Got my brain probed

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
06/26/2020 at 12:08 • Filed to: TMI with HHFP

Well, not literally, but it sure felt like it. Had my COVID-19 test done this morning. I’ve been having issues this week but they are starting to improve. I don’t think its COVID but I was recommended to be tested because I’m in regular contact with healthcare leaders.

Man that “swab” sucks. They jam it WAAAAY up the nose and rotate it. I’m pretty sure they will know what I’ve been thinking about lately. Hope they like HAM radio info.

The line was also mighty, but it was still way shorter than yesterday when I initially went.

On the plus side, I wasn’t having heart attacks like I felt like this weekend.

I woke up Sunday morning early with a strong pain in my chest and left arm, flush skin, lightheadedness and difficulty breathing. I got my wife up because I was trying to figure out if I needed emergency service. It was a long debate because I was about an hour away from a hospital that was on the other side of a mountain and we didn’t know what we would have done with the kids had I needed to call an ambulance. In the end I waited, we left the next day and despite having one more instance as we went up over the mountain we didn’t stop at the hospital and made it all the way home before I got checked out at the instacare. They did an EKG and determined that no, I wasn’t dying but that it was probable a severe case of acid reflux that caused inflammation in the lungs. I have reflux issues and we had 2 spicy meals in a row. That accounted for the flush, lightheadedness and difficulty breathing and this probably accounted for the sore left arm

I got both my girls up with me on the surfboard and since im left foot forward the left arm got a workout.

Since then I had a bad sinus headache and some lingering breathing problems so I called on it and the doc and I concluded that it was likely a sinus infection. huh. Could be from the water as it was 59 degrees and might have clogged up my sinuses even though the water is very clean.

Long story short: Lots of minor health issues this week that combined to feel bigger than they probably are that resulted in my brain being stabbed by a woman in a scary looking outfit.

Oh I forgot to mention that the instant they recommended a test the wheels were set in motion such that I can’t return to work next week without a negative test and a clear bill of health from the health nurse, in addition they automatically sent an email to my boss letting them know. So...yeah. Im pretty sure I will be able to get cleared but if not then I’ve got all next week free, even if I am negative.

DISCUSSION (23)

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 12:25

yea, i had that test done last weekend too. If it wasnt for my wreck, it would certianly be in the top 5 least pleasant experiences i’ve had.

HammerheadFistpunch > bob and john
06/26/2020 at 12:26

I was prepared for it to suck, since I’ve filmed people having it done...but was not fully prepared.

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 12:28

It honestly wasnt that bad for me, but I’ve also had a bee get rammed up my nose at like mach 2 on a bike once.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 12:29

As I get older I miss the true iron stomach of my teenage years where I could down a whole large pizza and feel fine.

Glad to hear you're okay, though! Hopefully the test will be negative and you can enjoy some time off (provided that it doesn't put you in the shit financially).

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 12:34

I got tested a couple weeks ago. No symptoms, but was offered and “recommend” for some of us essential, essential government employees. It was deeply unpleasant for 20 seconds, but it was only 20 seconds of brain pokeage. Not fun, but not as bad as I thought.

HammerheadFistpunch > gin-san - shitpost specialist
06/26/2020 at 12:36

I’ll be fine and since Im in healthcare I can get paid the whole week im out without taking PTO

HammerheadFistpunch > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
06/26/2020 at 12:36

yeah it was over pretty quickly, but not fun for those seconds.

Tripper > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 12:45

Booya! Wake surfing is so fun!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 12:49

Glad you were OK and it was nothing major...here’s hoping you don’t test for COVID...

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 12:50

i tried getting tested earlier this week but got told to not bother them unless im medical staff

seems testing for everyone isnt quite as all inclusive as the commercials make it sound here (mild symptoms? stay home and get tested! only together can we beat communism corona! )

welp..anyhoo im pretty sure im fine...hayfever meds did the trick

user314 > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 13:02

They jam it WAAAAY up the nose and rotate it. I’m pretty sure they will know what I’ve been thinking about lately.

So basically this

Just less pleasant .

They did an EKG and determined that no, I wasn’t dying but that it was probable a severe case of acid reflux that caused inflammation in the lungs.

You too?! I’ve had that more times than I care to count in the last 20 years. Even knowing I have GERD, the reflux is still enough to further trigger a panic/anxiety attack (which only reinforces the heart attack-like symptoms.

