Brian's health update.

[Brian Boyko]

I had a massive attack last night with dizziness, nausea, chest tightness (not pain) shortness of breath, numbness in extremities, and it didn't go away after a few seconds.

I took my "not insured for another 48 hours" ass to Seton hospital.

My new roomate, Eryn, who I met on Craigslist and for whom this was her first day in the apartment, drove me because you should not drive when you are dizzy.

Here's the situation:

The doc said I wasn't having a heart attack, EKG and blood tests said I was fine. He did say to follow up with one of those long-term heart monitors (48 hours or so) once I got my insurance.

What worries me is that they took my blood pressure readings when I was first admitted - when I was having these dizzy spells.

I don't remember the second number, but the top number was 208. 208 over something equally large, I imagine. At rest.

I probably could have waited but with 208 blood pressure, can you blame me? I felt like this was "the big one."

Damn.

The doctor gave me some Xanax, which helped a little bit, I took a taxi home (5 bucks, 7 with tip,) and I sent an email to my boss (don't have her number) telling her exactly what happened. She said to take the day off, which was kinda academic considering I slept-through the alarm (hell, haven't had any sleep, thought I was dying, not released from the hospital until 5:30, and the alarm's set for 6:30 AND I'm on tranquilizers? The only effect that the alarm clock had on me was that I dreamed about squeaking robots.

I'm going into work now, and going to try to put in a half day or just work my ass off until 9pm or something.

Still going to a follow up appointment on Wednesday.