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Don’t Wear Skinny Jeans and Other Lessons From the ER

November 7, 2017 By: Miranda30 Comments

Don't Wear Skinny Jeans and Other Lessons from the ERLife is tough!  It can knock you down with little or no warning.  But even on those days that are hard there are moments that cause you to pause and smile and maybe even have a good chuckle later.  So today, we are going to look at some deep wisdom (sarcasm) that I have learned from my trips to the ER.  This past year, has been one of the toughest years physically so I want to celebrate a little having made it through the year.  I am celebrating my SCADanniversary (1 year from my last SCAD heart attack)!  Don’t Wear Skinny Jeans and Other Lessons From the ER is my hurrah for those of us who are learning to survive and thrive despite some medical challenges!  

Note this post contains affiliate links.  Read my disclosures here.

Don’t Wear Skinny Jeans and Other Lessons from the ER

Ice Cream Really Does Make it All Better

With my first heart attack, I had an initial episode of chest pain that lasted about 15-20 minutes.  It abated, and I went on my way.  Four days later, I was with my sister-in-law, Kelly, and our kids at a water park.  After hanging out on the monkey bars (which I don’t advise when you are in the middle of a medical crisis) , I started feeling extremely odd.  I had been feeling so sluggish and out of breath trying to climb stairs up to the water slides, but now my arms felt as if they weighed a million pounds.

Want a great year with your tweens and teens? Grab your FREE printable school contract for teens here? Also receive access to the FREE Summer Contract for Teens! 

I decided to go hang out in the kiddie area where the pool was slightly heated.  On my way, I passed the snack shack.  I had seen someone walk by with this huge blue soft serve ice cream cone.  Naturally, I felt like ice cream would make me better.  So after purchasing my extremely large ice cream cone I continued on to hang out in the relaxing warm water.

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The ice cream was truly tasty (and actually a bargain by amusement park standards:), and I felt slightly better.  I told my sister-in-law that I felt odd and that my chest was hurting again.  However, since I seemed to be no worse I decided to let the kids continue to play.  And since, as my sister-in-law likes to point out, “You were well enough to eat a huge ice cream cone”, neither of us suspected I needed to be at the hospital!

Don’t eat the PeptoDon't Wear Skinny Jeans and Other Lessons from the ER

By evening that night, I was exhausted and in constant pain.  I took some ibuprofen and decided to try pepto as the chest pain reminded me of the indigestion discomfort I had when I was pregnant.  The following day, I took another one.

After I ended up in the ER later that morning, they started pumping me full of nitroglycerin (a drug which dilates your blood vessels) before I could even finish saying “chest pain.”  Well, I am not sure which caused me to start throwing up but between the nitroglycerin and the crushing chest pain I was sick.

Later, I was in the bathroom, and I suddenly saw that my tongue was BLACK!  Not like sort of darkened but like black, black.  My first thought was that something more than a heart attack was wrong with me, like seriously wrong!!  Fortunately, a nurse overheard me telling my mom and she asked me if I had taken any pepto.  I responded that, “yes” I had, and she kindly informed me that pepto + getting sick = a black tongue.  Relief!

Don’t Wear Your Skinny Jeans

Flash forward 7 years and I was home with my daughter.  I had a strong crushing pain in my chest, while sitting at my desk, which instantly went away.  I was used to odd chest pains, but since this one felt stronger than normal I decided to lay down immediately and take a nitroglycerin.  The pain came back a couple of minutes later and it brought some friends.  I knew I was in trouble cause it only comes on that instantly and intensely when I’m having a heart attack.

Two more nitroglycerin and I decided I better call for help.  Now, I have to stop and tell you that my brain on a good day struggles to think clearly under pressure.  Add in oxygen deprivation and let’s just say you don’t want me making any decisions on your behalf.

KNOW THE SIGNS! READ MORE ABOUT MY HEART ATTACK STORY HERE!

