I must be old, I went to a Cardiologist today

[Hugh R]

I'm 54.

A few months ago, I had heart burn and difficulty swallowing one morning while we were camping. I suspect the cigars and scotch the night before, but I digress. Wifey wants me to see a cardiologist, so I make an appointment for the next week March 5, I get there and they say no, it's May 5, I can't see him for two months! That's the earliest for an initial consult. I tell them "He11, I could be dead in two months!

Anyway, I see him today and it goes like this,

You could lose 10-15 lbs, yeah I know,
Do you smoke? Yeah, cigars a few times a week, You shouldn't do that, Yeah I know.
Do you drink, how much? about an 18 pack of Bud Light a week and a few scotches. You shouldn't do that, Yeah, I know,
How much red meat do you eat?..... Yeah, I know,

He examines me, checks heart, does EKG, says they look "OK". Wants to do some ultrasound or MRI or echo thing on my heart to check cavity size, detailed lipid, good bad cholesterol thing, (I'm on Lipitor and TriChlor now) stuff like that.

He says it's good to check this stuff know as a "baseline" and look for early problems, "especially at my age", as I said, I'm 54, he's like 40 or something.

So I guess you know when you're getting old when you have a Cardiologist. Heck, I remember just yesterday when I was doing my first engine pull on the DB4. Oh wait, that was 36 years ago. But it's gone anyway. Maybe I am getting old.....WTF.

[artplumber]

50's are when it starts to get exciting for men....

[island911]

getting old is what happens if your lucky. ...getting worn-out, well, that is something else. Take care of yourself, and hope for the best.

[kstar]

Cardiologists - everyone with a heart needs one!

[Rick Lee]

Isn't heartburn more a symptom of acid reflux and a greater cause for concern for throat cancer problems rather than heart problems? I've had acid reflux about three times in my life. Last time it was so bad I couldn't sleep. When I went to research it on the Internet that night, I learned that I had eaten and drunk just about every single thing that day on the list of things that cause acid reflux.

[Joeaksa]

Nexium changed my life. Had heartburn from my 20's until taking this medication.

[LakeCleElum]

We feel for you Hugh, BUT, getting old beats the other option!!!!!

[artplumber]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Isn't heartburn more a symptom of acid reflux and a greater cause for concern for throat cancer problems rather than heart problems? I've had acid reflux about three times in my life. Last time it was so bad I couldn't sleep. When I went to research it on the Internet that night, I learned that I had eaten and drunk just about every single thing that day on the list of things that cause acid reflux.

The symptoms, heartburn vs heart, are often confused.

[Evans, Marv]

Hey Hugh,
Don't feel too old until you start getting advertisements for long term care and from crematoriums. I've got a bunch of those lately. If you haven't started getting them yet, don't worry too much.

[m21sniper]

Look at the bright side Hugh. Today, you're even older than yesterday.

[Stutzdriver]

Keep up with the voluntary option of seeing the cardiologist! My introduction was in the ER at 39 after a full arrest (the result of a bad gene pool, my dad had 3 heart attacks by 36, the third was fatal). This was 13 years ago on the 22 of May and it will change your life, up to that point I NEVER excercised and only watched my diet a little bit. Now I amin the gym at least 3x a week and like fish more thn red meat (but a good steak is a real treat!).

Remember that (as my cardiologist says) anything in moderation except the tobacco products (something I never did).

[Rot 911]

I saw what the problem is right away. You are drinking Bud Light. What you need is some real beer!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by kstarnes

Cardiologists - everyone with a heart needs one!

Not me, with my history and habits, I won't ever need the services of a cardiologist.

Hugh, you are a grown up, which would you rather have, no more heartburn(sounds like reflux to me anyway) or scotch and cigars. Moderation, that is the answer if you ask me. It takes a long time to die of reflux, so they check the pump first due to symptom overlap.

You are a good age to get the educated finger up the poop chute soon, if not already.

[dhoward]

Originally Posted by Tobra

You are a good age to get the educated finger up the poop chute soon, if not already.

Nice talk.

I started doing the same thing the other day. I'm 49. Went to the doc for a sort of PPI. Don't know why. Just seemed like a good idea. Stopped smoking (Chantrix is the new penicillin), Took a stress test, blood work, etc. Turn out I'm not as bad off as I suspected I might be, based on my philosophy of being a good liver, rather than having one.

[Tobra]

What, naked chicks don't offend you but talking about a prostate exam does?

I guess that is pretty normal for a guy.

[dhoward]

It was probably the "poop chute".
Made me laugh out loud at work. People looked at me more funny than usual....

[kstar]

I liked the personification of the digit - "educated finger".

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

I saw what the problem is right away. You are drinking Bud Light. What you need is some real beer!

Brilliant!

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by kstarnes

I liked the personification of the digit - "educated finger".

I would hope if one digit is educated, his adjacent siblings are also well schooled.

Uh no, Doc. Don't put the idiot digit in there!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by kstarnes

I liked the personification of the digit - "educated finger".

you can tell a lot with an educated finger and a strong right arm