Hope all is well--sending good vibes to Ben and AVE.

[birdbrains]

More than just the best juice around, the great service and the only place that writes "You Rock!" on every package, AVE always seems to really care about incredible service, communication with their customer and what goes into their product.

When I just saw the message on the website my heart sank a bit--I hate to see bad circumstances fall on good people. Best wishes to Ben and his family, hope it's nothing serious and you've got a whole community pulling for you!

 

[ben62884]

My thoughts and prayers go out to them as well. Hope it is nothing serious!

 

[Porphy]

I'll take the prayers as "well wishes" I'm an Atheist, and if I'm to believe my former pastor, prayers will bounce off of me now, LOL.

Thanks for the kind thoughts. I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm technically fine. My heart, according to the cardiologist is "gorgeous" no calcification, or disease. My lungs are clean and clear, and everything has been dyed and shown no-clogs.

So, what makes an EKG say you're having a heart attack without the usual culprits? Stress and anxiety.

I'm 34 yo. 6ft 1 in., and 250 pounds. I'm not in the best shape but as check ups go I get rave reviews. Please, if you swallow stress like I do, stop. Find an alternative. If you haven't had a heart attack I can now full-heartedly (pun!) say it is not a desirable experience. I was under the assumption that you had to have other factors present to have a heart attack (cholesterol, high BP, calcification, disease, etc.) but you don't.

I want to take this time to thank my cardiologist for spending a good portion of his life making a difference. I'd also like to thank each and every staffer at the hospital. They were my pit-crew through it all and the professionalism, care, and genuine compassion displayed by them all was enriching and made me feel safe during a scarey time. Lastly, I'd like to thank two things: Time, for being at the right point in time in my life that I can have a serious malady and go to a hospital to get taken care of. Finally, science, for being awesome and improving our lives (and keeping us alive), and all of the medical equipment that was brought to us by science.

So for those of you who still don't know what I look like, here's me at my best/worst

 

[Killjoy1]

Glad to hear you're doing okay, man

 

[tazz]

Hey I know how you feel, been there done that. Stress will get ya every time. I'm 6'1", used to be 6'2" them blown out disks will do that, 49 years old and 255lbs down from 270lbs. Though I was having heart attack a few years back and the hospital I was at took real good care of me too. Although they never figured out what was going on they said it was most likely stress. I now try to find a stress free place at times during the day, could be just going for a walk, surfing on the net or whatever. Just try to find that place and slow down. The one thing I learned is don't let the little things get to you or build up another thing is get plenty of rest, you'd be surprised at what a good nites sleep will do for you. I'll send plenty of "well wishes" your way, get well soon

Dan

 

[mwa102464]

Get healthy quick Ben, hope your feeling ok

 

[Adarack]

Wow Ben... Glad your ok.

 

[CDATundra]

I wish you the very best, Ben!!!!

 

[karmakatie]

Ben, I want to wish you a speedy recovery!! Stress is a wicked SOB and will get ya every time. I had an incident very simular recently and it scared the hell out of me, but after it was done it really made me put things in perspective and realize I can only do so much. I know you have had to be dealing with some serious stuff with the move and trying to get going again, I feel for you.

I hope folks understand there are real human beings on the other side of these key boards and monitors and act accordingly.

 

[jifjifjif]

Man, i sincerely hope that you are in and out quickly and feel confident in your body when you go home. Plenty of well wishes and sunshine coming your way from Florida.

As my Jamaican friend says, "Take it light"

I live by this philosophy myself.

 

[andyman97]

I always wondered what a storm trooper looked like without a helmet.

Thanks for checking in, Ben. I hope you bounce back quickly. You're right, don't swallow the stress, get it out somehow, take some time off! Get better, my friend.

 

[gordong11]

Wishing Ben the best!!! It can be difficult dealing with this unruly lot. All the best

 

[cos]

Heres hoping for a speedy recovery Ben.
As Elaine said on a Seinfeld episode " Get well Get well soon We want you to get well " Hope this gave you a little laugh Ben seriously hope you get back to normal and in good health.

Cos

 

[Chelseafn]

Good to hear Ben. Godspeed! Had to throw that in there! Get some rest.

 

[JollyRogers]

"YOU ROCK!" Ben, Get well and enjoy some peace time

 

[CoastalFog]

Hi Ben.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and I hope you take heed to your own advice. Rest up and relax!

 

[Levitas]

Heya Ben

What did they end up diagnosing you with? Did they give you something for the stress? Dude, since I've started nursing school a year and a half ago, I have developed many gray hairs, lol. Mix it in with work, and my son, who is also in school, and I'll be completely gray before I turn 30

What haven't I gone insane yet? Video games. They are my release, the time when I don't have to focus on stressors like school and work, and just relax. I hope that you have, or find something like this to help you out. I wish you and yours the best, much love.

 

[vsummer1]

PM sent Ben. Please take a look, I am an CCU RN right here in your city.

 

[Porphy]

What did they end up diagnosing you with? Did they give you something for the stress?

It's odd and I still don't fully understand, but the angina is lessening by the day and the "bruising" inside feels like it is fading. This is how it unfolded from the ER: Abnormal S->T. EKG showed heart attack conditions. Pit crew (I called them my pit crew much to their enjoyment) called in and many needles/shaving/etc. occurred, Angio (wrist cath) shows no cholesterol/clogging/calcification(hardening). Blood work: came back normal at first, a few labs later low potassium, linked with anxiety and stress. My cardiologist has me on Prevastatin, Aspirin (of course), Buspirone(Buspar?) along with other anti-anxiety recommendations.

PM sent Ben. Please take a look, I am an CCU RN right here in your city.

Will do/Have done. Ever been to GBG on the BLVD? The wife and I love it there, great place to eat!

EDIT: @ Levitas - Personally for the stress I'm lowering my nicotine by half, more if successful. Trying to slowly re-engage in my normal activity level (recovery) then trying to bump it up a notch. Today I'm restocking the fridge with heart centric snacks and meals. Christy has assured me I'm forever under her unerring gaze and that I will be punished for food infractions.

 

[Levitas]

Right on, Ben. It does me good to hear that you're taking appropriate measures to correct this scare at hand. Too many pass it off once they hear that it's not a true MI.

They got you on a LDL reducer, anti-platelet aggregating med, and an anti-anxiety, excellent. I figured they would have given you something for the angina? Nitro? You can take some L-Arginine as well, found at any pharmacy. I take it for angina, and it works very well, for me at least.

Good on Christy, and glad you're okay. Take care, man.