After I decided it was best to call an ambulance, I realized that I had on my nice new “Soul Sister” shirt that I had just been given since I was a speaker at the women’s conference.  I started worrying about my new shirt getting messed up so I told my daughter to help me change.  We managed that, and then I realized I had on my impractical skinny jeans.

You know that one pair of skinny jeans that you have to shimmy to get into and out of them?

Well, this will never do I thought.  So I again asked my daughter to help me change.  I’m saying this as I can hardly speak from the pain I was experiencing.  My daughter looked at me incredulously and tried to help.  “Mom, you have got to help some,” she told me as I lay like a sack of potatoes, struggling to shimmy or move at all.  I was no help whatsoever so I was stuck in those jeans.

And wouldn’t you know, I wore those jeans for 3 days.  I kept insisting I was going home any minute, so while I had to wear my hospital gown, I kept on those skinny jeans to feel less “ill.”  By time I made it home, I didn’t want to see those skinny jeans for weeks!

responsible and resilient teens

Third Heart Cath is NOT Free

They should run sales in hospitals, right?  I mean if you have to go, you should be able to look back and say, “Yeah, I nailed it!  I arrived right when they were having a two for one special!”

As I was being wheeled into the heart catheterization lab for the 3rd time in my life, I asked them if the 3rd one was free.  The nurses just looked back at me deadpan.  No sense of humor! Or perhaps they had heard that one before?!  Oh well, it never hurts to ask is what my Dad always taught me. Don't Wear Skinny Jeans and Other Lessons from the ER

Don’t Forget the Goo Gone!

The military and NASA have nothing on whatever the secret potion that hospitals use to get those stickers to stick on you that they use for the heart monitor.  The EKG stickers are fine.  But the ones they use for the heart monitor you have to wear in hospitals are NOT coming off.  And don’t let the nurses take them off!  YIKES!  Talk about pain! Go home and soak in the shower and use some Goo Gone.

Bring Your Family and Friends

Wherever your journey is taking you right now, don’t forget you need supportive family and friends! Sometimes we have things that are a part of our life that are just tough.  I am so thankful that I have my faith in God, a super supportive family and a great group of friends.

But this past year no matter how you look at it has been hard.  It was physically hard on me and emotionally challenging for myself and my family.

Sometimes you just have to hang on to get through the day and have hope that tomorrow will be better.  And if you can’t find that hope ask someone to hope for you.  There are days it can be hard believing that you will ever feel better or “normal” again.

And If that person is you, I hope that this post, Don’t Wear Skinny Jeans and Other Lessons from the ER, made you laugh for a minute and believe that you are going to make it through today.  You are not going to feel this overwhelmed forever!  Believe that!

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One of My Favorite Things

One more thing I would love to share with you!  Other than my family, participating in ecourses and challenges has been super helpful to me this year!  I find it so much easier to get out of bed when I have something fun to look forward to doing:)

In January, I signed up for Money Saving Mom’s 15 Days to a Healthier You as a way to make myself focus on positive movements forward, even if they were small.

I LOVED the course!  There were videos to watch, journal prompts to help you reflect and the encouraging support of the Facebook community and Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom.  This holistic course covers so many topics, at an awesome price.

I wanted to share with everyone I knew, but the course was not ever offered again:(

And then, I learned that Crystal was offering her Make Over Your Mornings Course!

I couldn’t wait to share with you all!!

Here are a few more details:

When you purchase the Make-Over Your Mornings Course, you’ll get immediate access to …

  • 14 daily videos lessons — one for each day of the course.
  • Daily projects to help you on your own journey to live a healthier life.
  • Some favorite recommended resources (links, books, podcasts) to go along with each day’s lesson.
  • A PDF workbook including the entire course lessons that you can download and print.

Streamline your mornings and learn how to make realistic goals!  Get the help you need to create a doable schedule that will help you be less stressed and still get more done!!

You are going to LOVE this course.  Get started HERE this week so you don’t miss out on the phenomenal price of only $17!!