Still, glad to hear you’re okay. That’s a 12 car pile-up of issues for one week.

HammerheadFistpunch > Tripper
06/26/2020 at 13:05

it is. I tried some new weighting in the bow that helped but it works a lot better with another family or two in the boat...which isn’t happening for a while. Even with the big 750 lbs bags full and the 300 lbs in the bow AND the switchblade pulling the boat down to the tune of another 1000 lbs or so...it still wasn’t as strong as it is with more folks in the boat.

HammerheadFistpunch > user314
06/26/2020 at 13:06

Yeah, the panic attack was real when combined with the searing arm pain and the fact that I knew I was far from medical care. I don’t think it helped at all.

ttyymmnn > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 13:12

I’ve been tested twice (both negative). The first time was a healthcare provider, since I was going to have an endoscopy. That test wasn’t bad at all. The second time was at a free city drive through. That one was much more invasive, as they jammed and twisted five times into my brain. I have a feeling that the second one was probably more effective than the first.

As for your chest pains, I would strongly suggest following up on that with hour PCP. I’ve been fighting reflux issues for years, and found out a couple of years ago that I have a hiatal hernia. So silent reflux is very much a thing, and yes, it did affect my breathing. More of a constant tightness, and I’ve never been told that I got acid in a lung. But I’ve never had arm pain with it. Might be a good idea to keep an eye on your BP, too (which reminds me, I haven’t taken mine in a few days). My PCP put me on omeprazole, but I didn’t like it and it didn’t like me, so the gastro who did my endoscopy put me on pantoprazole, which seems to work significantly better for me. Since starting it, my breathing issues have all but gone away.

Take care of ourself, and please get a follow up on that chest pain. As my doctor said once, “Heart disease is the number one killer of men your age, which is why I’m so bitchy about it.”

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn
06/26/2020 at 13:19

I just had my annual and my bp is okay. I’d like to have my acid reflux looked at because it’s an on and off nuance.

I have omeprizol but don’t take it regularly since it’s been linked to long term memory loss. I’m on a course of it right now but I’ll stop in a week and treat as needed with the otc stuff.

Spaceball-Two > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 13:19

I had the same issues a few weeks ago. Went to my doctor and he put me on Prilosec for a month. He also recommended two shots of Flonase before bed to open everything up.

ttyymmnn > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 13:21

My gastro was very emphatic that long term use of PPIs is not a problem. I’m taking him at his word on that.

HammerheadFistpunch > Spaceball-Two
06/26/2020 at 13:21

I’m on plenty of allergy meds (for allergies) but I can't do nasal steroids. They consistently cause bleeding issues. I'm more or less managed these days. What I need to do is just drink less soda... Which I'm working on

3point8isgreat > bob and john
06/26/2020 at 13:22

I would like to imagine that it’s the bee that was traveling at supersonic speeds . Screw murder hornets, supersonic bees are way cooler.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 13:35

I used to drink several C okes a day, every day. I cut way back, like maybe one a week at most , and I generally feel much better and have lost some weight. For me the trick was finding a tasty substitute, and not diet soda, I’ve read some studies on that stuff and it’s as bad or worse for you. The sugar substitutes do weird things to your metabolism and body. Green tea with honey is my go to now, as long as it’s natural so it doesn’t have lots of sugar in it. That or just plain water. I used to never like it, thought it tasted “boring”, but now I don’t care, I guess, and I drink a lot of water ever yday. I honestly think the trick was weening myself off of soda.

HammerheadFistpunch > Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/26/2020 at 13:44

Im trying to cut back to a single a day, which is usually my diet Mt. Dew with OJ in the morning. I was starting to get to the point of drinking several cans of whatever a day. That’s not good for anyone.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 14:15

T ake it one step at a time, getting down to one a day from several a day would be great!

DipodomysDeserti > HammerheadFistpunch
06/26/2020 at 14:31

I had similar symptoms last month. Thought I was having panic attacks. I also lost almost twenty lbs. Had to take a final while feeling like my head and heart were going to explode through my body. Monitored my BP for a week and it was through the roof. Had blood work done and my TSH was super low. My naturopath gave me some herbal stuff for sleep and anxiety as well as thyroid and cholesterol support. I also stopped drinking. Haven’t had any issues since. I go back for another blood draw in a few weeks.

I love drinking green tea with honey and ice, but I’m pretty sensitive to caffeine, and for some reason green tea messes me up. Makes me feel like I’ve smoked multiple cigars.