Going for stress test tomorrow/quitting cigs - Jim

[Guest guest]

Jim,

I'm sure you did just fine on the stress test. My dad's had two heart

attacks and now has a pacemaker. So the red flags went up when I had

my DKA and had some irregular heart rthyums. They had me on a heart

monitor the whole time I was in the hospital, and I had to go in for

a stress test two weeks later at the cardiologists. Even in recovery

from the DKA and burn-out, with a skeletal 104 pounds covering my

5'-8 " frame, I aced the stress test. After going into a near run on

the treadmill for 10 minutes, (without complaints), they pulled me

off it, had me lay down and showed me all the pics of my heart, it

was working just fine, a good steady beat with quick stabilization to

normal, etc. I was so relieved!! The cardiologist acted a bit

stunned that I could do so well, and said, " Gee, you must have been

really athletic before you got sick " . No foolin'!!

Since I'm diabetic and I also smoke, the heart issue is one I need to

keep on top of. My smoking is the only vice that I haven't been able

to kick successfully. Having an entire family of smokers around me,

where every single one of them smokes, (except Austin, of course),

doesn't help. I'm thinking of suggesting to them all that we ALL quit

together at Christmas, as a gift to each other and ourselves.

If you can do this, you're a much better person than me....and I wish

you all success with your quitting. You're young enough that it can

make a big difference for you and you'll never regret it. Best of luck!!

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi, I had a bad night and got only a few hours of sleep due to

massive pain. By the time I got ahead of the pain, there was no way to

drive for the stress test. I have to call tomorrow and reschedule for

another day. Thank you for the encouraging words about quitting

cigarrettes. I think the key is visualization, you have to be able to

see yourself as a non-smoker. I've been smoking for 27 years and I can

finally see myself putting them down forever. I need all the prayers I

can get for this one....hope you are well...Jim