My evening turned out to be very sweet, eating Round House Cafe pizza with Maria, reading the new biography of Ulysses S. Grant in the living room, Red dozing at my feet. I almost spent the evening in the emergency room.

This morning, walking in the woods, I felt a tightness in my chest walking up a hill. I felt a bit off. It could be a number of things – cold, medications, inflammation, or it could be nothing.

There was no pain, or sweating, or any other symptoms of heart trouble, no gasping for breath or other troubles. It bothered me a bit, and I talked to a friend who said I needed to call the cardiologist and report it, just to make sure. I needed a bit of a push, as men often do, we love to think we are immortal and indestructible, that idea nearly cost me my life.

I called and was referred to a nurse who told me to go immediately to the emergency room.

I pushed back a bit. I told her my symptoms and said I felt very strong, I wondered if I couldn’t just come in for some tests. There are all sorts of possibilities with chest discomfort – open heart surgery, stents, medication, exercise,  rehab and physical therapy, or none of the above.

I reminded the nurse that I had a full annual heart check just a couple of months ago and was doing very well.

She said men often didn’t want to go to the emergency room, but often ended up needing some attention when they did. I am sure this is true, I was one of those men, and I learned my lesson.

Still,  listening to my body, as I am learning to do, I said I would do whatever she said but hoped they would consider something less intense at first. I was never in any real pain, the discomfort came from walking up a long and mildly step incline. My appetite was good, heard was clear.

I said I remember how I felt before I needed the surgery, and I felt nothing like that now.

I felt very strong all day (and every day)  and the nurse – after asking me many questions – said she’d talk to the doctor and get back to me. She did shortly, and, to my relief, he said I didn’t need to go to the emergency room (unless things got suddenly worse) but I do have to come into his office Monday for some stress and other tests, and the following week I have to have a nuclear heart scan at a local hospital.

Two hours one morning, two hours the next. I won’t miss any work and don’t need to sleep anywhere but home.

Maria and I went for a good long walk this afternoon up that same hill and I felt fine, and I could never have taken that walk before my surgery.

So off we go, another adventure into health and consciousness.

Might be something minor, nothing at all, or something that needs attention. The doctor wants to be sure, and so do I. A good and fair compromise, I didn’t feel easy about the emergency room, and I’m glad we got to talk about it. If he was wasn’t comfortable about it now, I’d be writing this from the emergency room. He is not into risk.

I am feeling strong and healthy these days, I am open to whatever is found and recommended. My suspicion is that this is nothing major, but I will be open about it, of course. In the meantime, I can write up a storm, walk as often as I wish, hang out with the animals,  take photos and hang out with my wife.

A good life, and so much better than an emergency room.