) I am doing the right thing by having the Lap Band, which ties into my first statement.
I know I am obese, I see it in the mirror and the scales. But I didn't get this way by food alone, so it pisses me off when its just assumed I have food addiction issues. What set me off on this? Well it was a fairly harmless jesture by one of the aides when I was admitted.
It was a little before 6 pm when they decided to admit me, I had already been there for over 4 hours. I had a late start to my morning. Drank a cup of tea and few crackers around 1 or so when I left to pick up a few things. So really had not eaten when I went into the ER. So at 6pm I was very hungry and I didn't think of asking the hubby to bring me food when he was dropping off stuff for me for the night,
I commented to the aide when I got into the room that I had not eaten and would like a menu. He said he had to talk the Nurse and Dr first since they have been down as being diabetic (I am not, well not officially). which I was ok with. He had to do his job. An hour later, no Dr or Nurse. Still very hungry and the headache from the cat scan dye really was not helping.
Hubby said to ring the nurse, but I didn't want to. I had already got the vibe "Oh what a shock the fat chick is hungry". Honestly there are more important things to buzz about. So hubby went to find the aide, he came back and said he was just putting in my order.
Not five minutes later the aide shows up with two containers with sandwich, chips and soda. Really? I could have sent the hubby out to get something healthier. What happened to the big deal about ensuring I followed a diabetic menu.
He tells me the kitchen was closed. I graciously thanked him as he was also ending his shift. Did I voice my irritation? NO I was gratefully he got me something to eat and really could not help the timing of when it was decided to admit me. But before I even got a chance to consume any of the food, my nurse shows up.
She went over my chart gave me a low down on what they were going to do the next day and so on. She notices the sandwiches and made the comment about the kitchen being closed and that with my diabetic diet the aid should not have brought me something with so much white wheat and sugar.
Like I didn't feel bad enough as it was, but you know, I was damn hunger. I had already sent my daughter to get me a bottle of water since I had not intention of drinking the sodas. After the nurse left I had just taken one or two bites of the tuna sandwich, and another aid showed up with hospital food dinner of chicken breast, corn and coffee. My daughter ate the rest of my tuna sandwich. I had not problem eating a chicken breast.
I do not have a food addiction. I have a "get off your ass" problem. Yes food and portion sizes helped me get to where I am. But that is not the only reason I am obese. Other factors contributing to my weight:
1) The wonderful lottery called genetics
2) I might get an average of 4 hrs sleep a night during the work week
3) I have an office job and a long crappy commute that keeps me in my car 2-4hrs daily
4) The lack of true exercise
If I was addicted to food, why would I schedule my Lap Band surgery for Dec 6th knowing that I have to start my Optifast meals on Nov 22nd, two days before Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong I like Turkey Day or as my middle child calls it "The Holiday of Food" . To me the day is more about getting together with friends, besides I enjoy baking and cooking more then the consumption of the food.
Guess is just hit a nerve.
Oh and the verdict from the hospital: Blood work ok, chest x-ray clear, cat scan clear, echo clear. Possible gall bladder issue, gastric track need to be checked but since I am already scheduled for an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) on Dec 2nd as a pre-op procedure for my lap band. I was released and instructed to have follow ups with my primary doctor.
Like I said, not the way I wanted to spend 11/11/11.
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