Alright!  So now that I have shared some crazy stories, any you need to share?  Well, don’t be shy!  Share below! Oh and don’t forget to PIN and Share!

Don't Wear Skinny Jeans and Other Lessons from the ER

KNOW THE SIGNS! READ MORE ABOUT MY 3 HEART ATTACK & FINDING A DIAGNOSIS HERE!

 

 

 

Comments

  1. 1

    Kim says

    November 7, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    I’m so sorry that you had a heart attack, but the image of you in a hospital gown and skinny jeans is cracking me up! I had an allergic response while attending a gala and my husband had to take me to the ER. He and a nurse (also a man) had to get me out of an evening gown while I giggled and slithered around. He said it was like wrestling an eel! Sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh!

    Reply
    • 2

      Miranda says

      November 7, 2017 at 5:23 pm

      Oh my goodness Kim! I’m sure that is not what you thought you would be doing when you purchased your dress!! Ha!! Yes, you are right. Sometimes you just have to laugh:)

      Reply
  2. 3

    EVA | hAPPY BLOGGING MOM says

    November 7, 2017 at 10:45 pm

    OOO…wow! What a story!
    That sounds scary!
    Glad you are healthy now! 😉

    Reply
    • 4

      Miranda says

      November 7, 2017 at 11:10 pm

      Hi Eva,
      Yes, I’m glad to be feeling much stronger. Thanks for reading.

      Reply
  3. 5

    Liz says

    November 7, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    I’ve always said you either laugh or you cry, and I would rather laugh. While this helps with perspective sometimes, it also means I sometimes laugh at really inappropriate things…. 🙂
    I really love this post. Happy Anniversary! Hope this next year is better for you!

    Reply
    • 6

      Miranda says

      November 8, 2017 at 12:05 am

      Liz,

      Yes, I do enjoy a good laugh:) Thank you for your wishes of a better year!

      Reply
  4. 7

    Jess says

    November 8, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    Hey, I love your blog! Why don’t you do a vlog on YouTube?

    Reply
    • 8

      Miranda says

      November 8, 2017 at 3:56 pm

      Hi Jess,

      Aww thanks! A Vlog? One of my boys has been mentioning that too:) HA! Sounds interesting.

      Reply
  5. 9

    Shelley Lewis says

    November 8, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    Miranda, thanks for the laugh this morning! I’d like to add this: don’t wear a brand new, never -before-worn- until -this -day bra that cost $65 to the ER while having a heart attack. That thing will definitely come home in two pieces. Ask me how I know ??.
    Here’s to a great 2018 for all of us! ❤️

    Reply
    • 10

      Miranda says

      November 8, 2017 at 3:57 pm

      Shelley,

      Oh No!! That is a true tragedy! Underwear is too expensive to only be worn once:) I’m just glad you came home in one piece;)!! Thanks for sharing…you made me smile!

      Reply
  6. 11

    Stephanie says

    November 10, 2017 at 1:50 am

    This made my day. I went to ER today, as a matter of fact, due to complications from a Cath. I’m ready to feel bullet proof again! Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone!

    Reply
    • 12

      Miranda says

      November 10, 2017 at 12:39 pm

      Stephanie,

      Thank you! Yes, I hear ya! It can be hard both physically and mentally. I’m glad I was able to give you a little hope for today because you are definitely not alone!!

      Reply
  7. 13

    Heather BeE says

    November 10, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Had to come back and read this a third time:) I love how you took a super difficult year and wrote a humorous(sarcastic) post about it! I’ve always been impressed with how you turn these times into a chance to grow stronger with God being in control. I’ll remember to avoid skinny jeans and pepto and enjoy big ice cream cones… And you must get me your photographer’s name!

