I'm also far more overweight than I'd like to be - more than I have been before, other than a few weeks ago before I started dieting, which I'm not really doing right now because it's too hard with the moving and the not cooking, etc. But I decided I would get jeans that fit me now rather than wait to lose weight, and my office mate said she'd tried on low-rise jeans and they made her stomach flatter, so I thought I'd give 'em a try. DH likes 'em. I don't know when I'll feel comfortable wearing them without an untucked shirt over them.

Oh, Susan, ow! Heat pack, maybe?

Timelies. I have good news.

This is the tale of my father and the medical community.

He didn't like his doctor because he didn't feel the doctor did what ought to be done when he went last time complaining of some oddity, and so didn't want to go again for a check-up, despite some worrisome symptoms. Mom finally threatened to make the appt. and take him herself if she had to hog-tie him, so he made an appt. for Wed. On Wed., his EKG was good, his cholesterol level was stellar and he was scheduled for a stress test.

On Thursday he went and planted things in his garden all morning. When he and mom got too hot, they went inside and he drank some lemonade. He got terrible indigestion, but the pain wouldn't go away. Mom convinced him to go to the hospital in case the pain was something more important than indigestion. Half way there, he talked her into stopping at the doctor's office instead, so he could show the doctor just what those pesky symptoms he'd been having were like now that he was having them.

Of course, the doctor told him they were classic heart attack symptoms and he needed to get to the hospital. Of course, he argued with the doctor and said it would pass, he just wanted to figure out why he gets such bad indigestion. Between mom and the doctor (and taking into account the fact that mom was driving), they convinced him to go to the hospital where they'd just figure out what was going on.

He was having a heart attack, as we now know. He argued with the nurse when she tried to give him nitro. But, again, mom prevailed, and then they took him in for some exploratory surgery, discovered that his left artery was almost completely stopped up and put in a stent. The stent wasn't working properly when they left it, so they had to re-evaluate it this morning. This morning it's working just fine. The plan now is to move him to a regular room tonight, keep him one more night for observation, get him to promise to be careful and see his doctor for follow-up and send him home tomorrow. Mom said it's a good thing she talked him into going yesterday or it would have been massive and could have killed him. There's some damage, don't know how much yet or what it all means to his life and lifestyle, but for now, he's going to be just fine.

Thank you guys, so much, for the ~ma and the love. I know it helped. It certainly helped me a lot.

I'm also too fat to be happy with any of my clothing that normally would be right to me

Oh, me too. And it's spring, so there's so much more *me* showing. I realized my jeans were tight the other day, too, and they weren't a month ago. But I am a major comfort eater (and shouldn't be because, hey, diabetic) and when I'm stressed (like now, with money issues and a book deadline), I find myself eating every time I turn around. It doesn't help to be home all day, either. When I was working, I had to actually decide if I wanted to get up, go down sixteen floors and outside to the deli before snacking, so that helped.

Here, the fridge is twelve feet away. Sigh

only to be quoted in the paper as saying she was putting on her "ranty pants"

Oh my good God. They said that?! Although, also, kind of funny.

{{Deena}} Lot's of heart healing ~ma to your Dad.

Yikes, Susan!

The sun is out today. Work is going to drag.

Wow, Deena. Your dad is very lucky to have your mom looking out for him. I hope he continues to be just fine, and does all the stuff he's supposed to do.

Wow, Deena--hooray for your mom talking him into going!

I'm having weight issues too right now. I tend to want to eat when stressed and my life has been kinda stressful for awhile.

Me, too. I'm working on the theory that hitting the occasional bowl of mac-and-cheese is better for me than dealing with stress through the copious application of scotch, but still. I miss my jeans.

Susan, I hope the wedding coordinator work isn't too hard on bruised muscles. If they are more achey from the effort than the fall, maybe the moving around will loosen them up. Anyway, yay ibuprofin!

If mom has her way, he will, -t. She can be fierce.

Of course, the doctor told him they were classic heart attack symptoms and he needed to get to the hospital.

Ah, the frustration of doctors. How old is your Dad, Deena?

Hopefully the damage is minor, if any. They can do amazing things these days.

Good thing your mom *is* fierce, Deena. And I'm glad it looks like your dad will be okay.

Ouch ouch ouch.

Oooh, that hurts. Yes to the ibuprofen, and gentle stretching. And maybe a long hot bath tonight before you have to work the wedding tomorrow?