No, seriously, Moe??
Moe’s been merrily posting in other forums. He ain’t dead.
Oops. Sorry if I alarmed anyone. This is certainly not the kind of thread I should be leaving hanging on a note like my last post.
I’m going to follow up with a visit to the doc today or tomorrow. Truth is I’m really not feeling right lately. I have no idea if any of my symptoms are related with others, but I’ve been getting bad stomach aches, sleeping very poorly (can’t sleep till like 3 or 4 and then I wake up spontaneously at 6 or 7 and can’t get back), and just feeling generally off.
I don’t think it’s an emergency situation which is why I’m not going back to the ER (unless of course my symptoms change), but it is something I feel I can’t ignore.
Incidentally when I was in the ER, one of the administrators mentioned something to me called “temporary medicaid” which would cover the visit (if I stayed) and is based solely on income. So I hope to find out more about that.
Anyway, a heartfelt thanks to all of you for your concern. I really do appreciate it.
better to feel a heartfelt thanks than a pain in my chest.
Disclaimer: the below opinion does not replace the need to see a doctor.
Sounds to me (based on your other symptoms) like your mixing a little depression and anxiety. Panic attacks often feel like heart attacks and the symptoms are very similar. I’ve read quite a bit (and don’t feel like pulling up sites) and several sites give the difference between panic attack chest pain and heart attack chest pain. They say heart attacks not only hurt but feel like someone is standing on your chest or squeezing really tightly. It’s a different type of pain then say a stabbing pain.
Also, in Texas, you can go to a county hospital and not worry about payment. They don’t send it to a credit agency if you can’t pay like a private hospital would. You may check to see if NY is the same.
Oh yeah, go to a doctor.
Moe, thromboses (heart attacks and strokes, depending on where the clot lodges) can mimic a large number of odd conditions. Your description sounds remarkably loke a combination of the two.
Emergency rooms have payment plans, and many hospitals have requirements where they write off emergency care for low-income people who cannot afford even minimal payments, as a part of their Federal or state reimbursement programs.
They will not be upset at your having chest or head pains checked out, even if it turns out to be your Mexican dinner or your sinus condition flaring up. And it’s quite unlikely they’ll pursue payments you are flat-out unable to make. Go get checked. Then talk to the business office about what the cost is and how it can be paid off.
Two horror stories – I drove over 1000 miles, smoking heavily, with my normal diet rich in high-fat foods – and began feeling acute pains in my right shoulder, which were “obviously” the result of the extensive driving. Twelve hours later they came back, and got worse, until it felt like an elephant wearing football cleats was tapdancing on my chest. Two hours after that I was in ICU, and three weeks later in bypass surgery.
My mother-in-law compained of a severe, stabbing headache, and took sinus medication for it.
That was the last thing she ever did. An hour later she died of cerebral hemorrhage.
Forgive my vulgarity and aggressiveness in GQ, but:
Get your ass to the ER. Now.
It may be nothing serious. But you may not have the time to find out whether it is or not.
Dead men have a really hard time carrying out their plans for the day’s activities.
Please.