    Reply
    • 14

      Miranda says

      November 10, 2017 at 12:36 pm

      Only a true friend could you ask to take your picture (lots of pictures) in front of an emergency sign and she say, “Oh yeah, this is going to be fun!” Thank you for all your support this past year, including photography, and for helping me laugh! And for all the cute cat pics:)

      Reply
  8. 15

    Lisa Kaiser says

    November 11, 2017 at 12:42 am

    Oh my goodness, Miranda! Love your blog! Many great laughs and it hits home with me having had a SCAD heart attack 1 1/2 years ago, then, a stroke 9 months ago, and now heart surgery…I always look for the funny too, even during these times.. Life’s just too short not to find some humor. I think we’d get along just great! Best wishes for a better 2018!! 🙂

    Reply
    • 16

      Miranda says

      November 13, 2017 at 12:25 pm

      Hi Lisa,
      Awww thank you! It sounds like you have had a very challenging 2 years. I’m so glad you are still looking for the humor in life. Take care of yourself as you continue to heal and look for solutions and balance as a SCAD and stroke survivor!

      Reply
      • 17

        Lisa kaiser says

        November 8, 2018 at 1:36 pm

        Happy 2nd SCADiversary, Miranda! So glad you’ve had a less eventful year! I enjoyed rereading your blog! Thanks SCAD-sister! ❤️

        Reply
        • 18

          Miranda says

          November 8, 2018 at 10:37 pm

          Thanks so much Lisa! Hope that this past year has been a better year for you too!

          Reply
  9. 19

    Yoanna says

    November 23, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    What a story! But I like your attitude to problem. You are a very positive person. I like this 🙂 🙂
    Regarding the skinny jeans – I don’t think they are good for the health, you know the tight waist and tight legs, they affect the blood circulation. I used to wear so tight jeans that at the end of the day I had terrible tummy aches. So be careful with the size and model and…. STAY POSITIVE 🙂

    Reply
    • 20

      Miranda says

      November 24, 2017 at 3:10 pm

      Hi Yoanna,

      So glad you enjoyed the post! Thanks for the encouragement!

      Reply
  10. 21

    Lisa kaiser says

    November 8, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    Happy 2nd SCADiversary, Miranda! So glad you’ve had a less eventful year! I enjoyed rereading your blog! Thanks SCAD-sister! ❤️

    Reply
  11. 22

    AnnaMarie says

    November 8, 2018 at 1:54 pm

    Oh my goodness, such perfect timing!! Just spent five hours in the ER! I’m four months and a total of 16 days in the hospital since my first of three SCADs. This trip took me 24 hours to decide – do I go in?? Do I wait it out?? Finally took the nitro and ended up going in. Once there both my daughter and I said that I need to dress more prepared when going to the ER! Loose clothing – easier for ekg and lab work. Your tips were just so perfect and really made me smile. Luckily, I was able to convince the docs to send me home. They wanted to keep me for observation, but I’m literally 4 minutes from the hospital and my daughter is with me, so I’m in my own bed laughing at your tips. Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • 23

      Miranda says

      November 8, 2018 at 10:42 pm

      Anne-Marie I am glad that you are home and comfortable. That would be so rough to have had the SCADs close together like you have had. So glad you have the support of your daughter! And yes, I think we need some comfy but pretty SCAD ER clothes if we have to go to the ER, right:)?

      Reply
  12. 24

    Deneen says

    November 8, 2018 at 5:03 pm

    Such a great post Miranda. Next time use vegetable oil to get the sticky stuff off. It also works for oil based paints, and I have even used it to get pitch off of lumber, and it’s super easy on your skin! Congrats on your anniversary. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • 25

      Miranda says

      November 8, 2018 at 10:43 pm

      Now why hasn’t anyone told me this before? Thanks Deneen!:)

      Reply

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I'm Miranda. Educator, Speaker and Vibrant Life Mentor. A city girl married to a country boy! At The Reluctant Cowgirl, I share personal growth and parenting advice for busy moms of tweens and teens! Learn ways to care for yourself and cultivate an amazing family life! Welcome to Your Vibrant Life!

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